What’s the background of this original eraser promotion?
Q1: What made you think of starting this project?
G-SHOCK just celebrated the 40th anniversary of its very first model’s debut. This project is an expression of our gratitude to all the fans who have supported the brand over all these years. Another factor is the fact that, as of June 26, 2023, we have secured a three-dimensional trademark registration* for the shape of the first G-SHOCK model from the Japan Patent Office — the first time a 3D trademark has ever been registered in Japan for the shape of a wristwatch alone, without logos or text.
*Registration no. 6711392
Q2: With all the different items you could have chosen, why erasers?
We went with erasers because they’re not just decorative items; they’re also practical. Plus, eraser figures made with advanced Japanese technological capabilities are popular with visitors from overseas as souvenirs, and they’re highly collectible as well. These original G-SHOCK erasers are made in Japan and officially tested for performance. They do actually function as erasers! It’s also important to note that no harmful materials like lead were used in their production, and no PVC either. We were careful to make them safe and eco-friendly.
Q3: Which model are the erasers based on?
The DW-5600, a watch that inherits the DNA of the very first DW-5000 and serves as the base model of the 5600 line. It’s popular among G-SHOCK fans, too.
Q4: Did you run into any challenges with production?
One issue was: How small can we make the erasers and still accurately reproduce the shapes of parts like the buttons and band? Another was: What size will present the best balance when the erasers are displayed next to actual watches? We were able to satisfy both considerations by reproducing the watch at 60% of the original size. Also, we had repeated internal discussions regarding the color before settling on black — the classic, standard brand color that was also used for the very first G-SHOCK — along with red and yellow — primary colors that were enthusiastically received in street culture when we first put out models in those colors. We used original blends of pigments out of our passion to reproduce the actual watch hues as faithfully as possible.
Q5: The erasers have such intricate detail, they could be mistaken for actual watches. That must have been tricky to accomplish, right?
The erasers were made by melting the material and forming it with special, original molds. Out of our commitment to make it plainly evident how meticulous we were about reproducing the shape, we had skilled artisans make the final adjustments to the molds and molding specifications.
Q6: Do you have a message you’d like to share with fans who receive these special G-SHOCK erasers?
We want to convey our heartfelt gratitude to all the fans out there who have shown their appreciation of G-SHOCK over these 40 years since that very first model launched. If you’d like to put your eraser on display, we recommend setting it next to your favorite G-SHOCK in the space where you display it at home. You’re also more than welcome to use it as an eraser, too, of course!