A watch that reads minds and hooks you up on dates? Why not, says G-Shock creator
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CNA Lifestyle
A lookout that reads minds and hooks you up on dates? Why not, says One thousand-Stupor creator
CNA Lifestyle had a chat with Kikuo Ibe, the guy you have to thank for designing one of the world's most popular (and toughest) watches.
Kikuo Ibe doesn't box just the G-Daze sentry he created 36 years ago can sure have a beating. (Photograph: Liu Ying)
When you lot're known for designing 1 of the world'due south most iconic watches e'er, it'south perfectly understandable if y'all'd but kick back, relax and balance on your honour for the residual of your life.
Just evidently, coming up with Casio'due south G-Shock isn't quite enough for Kikuo Ibe, who's still got some wild ideas direct out of some sci-fi movie.
For instance, watches that could read your listen similar some telepathic techno-mutant or possibly a Tinder-version on your wrist to hook upwardly with someone.
"You don't even have to look at your watch to know the time – y'all just take to recall and it automatically tells y'all the fourth dimension in your caput," came the 66-year-old Japanese engineer-by-trade's enthusiastic reply through a translator.
READ: 'I own 470 Yard-Shocks': Exploring the obsessions of Singapore'southward watch collectors
"And nowadays, young people accept less opportunities to see other people – then if a homo'south wearing a G-Shock and a lady'southward wearing a Baby-Thou and they laissez passer each other, they'll get an instant alarm if they accept proficient chemistry together!"
Yeah, it may sound outlandish but who knows? Back in 1983, the idea of a near-indestructible watch surviving a 10-metre drop likewise seemed incommunicable. And just a couple of years ago, they upped the ante past dropping one – from space.
ALIENS WEARING WATCHES
Ibe was in Singapore last Friday to launch the new Game Changer campaign, which features 27 homegrown creatives and sports people like creative person Sam Lo and Jahan Loh and footballer Christopher van Huizen.
The outcome, which took identify at Suntec, featured an MMA match and the launch of the new GA-2100 watches, which are made of carbon textile, were also launched.
"I understand the G-Shock is very pop among the young generation then I but came to nourish – and there are a lot of gamechangers in the different industries like arts and music, and I'yard willing to work with them," he explained.
The entrada, of course, is a nod to what he did 36 years ago. Every G-Shock fanatic is familiar with Ibe'southward story – how he was inspired to come up with a tough sentinel afterwards his mechanical watch, which was a gift from his male parent, broke when someone bumped into him and it fell on the footing. How the sight of a girl playing with a brawl gave him the Eureka moment to create a shock-resistant example. How tests included running over prototypes with a automobile and throwing them from the peak of a building (specifically, from his role toilet'due south window).
Only the affable Ibe has long stopped designing G-Shocks – he'due south leaving that to the younger designers now, he said – and instead has been playing the office of ambassador-at-large, crisscrossing the world for various events and launches.
One of his more than memorable experiences wasn't even in front of a live crowd but a cartoon band on YouTube. For last yr's pop collaboration with Gorillaz, Ibe appeared having a chat with ii of its virtual members.
"Information technology was a very big studio and there were a lot of cameras – the video was just iii minutes just information technology took from morning till midnight to do it. And Gorillaz was very unique," he recalled.
The unusual squad-upwards fifty-fifty resulted in 1 of Ibe's longtime dreams coming true – seeing aliens wear G-Shocks thanks to one of the videos that saw the band get to outer space. "I imagined an conflicting named Mr Taro wearing one three years agone," he quipped.
CASIO DOESN'T EQUAL G-Daze
Despite the many heady things he'south been doing, Ibe comes beyond every bit a elementary albeit quirky person.
When he's not busy beingness Mr One thousand-Shock, he's planting vegetables in his garden in Saitama, Japan, where he lives. He doesn't article of clothing the more than complicated versions but instead sticks to the same three watches he'south had for years – the "square" one-time school DW-5600 model in different colours.
He wears the black 1 during Spring/Autumn, a cerise version for wintertime, and during his trip to Singapore, his summertime go-to was the white version. His virtually precious lookout – the extremely rare "Project Team Tough" model given to the original team who came out the first one – is safely kept at his desk.
He'due south as well quick to give credit where information technology'south due. When asked if the Thou-Shock's success has overshadowed other watches in Casio's lineup, he pointed out that the effort and cosmos put into other non-G-Shock watches were the aforementioned. "People think Casio equals G-Shock merely information technology'south non," he said.
And while he'south obviously loyal to his baby, he admires Swiss-fabricated watches, even equally he stops brusk of actually naming brands. "Swiss watches have a long history and legacy, and I respect that. To have this kind of 'cadre' that never changes is something I appreciate," said Ibe.
CULT Post-obit AND 18K GOLD WATCHES
And what does he call back about Yard-Shock'south cult following? For a watch that was initially built for construction workers, he'due south been amazed that it'southward get the go-to timepiece for everyone from hip-hop musicians to streetwear fashionistas to skaterboys and girls.
And in recent years, the humble watch has been embraced by the luxury set, too, as information technology goes up-marketplace and makes appearances at events like Baselworld.
Early on this year, a express edition solid golden Grand-Daze was announced. Made entirely out of 18k gold, it was priced at a whopping S$100,000.
But in usual Ibe fashion, he quickly points out that these 2 cost-categories can co-exist – and that even those aureate watches accept to get through the same stringent standards equally the more affordable counterparts (bold someone would really try and drib a gold sentry from the tiptop of a building, of course).
When asked if he foresaw Yard-Shocks going full-on into the smart lookout realm – and even having its ain version of a Siri or Alexa assistant, he simply smiled. "Whether technology volition be able to exercise it is one aspect but another aspect is whether it'southward suitable for our lifestyle," Ibe replied. "But at that place's definitely some potential."
For someone whose entire public identity seems to be intertwined with a sentry, it might be surprising to find out that Ibe does take his limits.
While he's said in previous interviews how he hopes people would clothing 1000-Shocks as part of their body, pregnant to not worry almost being too careful with it, information technology doesn't mean information technology's something he sleeps or takes showers with.
"Honestly speaking, when I go dwelling, I take information technology off. It's similar giving a sigh of relief – I'm back to my own self," he said. "It's still a watch."
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/style/g-shock-creator-kikuo-ibe-228786
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