Lemnos History

TAKATA Lemnos’ history began in Shirogane-machi, Takaoka in 1947 as a brass raw casting manufacturer of Buddhist altar fittings for Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. In 1963, the factory was transferred to Hayakawa 511, Takaoka, the present site of the TAKATA Lemnos headquarters. During its period of manufacturing Buddhist altar fittings, and following an introduction from a friend, TAKATA Lemnos began producing and supplying clock frames made using brass raw casting or lacquering for Seikosha Co., Ltd. (currently Seiko Time Creation Inc.). In 1974, it produced clock bodies that were supplied to the State Guest House in Tokyo from Seikosha Co., Ltd. In 1977, the Toide plant was established in Takaoka douki danchi (Takaoka copperware industrial park).

The company name was changed to TAKATA Seisakusho (Factory) following a reorganization. The clock division was then started and became a subcontract factory of Seikosha Co., Ltd. It also started planning and producing products such as souvenirs or promotion goods using a casting clock frame.

In 1984, the clock division became an independent limited company called TAKATA Ltd., Co. (present-day TAKATA Lemnos Inc.). Its new office building was completed in the same year. The Lemnos Tokyo office was opened in Asakusabashi, Taito-ku during the following year of 1985.

Eighteen years after its first involvement in the manufacture of clocks, former president Hiroshi Takata felt a strong desire to “receive direct evaluation” from customers to ascertain whether the company was conveying its strong manufacturing heritage. This encouraged us to take the first step toward developing our own fully fledged products.

In 1986, Lemnos signed a contract with EX design Co., Ltd (located in Fukui, directed by Kazuo Kawasaki) related to the development of products and launched the GANBARA brand in 1988. Shortly after this, we began the full-scale export of our original items to Europe.

In 1989, “HOLA, ILUS, TROS” won the Good Design Award out of a variety of GANBARA brand items. In addition, HOLA was selected for inclusion in a permanent collection at Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum.

In 1990, Lemnos entered into a contract with SESSA Co., Ltd. (located in Zushi, directed by Takashi Kato) outlining the rights to product development as well as to manufacturing and sales. In 1991, the company changed its name to TAKATA Co., Ltd. and underwent a reorganization. The Lemnos Tokyo office was opened at Takanawa, Minato-ku and the name was changed again during the following year, this time to TAKATA Lemnos Inc. It actively joined overseas exhibitions such as the MACEF Fair in Milan, Italy, Accent on Design in New York, and the Los Angeles Gift show in Los Angeles. Between 1993 and 1995, GANBARA brands pendulum clock “HUYGENS”, SESSA brand wall clock “SC-3000”, alarm clock “PASPIE PC-6”, and “SC-45” all won the Good Design Award. The SESSA brand tape dispenser “SD-50” and table clock “SC-45” were selected for a permanent collection at Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. The year 1995 saw the opening of a planning and showroom branch office called X・PORT.

A flood of counterfeit items from around 1997 forced us to discontinue the planning and production of clock frames using resin molding. Following this, Lemnos changed its policy to produce distinct products using original techniques and materials such as starting to process and develop wooden or plywood frames for products, including for the Erias series.

The AXIS showroom was closed in 1999, and a Tokyo sales office was opened in Jiyugaoka, Meguro-ku.
In 2000, the GANBARA brands “HOLA, ILUS, and TROS” were winners of the Good Design Long Life Design Award.

At a gathering following the 2000 Toyama product design competition award ceremony, Hiroshi Takata met Akira Yamamoto, who is closely related to Riki Watanabe. Yamamoto gave Takata a proposal to produce a clock designed by Riki Watanabe. Through a strengthening of this close relationship, the signature Lemnos clock, the “RIKI CLOCK”, was born.

In 2003, Lemnos exhibited at the TOKYO DESIGNERS BLOCK. We began product development for furniture and knickknacks as new fields. In 2004, a wall clock designed by Riki Watanabe won the Good Design Award. Furthermore, tissue holder “STOCK / Da-05” designed by Toyota Mori received the same award and was exhibited at the Messe Ambiente in Frankfurt.

In 2006, “Drops draw the existence” designed by Kanae Tsukamoto was selected for the JIDA Design Museum Selection vol. 8 and in 2008, it was displayed at the Messe Ambiente sozo_comm’LIVING JAPAN’ in Frankfurt. “Chiisana tokei” designed by Riki Watanabe was selected for the JIDA Design Museum Selection vol. 9.

In 2010, a table clock designed by Kanae Tsukamoto named “DROPS DRAW THE EXISTENCE” received the Red Dot Design Award. In the same year, a wall clock designed by Naoki Terada named “CARVED” won the GOOD DESIGN AWARD. In both 2011 and 2012, Lemnos attended the Messe Ambiente in Frankfurt.

Building on our success at international exhibitions, we have embarked on active partnerships with overseas sales agents in Europe, particularly Germany, as well as North America, Singapore, Taiwan, and beyond. We continue to enhance Lemnos brand’s global presence by showcasing at major exhibitions such as Tokyo Interior Lifestyle, Ambiente in Frankfurt, and NY NOW in New York.

In December 2013, we opened a showroom in Myogadani, Bunkyo Ward, aimed at making our highly acclaimed Lemnos products accessible to a wider audience. This new showroom has further elevated the recognition of the Lemnos brand.

In 2013, Toyoshi Mori’s “Plywood Clock” received the Long Life Design Award. In 2014, Naoki Terada’s “CARVED II” won the Good Design Award.

Since 2016, Takata Lemnos products have received numerous international design awards. Key achievements from 2016 to 2019 include: the Asia Design Award in Hong Kong for the “eki clock” by Takenobu Igarashi, the Golden Pin Design Award in Taiwan for the “Keisoudo Clock” by Yuichi Nara, both the German iF Design Award and the Good Design Award for the “Shin” shoehorn by Mikiya Kobayashi, and the Good Design Award and the Kids Design Award for the “fun pun clock” by Yoko Dobashi.

In 2020, the Good Design Award was given to the “15.0% Ice Cream Straw,” “CARVED CUCU,” “CARVED SWING,” and “CARVED SE,” all of which were designed by Naoki Terada.

As a consistent recipient of international design awards, Takata Lemnos continues to be a pioneer in the design clock industry and remains committed to offering innovative and enduring beauty through its products.