Precision watchmaking pride, in a setting blessed with pristine air and crystal clear water
Yamagata Prefecture, located in northern Japan, is known for the Three Sacred Mountains of Dewa. One of them, Mount Gassan — revered since ancient times for its spiritual presence and awesome natural grandeur — stands as the backdrop to Higashine City, the site of Yamagata Casio. This is where MR-G timepieces, the flagship of the G-SHOCK brand, are carefully crafted in a highly specialized manufacturing facility.
Established in 1979, Yamagata Casio specializes in the manufacture and assembly of components all with rigorous quality control. Focused on the Timepieces business, this “mother factory” of Casio watch production emphasizes highly original manufacturing techniques that integrate sophisticated technologies with richly human sensibilities. Also developed here are businesses including projectors, marine sports equipment, and handy terminals.
Yamagata Casio leverages its uncompromising, leading-edge manufacturing technologies to craft timepieces with a precision, durability, and beauty befitting the pinnacle of the G-SHOCK brand. MR-G timepieces sit at the mountaintop, inheriting the full measure of Yamagata Casio’s passion for creating world-class products in this beautiful natural setting.
Sophisticated automation technologies for manufacturing the tiniest gears
Components as minute as rotors that measure a mere 1.1 mm, with shapes requiring precision processing, are made here. Yamagata Casio employs a “modularized” manufacturing line. The parts and the feeders that transport them are combined into single sets and can be interchanged to manufacture different movements, which are assembled by proprietary robots. The automated process of mounting to the main plate further ensures the stability of the production line.
The production line also features an anomaly detection system that senses potential issues before mechanical failures occur. Original Casio omni-directional microphones are fitted to multiaxial SCARA robots, to check for defects in the machinery and deliver maximum precision and efficiency in production of the componentry.
A range of other technologies essential to G-SHOCK watchmaking are applied as well, including special Yamagata Casio molding techniques utilizing ultra-precision cutting processes accurate to the nanometer (one billionth of a meter ), along with spattering to create metallic finishes.
“Medalists” delivering high-quality product management
It is certainly not the robots alone that support the MR-G line. Highly skilled “Medalists,” certified in accordance with rigorous criteria stipulated by Casio, perform assembly, adjustment, and finishing of watch components right next to the Premium Production Line.
Yamagata Casio has about 40 Medalists in total, divided into three categories according to their skills, authorized for different scopes of work, depending. The process of being certified as a “Meister” — the highest Medalist level — takes a minimum of seven years.
All processes of assembly and inspection are performed in a clean room, and Medalists change clothing and clean the soles of their shoes to avoid introducing dust or any other impurities.
The secret of Yamagata Casio is the collaboration between our Medalists, who apply their exacting sensibilities and highly refined techniques to deliver results accurate to the millimeter, and our state-of-the-art automation processes which ensure the continuous production of components with ultimate precision. This teamwork delivers all the strength and beauty of the MR-G line.
Demonstrations of G-SHOCK strength
The showroom exhibits eco-conscious actions taken by Casio, including adopting bio-based resins, recycling plastic materials, and making packaging for watches out of paper materials. Along with displays of historic models showing such efforts, demonstrations of G-SHOCK durability are also popular with visitors.
The shock-resistance test uses a metal hammer weighing several kilograms, which is swung down like a pendulum to hit the watch. The water-resistance test employs a pressurized-air chamber to reproduce an environment equivalent to 200 meters underwater. The acceleration test uses springs to demonstrate shock-resistance exceeding even that of free-fall impacts.
Yamagata Casio watchmaking facilities have been optimized to produce sophisticated MR-G timepieces — the flagship line of the G-SHOCK brand. Going forward, you can count on even more toughness and beauty from the heart of Casio craftsmanship.
