In the 1990s, Lemnos produced many design clocks using plastic injection molding. However, since plastic is a relatively easy material to work with, many imitations were created, significantly impacting the business. In response, founder Hiroshi Takata decided to adopt new manufacturing methods that would be difficult to replicate. Since the 2000s, Lemnos has shifted to producing clocks made from natural materials, primarily wood.

Solid wood is often said to “breathe.” This is because wood, being porous, retains some moisture even after being processed, causing it to expand and contract with changes in humidity. Therefore, wooden products made from solid wood can warp, and this deformation becomes a challenge when combined with non-wooden components, such as those found in clocks. However, through collaboration with factories committed to addressing this issue, Lemnos successfully developed its original wooden clocks.

Lemnos carefully selects different types of solid wood, such as beech, ash, and oak, to suit the design of each product. In recent years, the supply of wood has significantly decreased, making it an increasingly precious resource.

Lemnos’ wooden frames are crafted at partner factories throughout Japan. One such partner is Yuzawa Manufacturing Co., Ltd., located in Kamiina District, Nagano Prefecture. Although Lemnos began outsourcing wood frame production to Yuzawa Manufacturing in the 2000s, the company has been consistently producing clock frames since its founding. Today, clocks are affordable and easily accessible, but in the past, they were luxury items, often sold alongside jewelry. The clock frames made by Yuzawa Manufacturing are crafted with such care that they evoke memories of a bygone era.

The walls of Yuzawa Manufacturing are lined with the many clocks they have produced over the years.

With supplies dwindling each year, wood has become increasingly precious, making it essential for manufacturers to minimize waste. When making large clocks, small pieces of wood must be combined, rather than carved from a single block. However, as seen in the wood grain, no two pieces of wood are identical and each has its own unique characteristics. Thus, assembling pieces of wood with different patterns and qualities into a single product requires both experience and a delicate touch. This precision is reflected in the clean, well-organized workshop at Yuzawa Manufacturing. This attention to detail is evident in processes such as surface polishing and edge beveling, where the slightest difference in the craftsman’s touch can significantly affect the final product’s quality.

A cuckoo clock frame made by combining five wooden panels Product: CUCU/LC10-16NT

Production scene : The wood components are neatly stacked in the same orientation, ready for the next processing step.

A clock that has been continuously produced since the beginning of our collaboration with Yuzawa Manufacturing Product: RIKI ALARM CLOCK/WR09-15NT

Kamiina, where Yuzawa Manufacturing is located, is rich in nature. This region may not immediately be associated with mechanical production. However, it is deeply connected to the roots of Japan’s clock-making industry, which developed after World War II.

Yuzawa Manufacturing Building : Kamiina is located in southern Nagano Prefecture, offering scenic views of both the Southern and Central Alps.

Shortly after World War II, a national policy to promote local industries led to the establishment of a rural clock-making training center in Kasukabe City, Saitama Prefecture. Many participants were from the rural areas of Nagano. As a result, two clock manufacturers were established in the prefecture, one of which was Ryusui-sha, founded in Inadani in the Nanshin region by the first group of graduates. Ryusui-sha was managed by the Kamiina Silk Association, an organization engaged in sericulture and silk production. Its clock factory was repurposed from silkworm warehouses and rearing rooms.

A pendulum clock manufactured by Ryusui-sha
(housed in Gishodo Clock Studio)

The clock face features the Ryusui-sha logo, evoking the mountains of the Alps. (housed in Gishodo Clock Studio)

With the establishment of Ryusui-sha, factories producing clock components began to increase in Kamiina. However, in the 2000s, the foundation of clock-making shifted overseas, and Kamiina’s clock-making industry began to fade. Amid this decline, a pivotal opportunity arose to steer toward the domestic production of wooden clocks. Lemnos seized this moment and began collaborating with Yuzawa Manufacturing.

A long-standing classic bestseller supervised by Riki Watanabe Product: Octagon Clock/WR11-01

One of the first products developed through this collaboration is the Octagon Clock. This clock features an octagonal design, a long-cherished motif in clock-making. Producing the wooden frame for this classic design requires advanced techniques. While circular frames can be carved directly from a solid block, octagonal frames must be carefully assembled from eight individual pieces. As the number of edges increases, the risk of misalignment grows, which makes the process exceedingly challenging. Here, the techniques and experience of Yuzawa Manufacturing plays a critical role, as the company has been producing complex frames for cuckoo and wall clocks since its founding.

Yuzawa Manufacturing President, Mr. Yuzawa

Over the past decade, Lemnos and Yuzawa Manufacturing have successfully brought to market a wide range of products using Yuzawa’s wooden frames.

Craftsmanship is not something that can be achieved overnight. It is always rooted in the dedication of those who came before us. Takata Lemnos respects factories, including Yuzawa Manufacturing, that preserve the traditions of meticulous craftsmanship from times when materials were more precious. Together, we aim to carry on this proud legacy of manufacturing.

Acknowledgment

Shimosuwa Konjakukan Oideya

A cultural complex located in Shimosuwa Town, Nagano Prefecture, which is known for the Suwa Taisha Shrine and Lake Suwa. Within the facility, the Gishodo Clock Studio stands out as a unique museum where visitors can learn about the history and mechanics of clocks.