We often associate the world of watches with Switzerland, but there are fascinating watchmakers in other countries as well. Japan, in particular, has a rich history of independent watchmaking. One noteworthy watchmaker is Hajime Asaoka, who not only crafts highly complex watches under his eponymous brand but also revived the long-lost Japanese brand Takano. The first watch to bear the Takano name again is the Chateau Nouvelle Chronometer, a timepiece with several intriguing features.
Japan has been a major hub for watchmaking for over a century, with brands like Seiko and Citizen gaining worldwide recognition. Before the market became polarized, there were many smaller Japanese brands manufacturing timepieces. Takano Clock Manufacturing, founded in 1899 by Takano Kotaro, initially produced clocks. In 1913, a second company called Takano Metal Manufacturing was established to produce metal table clocks. After the founder's death, the two companies merged and began producing instruments for military use. It was only in 1957 that the Takano brand started producing wristwatches, initially using outsourced movements from Germany. The brand also collaborated with American company Hamilton for watch production in the Japanese market. However, due to tough competition and natural disasters, Takano faced financial difficulties and later became absorbed by Ricoh. Now, under Tokyo Watch Precision Co., owned by Hajime Asaoka, the brand has been resurrected.
Hajime Asaoka, a prominent name in the Japanese indie watchmaking scene, is responsible for bringing back Takano. Having established his own design office and watchmaking career, Asaoka is known for his highly precise watches. Other than Takano, he also works on his own brand, Hajime Asaoka, and collaborates with Kurono Tokyo. Asaoka's attention to detail and exceptional craftsmanship are evident in the Chateau Nouvelle Chronometer, the first watch to be released under the revived Takano brand.
The Chateau Nouvelle Chronometer is an elegant dress watch with a classic design. It features a 37mm steel case with a retro-style box-shaped sapphire crystal. The entire case is meticulously finished through the Zaratsu technique, providing distortion-free surfaces. The dial is available in black or white, with polished hour markers and a precision railroad minute track. Asaoka's signature "skyscraper" hands, polished and bent to follow the dial's curvature, further enhance the watch's refined aesthetic. The see-through caseback reveals the Takano caliber 90T, an automatic movement adjusted to chronometer specifications by Tokyo Tokei Seimitsu and certified by the Observatoire de Besançon. Notably, this certification makes the Takano Chateau Nouvelle Chronometer the first Japanese watch to pass the rigorous Besançon test.
The Takano Chateau Nouvelle Chronometer will be available for purchase on the brand's website. It is a permanent, non-limited collection priced at approximately EUR 5,400. With its timeless design and exceptional attention to detail, this watch is a testament to the revival of the Takano brand and the skill of Hajime Asaoka.
