Masters of Horological Craftsmanship 9 to 12 January 2026 - Tokyo
When the World’s Finest Watchmakers Gather in Tokyo
Tokyo is rarely short of watch-related events. Launches, anniversaries, pop-ups — the calendar is full. But once in a while, something appears that feels quieter in tone, yet heavier in intent.
From January 9 to 12, 2026, Masters of Horological Craftsmanship will take place at SAI, inside RAYARD MIYASHITA PARK, in the heart of Shibuya. On the surface, it is a four-day exhibition. In practice, it is something closer to a convergence — of hands, minds, and philosophies — rarely seen outside Switzerland.
What This Event Is Really About
Organised by Precision Watch Tokyo Co., Ltd., co-organised by Seiko Watch Corporation, and supported by the Embassy of Switzerland in Japan and the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI), this event is explicitly centered on independent watchmaking as a living craft.
The involvement of the AHCI is telling. Often referred to as the association of the “god hands” of watchmaking, its members represent a lineage of creators for whom watchmaking is not a department, but a personal practice. Their presence shifts the event away from product display and toward something more fundamental: how watches are made, and why they matter.
The Setting Matters
Rather than a conventional exhibition hall, the event is hosted at SAI, an art gallery located on the third floor of Miyashita Park South. This is not incidental.
Miyashita Park sits at a cultural crossroads of Tokyo — fashion, design, youth culture, and luxury — and SAI offers a setting that encourages observation rather than consumption. It is a space designed for looking closely, for conversation, and for slowing down. For an event about craft, that context feels deliberate.
The venue is also highly accessible, just a short walk from Shibuya Station.
Live Craft, Not Just Finished Objects
One of the defining elements of Masters of Horological Craftsmanship is the emphasis on live demonstrations.
Throughout the event, visitors will be able to observe independent watchmakers — including AHCI members and GPHG winners — demonstrating techniques such as movement assembly and component fabrication. This is not staged theatre. It is the rare opportunity to witness advanced horological skills as they are actually practiced, at the bench, by the people who developed them.
In an era where craftsmanship is often reduced to marketing language, this kind of proximity matters.
The Watches on Display
Eight internationally respected brands will present timepieces at the exhibition:
LEDERER, PAGÈS, GRAND SEIKO, CREDOR, HAJIME ASAOKA Tokyo Japan, TAKANO, KURONO TOKYO, and ŌTSUKA LŌTEC.
Among the works shown will be several award-winning and historically significant pieces, including:
The LEDERER Central Impulse Chronometer
GRAND SEIKO’s Kodo Constant-force Tourbillon
PAGÈS “RP1”, winner of the first Louis Vuitton Watch Prize
ŌTSUKA LŌTEC “No. 6”
As well as the first public display of Hajime Asaoka’s “Tourbillon Noir” (2026) and ŌTSUKA LŌTEC “No. 9”
These are not merely rare objects; they are markers of where independent watchmaking currently stands.
The People in the Room
What truly elevates this event is not just what is on display, but who will be present.
Featured participants include:
Hajime Asaoka (Hajime Asaoka Tokyo Japan / Takano / Kurono Tokyo)
AHCI member, Contemporary Master Craftsman, and jury member of the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize
Jiro Katayama (ŌTSUKA LŌTEC)
Contemporary Master Craftsman and GPHG winner
Takuma Kawauchiya (Grand Seiko)
Contemporary Master Craftsman and GPHG winner for the Kodo Constant-force Tourbillon
Hisashi Ogawa (Credor)
Engraving Meister
Bernhard Lederer (LEDERER)
AHCI member and GPHG winner
Raúl Pagès (Pagès)
AHCI member and Louis Vuitton Watch Prize winner
Their presence is not symbolic. They are scheduled to speak, demonstrate, and engage.
Talk and Panel Sessions
Across the four days, dedicated panel sessions will take place, offering rare insight into the structure and future of watchmaking:
Saturday, January 10 (from 2:30pm)
What Kind of Association Is the AHCI?
— Bernhard Lederer, Raúl Pagès, Hajime Asaoka
Sunday, January 11 (from 2:30pm)
Winning the “Academy Awards” of the Watch Industry
— Takuma Kawauchiya, Jiro Katayama
Monday, January 12 (from 2:30pm)
About the MIH (Musée International d’Horlogerie)
— Nathalie Marielloni (Vice Curator, MIH), Hajime Asaoka
These sessions frame watchmaking not just as craft, but as institution, culture, and continuity.
Practical Details
The event runs from January 9 (Friday) to January 12 (Monday), 2026, from 11:00 to 19:00 (until 18:00 on the final day).
Admission is free, but advance reservation via the official website is required. This is not a casual walk-in exhibition.
Why This Feels Important
Independent watchmaking is at an inflection point. Interest is global, visibility is high, but meaningful engagement — especially across cultures — remains rare.
Masters of Horological Craftsmanship positions itself as a bridge:
Between Japan and Switzerland
Between finished objects and the hands that made them
Between heritage and the next generation of makers
If you’re in Tokyo this week, this is one of those events that genuinely rewards showing up — provided you’ve registered in advance. Not to buy, but to observe, listen, and recalibrate your understanding of where independent horology is heading.
Sometimes, the most important moments in watchmaking don’t arrive with fanfare. They happen quietly, in rooms where the conversation matters as much as the watches themselves
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