Seiko Anime Watches

Japanese time-piece producer Seiko, will soon be releasing 6 different wrist-watch featuring popular anime characters from the 20th century. The watches, which are limited to a quantity of 3,000, will retail at 18,000 yen and will be released in Japan September 23rd. The featured series- Tetsuwan Atom, Tetsujin 28, Eight Man, Ashita No Joe, Mazinga Z, and Uchuu Senkan Yamato- were selected via polling men aged 30-50.

The frame of each watch is styled as an old TV set of the 1960s-70s, the calender, which reads in black digits, will include a special red number depending on the character featured. This number holds a special significance to each character/series. Here’s a listing of these associations:

Tetsuwan Atom – 7 – Atom’s birthday is April 7th
Tetsujin 28 – 28 – The 28 In Tetsujin 28
Eight Man – 8 – The 8 In Eight Man
Ashita No Joe – 15 – from a particular scene in the series
Mazinga Z – 5 – “Go,” the Japanese word for five, as in the creator’s name, Go Nagai
Space Battleship Yamato – 1 – A favorite number of Yamato creator Reiji Matsumoto

The reverse side of each watch is stamped with a particular image:
Tetsuwan Atom – Ochanomizu Doctor
Tetsujin 28 – Shotaro
Eight Man – Tsukasa
Ashita No Joe – Tetsu Chikaraishi
Mazinga Z – Mazinga Enemy
Space Battleship Yamato – Queen Starsha

Seiko released a limited edition (1,500 produced) Kiki’s Delivery Service watch in Japan on July 29th, the 11 year anniversary of the film’s theatrical release in Japan. The watch, which retailed at 8,000 yen, featured Jiji the cat at the 12 o’clock position on the dial. The special edition package also included a limited edition colored lapel pin featuring Kiki and Jiji.

Source: Anime News Service