Hitori Somei Yoshino

"The inspiration of the new Somei Yoshino Series. The "Yoshino" watches are significantly inspired by the cherry blossoms of Mount Yoshinoyama (吉野山, Yoshino-yama), located in the town and district of Yoshino itself, in Nara prefecture. Fame for having more than 30,000 sakura flowering cherry trees, it has inspired ancestry Japanese wake poetry and folk songs for centuries, including a Kokinshū waka in the 10th-century poetry compilation Kokin Wakashū ("Collection of Japanese Poems of Ancient and Modern Times"). And now, the religious mountain continues its magic, influencing Hitori with a new collection that distilled its "mystical" charm and enchantress "sakura".

The imminent Yoshino collection expands on its cherry blossom theme, with Hitori now focusing on the tree's wood itself. Named "Somei Yoshino," this new collection vividly brings to life the cherry trees of Mount Yoshinoyama, drawing inspiration from their birch texture. It shines with nostalgic timepieces that redefine classic style uniquely from the land of the rising sun—crafted proudly in Asia with exquisite savoir-faire. The bezel-less watch case boasts a distinctive architectural form, echoing the "Grammar Of Design" ethos by Seiko's designer, Mr. Taro Tanaka-san. The oriental case design harmonizes with a beautifully textured dial, evoking the refined birch wood texture in a silver-white hue.

Made out of 316L stainless steel, the annual 100 pieces-only Somei Yoshino Shirakaba measures 39.6mm in diameter, a height of 10.55mm (without the crystal), and a lug-to-lug length of 46.8mm. The well-thought-out dimensions of this 100m water-resistance watch are crafted meticulously to fit comfortably on any of our wrist sizes. The case design of the Somei Yoshino is straight out of the mid-sixties, instantly recognizable by any watch aficionados who came across vintage GS during an era when the emerging brand from Japan wanted to match up against those Swiss manufacturers in terms of watch designs. One of its designers outlined specific rules that would later be sealed in Seiko's and Japan's history. Even the modern GS still follow strictly today."