Grand Seiko Craftsman, Mr. Tsutomu Ito, Receives Yellow Ribbon Medal
Mr. Tsutomu Ito of Morioka Seiko Instruments Corporation received the Yellow Ribbon Medal in the autumn of 2024. Mr. Ito is engaged in the assembly and adjustment of luxury mechanical wristwatches at the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi.
Assigned to the luxury mechanical watch assembly workplace in 2000, Mr. Ito has diligently acquired and honed his skills in assembling and adjusting mechanical watches, accumulating a proven track record. In particular, the adjustment of the hairspring and balance wheel, which can be considered the heart of a mechanical watch, especially for Grand Seiko, requires a high level of technical skill and expertise. Mr. Ito is a rare assembly and adjustment specialist in Japan who can perform highly difficult adjustments, including component adjustments, hairspring adjustments, and gear mesh (clearance between parts) adjustments.
Mr. Ito won second place in the National Watchmaking Skills Competition (Division 1: Mechanical and Quartz Watches) in 2010, and was recognized as a “Contemporary Master Craftsman” in 2018. He has also contributed to the development of the watch industry for many years through seminars and assembly demonstrations in Japan and overseas, and currently serves as the leader of the Grand Seiko mechanical watch assembly and adjustment team, where he is dedicated to training younger generations, thereby contributing to sustainability through human resource development and skills transmission.
