2007-07-24 07:05:00
Images (C) H. Suekichi. |
We've already ascertained that I love steampunk settings. I love the |
Suekichi-san has been making rather interesting watches for over ten years now, starting off as the understudy to another watch maker. Soon his works became too outlandish and his Master sent him on his way. How can a watch be too outlandish? Well, it'd be enough to tell you that Suekichi-san never sticks to how things were meant to be. As a kid he'd get model kits for ships and such, but then he'd throw out the instructions, and put it together the way he saw fit, including parts from other kits and even from Gundam!
His individualistic approach now shines through his watches. They all have a very industrial, or steampunk, look about them. Lots of leather, copper, pointy bits and dials. Freaky curves and impractical designs, they're all there! And the best thing is that they're not even fiendishly expensive!
On my upcoming trip to Japan I will most definitely be paying Suekichi-san a visit. I'd love to meet the man behind these works of art and to view the whole collection in person. I've heard that he lives up in Aomori, which is way in the north of the main island Hokkaido. Since we'll be staying in the southern end of Hokkaido (in Osaka) I'd need to make a seven and half hour trip by shinkansen (bullet train). But to be honest I think that crossing 1300 km's more, just to meet Haruo Suekichi, would be damn well worth it. I've already crossed the world to come to Japan anyway!
A few interesting links:
* See many more of Haruo Suekichi's watches.
* Hyperdia is a system developed by Hitachi in order to help you plan your train/plane trip across Japan.
* Japan Railways has a helpful website for the foreign traveller.
kilala.nl tags: haruo suekichi, japan,
View or add comments (curr. 2)
2008-04-30 18:44:00
Posted by Cailin Coilleach
Also... If you use the search bar at the top of this page, to look for "Haruo Suekichi", then you'll find the article I wrote after meeting him! :)
All content, with exception of "borrowed" blogpost images, or unless otherwise indicated, is copyright Thomas Sluyter.
2007-07-24 11:15:00
Posted by Cailin Coilleach
Hmm, it seems that steampunk is becoming more and more popular these days... Wired even did an article about it, with some pictures of rather cool furniture and electronics.
http://www.wired.com/gadgets/mods/multimedia/2007/06/gallery_steampunk
Then there's also a blog call Brass Goggles, which gathers all kinds of cool steampunk news. There's also a nice post about two ladies who created aprons and such to fit the "mechanic" look. I may have to make one of those for when I start my electrolytic etching :D
http://www.brassgoggles.co.uk/brassgoggles/
Another blog, less cool than Brass Goggles though...
http://community.livejournal.com/steamfashion/
I already linked to him before (in the "etching" post), but he's still cool! Steampunk Workshop has continued his work, this time modding an LCD panel and a laptop!
http://www.steampunkworkshop.com/
Don't know what this is yet :)
http://www.kineticsteamworks.org/