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Wako (retailer)
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Wako (retailer)
Wako Co., Ltd. (株式会社和光, Kabushiki-gaisha Wakō) is a department store retailer in Japan, best known for its flagship store, commonly referred to as the Ginza Wako, located in the heart of Tokyo’s Ginza shopping district. The store is renowned for its watches, jewelry, chocolate, porcelain, dishware, handbags, and upscale imported goods.
Wako Co., Ltd. was established in 1947 as the successor to the retail division of K. Hattori (known in Japan as Hattori Tokeiten, now Seiko) and began operations in a temporary location. In 1952, it commenced business in its current building. The Ginza Wako building was originally completed in 1932 as the headquarters of K. Hattori, situated at the corner of the Ginza 4-chome intersection. The Seiko headquarters was later relocated to Toranomon, and in 2016, it moved to Ginza 1-chome.
In 2022, the Ginza Wako building was reopened as Seiko House Ginza following renovation work.
In addition to its main store, Ginza Wako, Wako operates five branches in the Ginza area, including Seiko Dream Square and the Grand Seiko Boutique Ginza. It also has locations at Hotel Nikko Osaka, Haneda Airport Terminals 1 and 2, Nagoya Kanko Hotel, Matsuzakaya Nagoya, Daimaru Fukuoka Tenjin, and Odakyu Department Store in Shinjuku.
Wako was founded in 1881 by Kintarō Hattori as a watch and jewelry shop called K. Hattori (now Seiko Group Corporation) in Ginza. In 1947, the retail division split off as Wako Co., Ltd.
From 1894 to 1921, the Hattori Clock Tower stood on the site that Wako occupies today. In 1921, the Hattori Clock Tower was demolished to rebuild a new one. The reconstruction was delayed due to the Great Kantō earthquake of September 1, 1923. The new tower was completed in 1932 as the K. Hattori Building. In homage to its predecessor, the new store was also fitted with a clock.
The 1932 building was designed by Jin Watanabe in art deco influenced neoclassical style. Its curved granite façade and clock tower form the central landmark for the district and one of the few buildings in the area left standing after World War II. The building functioned as the Tokyo PX store during the Allied Occupation of Japan from 1945 to 1952. The clock tower plays the famous Westminster Chimes.
In addition to Seiko and luxury overseas brand watches, Wako also offers private label watches as regular products, using Seiko-made movements. The dials of these watches bear the name "WAKO" instead of "SEIKO." Since the 60th anniversary commemorative model of the clock tower in 1992, Wako has released limited-edition Wako-branded models every ten years. In 2022, a dress watch equipped with the Caliber 6898, an ultra-thin movement used in Credor, was released.
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Wako (retailer)
Wako Co., Ltd. (株式会社和光, Kabushiki-gaisha Wakō) is a department store retailer in Japan, best known for its flagship store, commonly referred to as the Ginza Wako, located in the heart of Tokyo’s Ginza shopping district. The store is renowned for its watches, jewelry, chocolate, porcelain, dishware, handbags, and upscale imported goods.
Wako Co., Ltd. was established in 1947 as the successor to the retail division of K. Hattori (known in Japan as Hattori Tokeiten, now Seiko) and began operations in a temporary location. In 1952, it commenced business in its current building. The Ginza Wako building was originally completed in 1932 as the headquarters of K. Hattori, situated at the corner of the Ginza 4-chome intersection. The Seiko headquarters was later relocated to Toranomon, and in 2016, it moved to Ginza 1-chome.
In 2022, the Ginza Wako building was reopened as Seiko House Ginza following renovation work.
In addition to its main store, Ginza Wako, Wako operates five branches in the Ginza area, including Seiko Dream Square and the Grand Seiko Boutique Ginza. It also has locations at Hotel Nikko Osaka, Haneda Airport Terminals 1 and 2, Nagoya Kanko Hotel, Matsuzakaya Nagoya, Daimaru Fukuoka Tenjin, and Odakyu Department Store in Shinjuku.
Wako was founded in 1881 by Kintarō Hattori as a watch and jewelry shop called K. Hattori (now Seiko Group Corporation) in Ginza. In 1947, the retail division split off as Wako Co., Ltd.
From 1894 to 1921, the Hattori Clock Tower stood on the site that Wako occupies today. In 1921, the Hattori Clock Tower was demolished to rebuild a new one. The reconstruction was delayed due to the Great Kantō earthquake of September 1, 1923. The new tower was completed in 1932 as the K. Hattori Building. In homage to its predecessor, the new store was also fitted with a clock.
The 1932 building was designed by Jin Watanabe in art deco influenced neoclassical style. Its curved granite façade and clock tower form the central landmark for the district and one of the few buildings in the area left standing after World War II. The building functioned as the Tokyo PX store during the Allied Occupation of Japan from 1945 to 1952. The clock tower plays the famous Westminster Chimes.
In addition to Seiko and luxury overseas brand watches, Wako also offers private label watches as regular products, using Seiko-made movements. The dials of these watches bear the name "WAKO" instead of "SEIKO." Since the 60th anniversary commemorative model of the clock tower in 1992, Wako has released limited-edition Wako-branded models every ten years. In 2022, a dress watch equipped with the Caliber 6898, an ultra-thin movement used in Credor, was released.
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