As a Mechanical Design Engineer by Profession, and an amateur Horologist as a Hobby, I have developed a serious passion for Wadokei, having discovered them on a retirement holiday to Japan in 2011. Five subsequent holidays since, plus several Wadokei purchases and a lot of research, has continued to increase my passion for these ingenious mechanical devices.
My Passion has been greatly enhanced by fellow Wadokei enthusiasts in Japan, including:
Kazuo Murakami, Otsu-shi, Japan. We first met in 2013 when the Priest at the Shrine to Time, Omi-Jingu, arranged for Kazuo to act as an interpreter during my visit there. The Museum has 3,500 artefacts!
Our friendship has grown over the years with five subsequent meetings over 10 years, plus many emails. Amongst many other shared interests, we both have a passion for Karakuri (Japanese Automatons) and the Wadokei Maker Hisashige Tanaka.
Mariko Kuwayama, Tokyo, is a Project Manager with the Toshiba International Foundation. We first met in London, 2014, when the Foundation was arranging lectures on Edo Period Technology, plus an exhibition of the Mannen-Dokei replica.
Mariko has become a good long-lasting friend of my wife and myself. Mariko has arranged many visits to see unique Wadokei, including the Kunozan-Toshogu Shrine, Shizuoka, (photo) to see the oldest surviving Wadokei.
Chief Priest Hidekuni Ochiai at the Kunozan-Toshogu Shrine, Shizuoka, seen here demonstrating to me the workings of the replica of the oldest surving Wadokei in Japan. We also viewed to original Wadokei.
I was the Priest’s first visitor to the Temple since the original clock had been examined by Johan ten Hoeve and David Thompson from the UK and the replica had been delivered. A most enjoyable encounter.
Chamise Kamise, then Chairman of the NAWCC Japan Chapter, who took me to the Daimyo Clock Museum, in Tokyo. This Museum originated from the private collection of Guro Kamiguchi (1892-1970), but was established as a private museum by his son in 1972. A single room displays a rotation of 200 Wadokei in the full collection.
Emeritus Professor Sasaki Katsuhiro, former Curator of the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, who I met in 2023.
Sasaki Katsuhiro has studied exceptional clocks around the world and written many papers on them. His interest in Wadokei has resulted in the publication of at least 13 papers on Wadokei.
Professor Kazuyoshi Suzuki, Director (retired), of the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, who I first met in London 2014. There I attended two of his lectures on Edo Period Technology at the British Museum, plus his presentation of the replica Mannen-Dokei at the Japanese Embassy, as well as having lunch together. In 2015 Professor Suzuki hosted my visit to the National Museum in Tokyo.
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