Seiko Watch Corporation is delighted to announce that craftsman Hideto Yamazaki has been awarded this year’s title of Contemporary Master Craftsman, an honor given by the Japanese government to those who demonstrate outstanding skill and leadership in their field. Hideto Yamazaki is responsible for press die assembly and repair at Morioka Seiko Instruments Inc., as well as the training of younger generation press die technicians in Japan.

With over 30 years of experience manufacturing watch parts, Hideto Yamazaki hand-finishes press dies to micron-level precision, enabling watch parts to be manufactured with a level of precision and beauty that cannot be achieved by machine alone.

In receiving this title, Hideto Yamazaki said, “I am very honored to receive this great title. At the same time, I feel even more determined to work harder to improve my skills and enhance the quality of my work, as well as train my successors. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisors and seniors for their guidance, as well as my colleagues for their cooperation.”

Hideto Yamazaki, Press die assembly and repair
1988: Joined Morioka Seiko Instruments Inc. as a press die repairman of the parts manufacturing division.
2012: Awarded the Prize for Creativity (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
2012: Received the Iwate Prefecture Outstanding Technician Award (Iwate Prefecture)
2021: Certified as “Monozukuri*” Meister (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
*Monozukuri in Japanese signifies ‘manufacturing’ or ‘craftwork.’