In 2025, King Seiko, a Seiko brand, has decided to expand globally. To coincide with this, actor Ryohei Suzuki has been appointed as its global ambassador. He has publicly stated that he likes "bone-like watches," making him the perfect face for King Seiko. Suzuki appeared at a King Seiko event held in Japan in December, and overwhelmed the attendees with his deep love of watches and his "love for King Seiko."
Text by Masayuki Hirota (Chronos-Japan)
[Article published on January 13, 2026]
Ryohei Suzuki and King Seiko meet at the "King Seiko Fan Meeting"
On December 5th, 2025, King Seiko held a special event, the "King Seiko Fan Meeting," at the Hotel Fairmont Tokyo in Shibaura, Minato Ward, Tokyo. In front of the owners, who were selected through a rigorous lottery, actor Ryohei Suzuki, King Seiko designer Takuya Matsumoto, as well as Masaru Sekiguchi, editor-in-chief of Hodinkee Japan and Richesse Digital, and Masamasa Hirota, editor-in-chief of Chronos Japan and webChronos, discussed the appeal of King Seiko.
The King Seiko, released in 1961, will have a design reissued in 2021. The following year, in 2022, it made a full comeback as a collection. The "KSK," based on the second-generation model, was announced at that time. In 2024, the "KS1969," with its rounded cushion case, was added, and in 2025, the "VANAC," with its "Seventies" design, was added. All of these are based on designs from previous models, but the fact that they reinterpret their unique shapes sets them apart from simple reissues. This is why Seiko calls King Seiko "The Newest Classic."
Suzuki Ryohei's "King Seiko Love" leaves watch media editors flustered!
The audience was made up of King Seiko owners. After Sekiguchi and Hirota explained the watch's history, Suzuki passionately spoke about his love for King Seiko. "I own the original King Seiko and the chronometer-style 44KSCM. I particularly like the arrow-tipped second hand found on some 44KSCMs." Having acquired one long before he became an ambassador, Suzuki's love for King Seiko is staunch. And as Suzuki said, "I bought it because I was attracted to the design," each King Seiko has an intriguing design. The original has a dress watch-like appearance, but its indices are quite thick. The 44KS, while seemingly ordinary, boasts ingenious lugs and indices. This may be what sets it apart from Grand Seiko, a watch that stands out worldwide as a symbol of Japanese luxury watchmaking.
When visitors were asked what King Seiko models they owned, the results were split evenly between KSK and VANAC. Suzuki, on the other hand, spoke passionately about the appeal of his favorite, the KS1969. "This model, with its C-line case, is thin and comfortable to wear." As he said, the KS1969, with a diameter of just 39.4mm and a thickness of just 9.9mm, fits comfortably under the sleeve of a suit.
Incidentally, the "C-line case" Suzuki mentioned was perfected by the famous watch designer Gérald Genta. This design, with its rounded top, became popular in the watch industry from the late 1960s onwards. Seiko was no exception, and adopted this C-line case for the "45KCM," which served as the motif for the KS1969. While the case was originally well-finished, thanks to advances in processing technology, the new KS1969 case is virtually distortion-free.
Suzuki pointed out the cleverness of the design. He prefers thick, long dauphine hands (hands shaped like bamboo leaves), but pointed out that the thin hands of the KS1969 suit the design perfectly. Designer Matsumoto was impressed by this and replied, "The hands are actually the most difficult part of watch design. Even a slight change in length can completely change the overall impression."
In another survey, Suzuki, who holds a World Heritage Certification, was asked where he would like to travel wearing a VANAC. Visitors voted for the place he would most like to visit, from Europe, Asia, Japan, and other countries. Suzuki, of all places, chose Japan. "I have a connection to Nara, too. And the purple color used in VANAC is the most noble color of the Twelve Ranks of the Crown established by Prince Shotoku. I would love to wear a VANAC with this dial and go to Nara," he explained. While many watch manufacturers today focus on dial colors, it's true that few choose purple. Designer Matsumoto also explained, "When we chose purple, we were actually thinking about the Twelve Ranks of the Crown."
Original strap chosen by Suzuki Ryohei!?
In the next segment, Suzuki, Matsumoto, and Alexandre Lannos of French strap manufacturer Jean Rousseau took to the stage. The theme was the creation of original straps selected by Suzuki. Combining materials and colors, these straps were produced for KSK, KS1969, and VANAC, and will be used in the 2026 campaign.
Let's start with the classic KSK. Suzuki chose a classic taupe color. He also deliberately chose a rough grained leather lining rather than smooth leather. "Is it okay if I choose this?" he repeatedly asks, indicating his preference for subdued straps. The resulting strap is a well-balanced piece that can be worn both on and off the job.
On the other hand, the VANAC with its purple dial proved difficult. To match the purple dial, he had to choose a color from the same family or a completely different color. Confused, Suzuki asked the attendees. "White is good!" he said, so he tried matching it with white leather, but rejected it, saying, "Sorry, but this color is too flashy for me." Suzuki ultimately chose smooth black leather. Next came the stitching. Jean Rousseau's Lanos suggested purple stitching, saying, "It's okay to pick the same color as the dial." However, Suzuki opted for understated stitching. Unsure of two colors, he asked the attendees which one they preferred. Hearing "Number 2!", he chose slightly brighter stitching. He said, "I think this combination would go well with a leather jacket."
King Seiko's new challenge, from Japan to the world
Prior to this event, on July 18th, Seiko held a worldwide unveiling of the King Seiko in Thailand, not Japan. Approximately 150 international media members attended, including those from Japan, Korea, and Singapore. While I was impressed by the decision to hold the event in Thailand, home to a large number of passionate Seiko fans, I was also impressed by the thoughtfulness of choosing Suzuki Ryohei as the global ambassador. Fluent in English and gaining global recognition through his role in the Netflix film "City Hunter," Suzuki is certainly the perfect choice to be the new "face" of King Seiko. Seiko Watch President and CEO Akio Naito explained the reason for his selection, saying, "He embodies the worldview of 'The Newest Classic,' which is King Seiko's brand philosophy of combining tradition and innovation to create the newest classic."
Born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1983. He is affiliated with Horipro. He graduated from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies with a major in English and holds the Eiken Grade 1 certificate. He is active as an actor, and his notable works include the NHK Taiga drama "Saigo Don," "TOKYO MER: Running Emergency Room," which won the 109th Drama Academy Award, and the film "Hana Manma." He won the Best Actor Award at the 78th Mainichi Film Awards for his role in the film "Egoist." He will also appear in "TOKYO MER: Running Emergency Room: Capital Crisis," which is scheduled to be released this summer.
The all-new VANAC was also unveiled at the event. Naito explained, "King Seiko's VANAC, released in the 1970s, was the first watch to break away from the brand's classic style, characterized by bright colors and angular designs. In addition, the new model features a dial color and finish called "Tokyo Horizon," inspired by the time periods of Tokyo: dusk, midnight, and dawn.
The VANAC, released in 1972, revolutionized King Seiko with its completely new approach. This model continues that philosophy. The massive case, reminiscent of the original, is equipped with the newly designed Cal. 8L45. The dial recreates modern-day Tokyo scenery. Four dial colors are available: purple, navy, and silver, representing "sunset," "midnight," and "sunrise," respectively, plus an ice blue, available exclusively at Seiko boutiques. Automatic (Cal. 8L45) with 35 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve: approximately 72 hours. Stainless steel case (41.0mm diameter, 14.3mm thick). Water resistant to 10 bar. Price: 396,000 yen (tax included).
Ryohei Suzuki also commented, "The concept of The Newest Classic truly embodies the essence of Tokyo, a city where history and modernity coexist elegantly and powerfully. As an actor and as a person, I strive to create timeless and meaningful work, and I feel that this spirit is reflected in every detail of the King Seiko."
King Seiko has made a spectacular start with Ryohei Suzuki. They have a solid foundation, but they are by no means ordinary, which is something they clearly have in common. Their history of making it big on the world stage has only just begun, but judging by the enthusiasm shown at the event in Thailand and the special night in Tokyo, the future looks bright for Ryohei Suzuki and King Seiko, for whom he serves as global ambassador.
This model is a reproduction of the second generation model released in 1965. By adopting the thin Cal. 6L35, a case thickness of 10.7mm has been achieved despite the box-shaped sapphire crystal. What's interesting is the design. While it appears conventional at first glance, the lugs are beveled and the index at 12 o'clock features a distinctive lighter cut. The bracelet, which appears to be multiple links, is actually a single piece of material connected together. This keeps costs down while achieving a high level of finish. Automatic winding (Cal. 6L35). 26 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve of approximately 45 hours. Stainless steel case (diameter 38.6mm, thickness 10.7mm). Water resistant to 5 bar. Price: 418,000 yen (tax included).
This model follows the design of the 45KCM, which was released in 1969. The "C-line" style case with a flat top was common during this period. However, reflecting advances in technology, the case's finish has improved even further. The thin 9.9mm case and supple multi-link bracelet provide a comfortable fit, as praised by Ryohei Suzuki. Automatic winding (Cal. 6L35). 26 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve of approximately 45 hours. Stainless steel case (diameter 39.4mm, thickness 9.9mm). Water resistant to 5 bar. Price: 396,000 yen (tax included).
