Independent watchmaker Masahiro Kikuno "A man who pursues mechanical watches that reveal the passion of the maker" 3

Part 3: "Searching for a revolutionary new wristwatch"

Hirota: It's very interesting to hear how a watchmaker like you, who makes watches with your own hands, thinks about the meaning of mechanical watches in the modern era.

Kikuno: I've been thinking about the meaning of mechanical watches for a long time, but I feel like I've finally been able to put it into words. I think the appeal of mechanical watches is that they combine science and philosophy. From a scientific perspective, I think quartz watches have pretty much perfected watches. For example, you can get something that's that accurate and high-quality for 1,000 yen. It's the pinnacle of craftsmanship. When you look for efficiency and rationality, there's no other product like it. On the other hand, people today aren't impressed by this kind of scientific progress and evolution. They think that something you can buy for 1,000 yen isn't that great. I think the philosophical part that science can't fill is the very meaning of making watches by hand. So I think the trend to return to mechanical watches after the advent of quartz watches is something that can't be explained by science, and is a philosophical one.

Hirota: That way of thinking is consistent, or rather, unwavering. Personally, I think that when it comes to handcrafting, we should just use machines to do what we can. But in Kikuno's case, it makes sense. When I heard him talk, I honestly thought, "Ah, I see."