Interview and text by Yuto Hosoda (Chronos-Japan)
Turn your watch into a smartwatch.
Three professionals reveal its appeal and potential
On Friday, August 25th, the GARDEN GALLERY at Daikanyama T-SITE in Shibuya, Tokyo, hosted the "Omoide no Clock Exhibition," an exhibition showcasing the hybrid smartwatch "wena wrist," born from Sony's new business creation program, the Seed Acceleration Program (SAP). The exhibition featured "wena wrist," a bracelet or band embedded with electronic money functionality, attached to a watch filled with the owner's memories, resurrecting the smartwatch and displaying it alongside memorable anecdotes. A talk event was also held prior to the exhibition, featuring our magazine's editor-in-chief, Masamasa Hirota, and model Reina Hoshi, among others, who shared their impressions of the "wena wrist." The talk event featured the two aforementioned speakers, along with Teppei Tsushima, Sony's general manager and business manager for "wena wrist," and Sohei Hara, a buyer at Beams. Hirota opened with his impressions of the "wena wrist."
Hirota highly praised the fact that "it is made to wristwatch standards, including materials and structure," as well as the "comfort of wearing." He was particularly impressed with the "comfort of wearing," saying, "Because the weight is well distributed, it doesn't feel as heavy as it actually is. Swiss watchmakers are trying to add smartwatch functions to bracelets, but this is the biggest difference between these products." Furthermore, regarding the above-mentioned "watch standards," Section Chief Tsushima also echoed Hirota's comments, stating that when developing "wena wrist," they "pay respect to the history of wristwatches and use parts that are all in line with wristwatch business practices. The stainless steel of the bracelet is SUS316L, which is used in luxury watches, and the screws are also slotted screws, just like those used in watches." Hirota, who is unaware of Tsushima's beliefs,
The fact that Ta naturally expressed the above sentiment is a testament to the hard work of Tsushima and the development team. Also, model and mother of two, Hoshi Reina, noted the watch's versatility in coordination, saying, "The multiple lineups make it easy to coordinate with any outfit," and its high practicality, saying, "As someone with small children, I appreciate being able to go shopping empty-handed." Hara, who works in the apparel industry, also praised the watch's versatility in coordination, emphasizing its suitability for both business and personal use. Finally, Hirota spoke of his hopes for the future of "wena wrist," saying, "It should be thinner and lighter. And for the future of smartwatches, I'd like to see it supplied to other companies on an OEM basis," while Hoshi commented, "I'd like to see a phone function added." The event concluded with these words:
