Seiko Incredibly Specialized Watch Exhibition – Hide-and-Seek Watch

Charles d’Ancona

January 19, 2024

This article is part of a series on the 2024 Incredibly Specialized Watch Exhibition;

The “Power Design Project 2024” will showcase the Incredibly Specialized Watch Exhibition at Seiko Seed in Harajuku, Tokyo, starting January 19, 2024. Organized by Seiko Watch Corporation, this initiative is part of an annual event that challenges in-house designers to delve deeply into the core of watchmaking, pushing the boundaries of their usual design styles and fostering innovative outcomes.

Centered around the theme of “incredibly specialized watches,” this year’s exhibition features seven designers who have approached the challenge from seven unique perspectives. The objective is to craft watches that are exceptionally exclusive, each creation highlighting fresh appeal through designs tailored to specific roles.

Hide-and-Seek Watch – Designed by Masanori Kawamura

Kawamura became a member of Seiko in 2013 and initially contributed to the design team for Seiko brand watches intended for the European and American markets. Since 2018, his primary focus has shifted to designing products specifically for the Japanese market. Starting in 2020, Kawamura has been actively involved in the design of Astron timepieces and is presently dedicated to working on the Prospex line.

The Concept’s Genesis

What if ogres became heroes?

Hide and seek, a game imbued with a sense of adventure, requires players to unleash their creativity to remain concealed. As the “ogre” (the seeker) prowls around, players must stay completely silent, resisting the urge to cry out when their friends fall prey to the ogre. Successfully outsmarting the ogre brings an unparalleled thrill.

On the contrary, being hunted by an intuitively sharp ogre often results in swift discovery. Despite this, few willingly embrace the role of the ogre. Consequently, most players resort to any means necessary to relinquish the ogre role quickly—counting at their own pace, skipping part of the count before players can hide, or peeking through their fingers as others scatter. This behavior led to the contemplation of how one could become a righteous ogre, and the answer was the “hero item.” With this item, the ogre transforms instantly into the star of the show, embodying rule-abiding behavior akin to a hero recognized by all.

The Dedicated Hide-and-Seek Watch

In a game of hide-and-seek, would you rather play the role of the ogre (seeker) or the hider? A survey by Seiko Watch Corporation explored this question, and the introduction of a new watch could significantly alter the preferences.

Expert Commentary

Mr. Masaru Takayama, President of the Japan Hide-and-Seek Association, expressed excitement about the watch, emphasizing the existence of official international rules for hide-and-seek. He noted that in official games, the ogre starts searching 60 seconds after the signal, and the game is limited to 10 minutes. The watch facilitates easy tracking during daily practice, ensuring the ogre’s unmistakable presence. The inclusion of a melodious count, along with the unique sound element “Mou-iikai? Ma-da-da-yo!” (“Are you ready? Not yet!”), adds an extra layer of excitement to hide-and-seek, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the game. He also proposed the possibility of including a function to measure the 10-minute game time limit.

The Realization of the Concept

Historically viewed as villains, ogres were often disliked as undesirable roles in hide-and-seek. However, with the introduction of this item, perceptions are poised to shift, transforming the player into a more positive and enjoyable character in the game.

In its initial state, the dial becomes visible as the pursuit of hidden players commences. The design ingeniously presents the 10-minute time limit on an analog display, ensuring a clear sense of time and effortless readability.

When the hide-and-seek watch is opened, the left eye can check the count, while the right eye remains covered by a blinder. This allows the player to concentrate on the waiting time, accompanied by an enjoyable tune.

In its closed state, the dial facilitates player counting as each one is found.

The watch is offered in two color options, providing users with the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the ogre-playing experience with their preferred timepiece.