Delving into the High-Octane Path of Jiro Katayama and the Rise of Otsuka Lotec on the Global Watchmaking Scene

Jiro Katayama, the founder of Otsuka Lotec, has become a sensation in the world of independent Japanese watchmaking. The journey started when Katayama, who had an extensive background in automotive design and product design, decided to venture into watchmaking out of a desire to create something through his own craft. An impulsive purchase of a small lathe led him to his fascination with the time-display mechanisms, which he felt had a similar charm to that of automobiles. Katayama had no formal training in watchmaking, yet, he ventured into it, fueled by his passion and drove. His learning came mainly from web searches, and by studying photos of disassembled movements and videos of watchmakers. His approach was altogether experimental and intuitive—designing and prototyping by trial and error—gradually expanding his capabilities. Katayama also shared about the first watch he ever made, which he fondly termed as his ‘No. 1’. It was a product of his own design, machined out of brass. Despite its crude finish, Katayama found immense joy in creating it, learning to leverage the properties of materials and picking up key design techniques. This blend of automotive spirit and innovative watchmaking catapulted his brand, Otsuka Lotec, to gain impressive worldwide recognition. Described as steampunk-inspired with industrial design, his watches have become a symbol of Japan’s unique brand of coolness while maintaining a remarkable singularity and depth. From its conception to manufacturing, each aspect of Otsuka Lotec is deeply fascinating and speaks volumes about the hard work and imaginative vision of Katayama. Today, the watches have become nothing less than a sensation in the watch world, carving out a unique place for themselves in the panorama of independent watchmaking.