Grand Seiko and Tokujin Yoshioka: An Encounter of Time, Nature, and Design

Grand Seiko celebrates the Japanese spirituality of time through its philosophy, 'The Nature of Time,' inspired by nature and brought to life by the skilled craftsmen and women known as takumi. For this year's Design Week, Grand Seiko presents an extraordinary project in collaboration with Tokujin Yoshioka, one of Japan’s most renowned designers, titled 'TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA – Frozen’.


Photo courtesy of Grand Seiko

Strongly drawn to the dynamism and energy of the natural world, Tokujin Yoshioka has always infused natural influences into his creations. For this project, Tokujin Yoshioka focused on the concept of "water," creating an installation in which a transparent light sculpture evolves with the passage of time. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience Tokujin Yoshioka's latest installation and artwork, ‘Aqua Chair.’

The result of years of experimentation and unprecedented design work, ‘Aqua Chair’ features crystallized water that forms a transparent chair. The chair changes shape due to light and wind, eventually disappearing, like a natural phenomenon. The installation encompasses the message that the Earth is a planet of water, an indispensable resource for humans and other living organisms.


Photo courtesy of Grand Seiko

Alongside the ‘Aqua Chair’ installation, Grand Seiko’s Spring Drive creations, which beautifully capture the natural flow of time through the smooth glide of the seconds hand, will be exhibited. The Spring Drive movement is powered by a mainspring that combines the long-lasting autonomy of a mechanical watch with the accuracy of an electronic timepiece. In Spring Drive, all the parts turn smoothly in a continuous motion, just as the earth does on its axis. Silence, precision, and harmony with the natural flow of time are the qualities that define Grand Seiko Spring Drive. In presenting its Spring Drive creations, Grand Seiko re-interprets the context of Fuorisalone 2025, the theme of which is "Connected Worlds,." as they show the connections between nature and time, revealing how these two worlds are in constant relation and transformation.


Photo courtesy of Grand Seiko

"TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA - Frozen" is a work that changes, transforms, and pushes us to look beyond, becoming a vehicle for a profound message about our connection to the environment and the relentless flow of time.

"TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA - Frozen"
Palazzo Landriani — Via Borgonuovo, 25