About HIJ

Address from the Representative Director

Koichiro Jujo 
Representative Director
Horological Institute of Japan

I am honored to have been appointed Representative Director of the Horological Institute of Japan for the 2025 term. Together with the board of directors, steering committee members, and all society members, I will devote myself to further advancing our institute. I sincerely appreciate your continued support and cooperation.

As its name suggests, a timepiece is fundamentally a device for measuring time. Over the years, it has evolved through technological advancements, transitioning from mechanical movements to quartz and then to radio-controlled timekeeping. However, in recent years, manufacturers from outside the traditional watch industry—particularly in telecommunications—have introduced smartwatches that incorporate heart rate monitoring, motion tracking, and location services. This has brought about a significant transformation in the industry, representing what can be considered the second major wave of change following the Quartz Shock, which marked the shift from mechanical to quartz timepieces.

In response to these changes, companies in the watch industry are creating new value by enhancing the functional value of watches, such as accuracy and duration as "instruments for measuring time," as well as the sensory value as "ornaments for the body. These efforts include meticulous hand-polishing of components, the skillful application of traditional crafts such as enamelling, and the thoughtful reissue of monumental products.

It is interesting to note that the French word for "watch," montre, shares its etymology with montrer, meaning "to show." Both words originate from the Latin monstrare, which means "to demonstrate" or "to display." Historically, when timepieces were exclusive to royalty and nobility, they were adorned with intricate decorations and complex mechanisms. Beyond merely measuring time, they served as objects of display, showcasing the owner's aesthetic sensibilities and social status. This linguistic connection further underscores the fundamental role of emotional value in horology.

At the Horological Institute of Japan, we have traditionally focused on fundamental technologies such as mechanical movements, electronic circuits, and lubrication systems, as well as on product design technology—the process of turning these foundational innovations into commercial timepieces. However, emotional value, often associated with design and decoration, has generally been considered separate from technological advancements, making it a challenging field of academic study. Nevertheless, we believe that product design technology should not only serve as a means of realizing functional value but also as a method of enhancing the overall value of timepieces by integrating emotional value. Ensuring that product design technology plays this dual role is one of the key missions of the Horological Institute of Japan.

The emphasis on emotional value is not limited to the watch industry. This trend is beginning to influence a broad range of industrial products, making the watch industry's pioneering efforts in redefining product design technology increasingly significant. As interest in enhancing product value continues to grow, the role of the Horological Institute of Japan will become even more essential.

In closing, the Horological Institute of Japan remains committed to providing a platform for researchers and engineers across various horology-related fields to collaborate and contribute to technological advancements. We will continue our proactive efforts to drive innovation and foster knowledge exchange. I sincerely appreciate your ongoing support and look forward to working together in the years ahead.

Organization of HIJ (as of April 1 2025)

Title	Name	Place of Employment
Executive Director	Koichiro Jujo	Seiko Watch Corp.
	Makoto Nakagawa	Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
	Masanao Yokoyama	Seiko Time Creation Inc.
Director	Takehiko Adachi
	Miyuki Imamura	Seiko Time Creation Inc.
	Hisashi Osumi	Chuo University
	Minami Kimura
	Tetsuji Dohi	Chuo University
	Yoichi Nagata	Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
	Etsuro Nakajima	VTECH INTERNATIONAL Co., Ltd.
	Shinji Nakamiya	Seiko Epson Corporation
	Sumio Masuda
Steering Committee Member	Keiko Ishii	Chuo University
	Kazunori Umeda	Chuo University
	Kenji Ogasawara	Seiko Watch Corp.
	Fukuro Koshiji	Tokyo Polytechnic University
	Akitsugu Shigino	Rhythm Co., Ltd.
	Kazuyoshi Tsuchiya	Tokai University
	Takushi Hagita	Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
	Koji Fujii	Japan Clock & Watch Association
	Teruhiko Fujisawa	Seiko Epson Corporation
	Reishi Matsushima	Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
Auditor	Haruhiko Higuchi	Japan Clock & Watch Association
	Ken Sasaki

Contributing Member (as of April 1 2025)

(in alphabetical order)

• ACOS Co., Ltd.
• Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
• Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
• Citizen watch manufacturing Co., Ltd.
• Japan Clock & Watch Association
• Japan Patent Office
• Precision Watch Tokyo Co.,Ltd.
• Rhythm Co., Ltd.
• Seiko Epson Corporation
• Seiko Group Corporation
• Seiko Time Creation Inc.
• Seiko Watch Corp.
• TOHSEI INDUSTRIAL Co., Ltd.
• VTECH International Co., Ltd.

HIJ renews links whenever needed. If you discover any invalid links, please inform HIJ.

Contact Addresses

HIJ Secretariat Office
The Horological Institute of Japan
522 Kudan-asahi Mansion, 1-9-5 Kudan-kita Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, JAPAN
Phone: +81-3-3288-5160
E-mail: tokei@hij-n.com
Account (for payment of membership fees only):
Postal transfer account No. 00100-5-648655
"Nihon Tokei Gakkai"

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