Located within walking distance of Shibuya Station, there is a place that welcomes aspiring watchmakers and trains them from the very basics: the Watchmaking Course at Hiko Mizuno Jewelry College.
Generally, many people become watchmakers by finding employment at a major domestic watchmaking house, acquiring knowledge and specialized skills through in-house training, and working as part of a team on watchmaking and repairs. However, this is a rare opportunity to become a watchmaker beyond the boundaries of a brand.
In the Japanese school system, it is classified as a vocational school, and the basic course is three years, but there is also a watchmaking course that takes one year after that, in which students aim to become independent watchmakers by creating an entire watch almost entirely by themselves.
There are over 30 students admitted each year, about half of whom enroll directly after graduating from high school, while the rest are a diverse group, including university graduates of science or art departments, or those in their late 20s who have worked in other professions, and about 10% are international students. Their reasons for enrolling are varied, including an interest in detailed work that can be done alone, wanting to learn a trade and find employment in the manufacturing industry as a specialist, or wanting to become an independent watchmaker.
The basic three-year curriculum covers a wide range of subjects, from disassembling, assembling, oiling, repairing and adjusting parts of mechanical and quartz watches, to metalworking techniques such as exterior polishing and watch tool making, as well as programming such as CAD, watch theory and brand research.
Overhauling a mechanical watch includes all the processes required to improve the accuracy of the watch, such as correcting gear distortion, adjusting play, and adjusting the balance spring. 
The tools used by the students are adjusted and polished by hand to the micrometer, changing the grit from metal files to sandpaper. The tools they create are comfortable to use and will be used even after they graduate and become watchmakers. 
The international students come from a variety of countries, including Korea, China, and Australia.
A distinctive feature of the school is that the movements used as teaching materials range from basic movements made by Swiss company ETA, which are widely used both domestically and internationally, to chronographs, and the manufacturers are diverse, including Citizen, Seiko, and Lemania.The school also incorporates a Swiss-style technical training program, ensuring high-quality classes.
This is with the aim of training watchmakers who can meet the various on-site needs of watchmakers both in Japan and overseas after graduation.The school is also one of the few in Japan where each student is provided with their own expensive watch lathe, which is essential for cutting out watch parts.
In the third year, the school sets up its own unique certification exam, the "Watchmaker Master Certification Exam," which is rigorously reviewed by judges from external companies. The level of the exam is said to surpass the national exam for "Watch Repair Technician." This system broadens the career options available to graduates, producing a wide range of talent, from those working in the repair departments of major watch houses both in Japan and overseas, to those working in antique watch restoration, independent watchmaking, and sales.
The workbenches in the classroom are specially designed for watchmakers, allowing them to work comfortably for long periods of time. 
A watch lathe is used to produce watch parts and tools by rotating metal and cutting it with a blade. Ultimately, the winding core that connects the crown to the movement is produced with a precision tolerance of ±0.03mm.
Incidentally, the aforementioned Kikuno Masahiro graduated from the school and became an independent watchmaker, currently serving as a lecturer in the watchmaking course, while Shinohara Nayuta is an outstanding student who became the first Japanese to win the top prize at the Walter Lange Watchmaking Excellence Award, sponsored by A. Lange & Söhne, while attending the school.
There is no doubt that the current students will become the core generation in the watchmaking industry in a few years or even decades, supporting the development of Japan's watch industry and broadening the scope of the watchmaker profession.
This is where the star watchmakers of the future are born.
Aspiring watchmakers, on their wrists
Your favorite watch and why
Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Full Open. This is the watch that first got me into watchmaking.
What happens after graduation?
Independent watchmaker.
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Age: 22
Your favorite watch and why
Hamilton Ventura. I was attracted to its unique shape.
What happens after graduation?
He made money by developing an automatic electromagnetic balance watch.
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Age: 19
Your favorite watch and why
Citizen Xrossea Happy Flight. A gift from my mother when I was in my third year of high school.
What happens after graduation?
We are currently considering various options.
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Age: 24
Your favorite watch and why
Casio F-91W. Highly visible digital display with a wide range of functions.
What happens after graduation?
A collection of various mechanical movements.
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Age: 22
Your favorite watch and why
Rolex Oyster Perpetual. The world's best brand from an industrial perspective.
What happens after graduation?
His dream is to become the technical director at Rolex.
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Age: 21
Your favorite watch and why
A collaboration pocket watch between Seiko and Regalia. It's a special collaboration.
What happens after graduation?
I want to utilize my skills and experience in the watch industry.
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Age: 20
Your favorite watch and why
A Seiko pocket watch. I inherited it from my grandfather, a railroad watch.
What happens after graduation?
A technician who can handle both repairs and polishing.
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Age: 24
Your favorite watch and why
A 30mm Omega from the 1940s. A gift from my father.
What happens after graduation?
A repairman who can make customers smile with his repairs without using words.
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Age: 20
Your favorite watch and why
<Rolex> Datejust 36. The parts inside the case give off a romantic vibe.
What happens after graduation?
I want to be involved with watches throughout my life.
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Age: 26
Your favorite watch and why
The Oris Divers Sixty-Five Momotaro Jeans collaboration model. I was attracted to the collaboration with a denim brand.
What happens after graduation?
I want to improve my language skills and work abroad!
Your favorite watch and why
Blancpain x Swatch Ocean of Storms. A mechanical watch that will lift your spirits.
What happens after graduation?
Watch repairer.
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Age: 19
Your favorite watch and why
Tissot PRX. I got it from my father two months ago. I love the design and the 80-hour power reserve.
What happens after graduation?
Manufacturer's repair technician.
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Age: 28
Your favorite watch and why
A Seiko automatic watch. I found it at Hiko's graduation ceremony.
What happens after graduation?
My goal is to become a repairer who can repair any type of watch, including antiques.
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Age: 20
Your favorite watch and why
Seiko 5 Sports. I was attracted to the rarity of this imported item.
What happens after graduation?
I want to be involved in the core aspects of watchmaking.
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Age: 31
Your favorite watch and why
<Casio>. Because it was light and stylish.
What happens after graduation?
I would like to receive training in Switzerland.
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Age: 21
Your favorite watch and why
A Seiko pocket watch with an electromagnetic balance wheel from the 1970s, a keepsake from my great-uncle, who was a watch repairman.
What happens after graduation?
I would like to gain a wide range of experience in selling and repairing watches.
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Age: 20
Your favorite watch and why
A King Seiko chronometer, a memento from my great-grandfather.
What happens after graduation?
I want to become a watch repair technician and help customers enjoy their favorite watches for as long as possible.
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Age: 25
Your favorite watch and why
Seikomatic chronometer. Because the movement is the same as the first one I overhauled.
What happens after graduation?
Work for a manufacturer or repair antiques.
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Age: 20
Your favorite watch and why
Citizen Record Label C7. It's a movement I learned about at school, so I'm happy that I can repair it myself.
What happens after graduation?
Repairs and production of domestic brands.
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Age: 30
Your favorite watch and why
A single-hand watch from Meistersinger. I usually strive for high precision, so I find the time displayed by a single hand very soothing.
What happens after graduation?
Self-employed, buying, repairing and selling.
Your favorite watch and why
Citizen Cross Sea. This radio-controlled watch lets you check the exact time.
What happens after graduation?
We manufacture and sell original and easy-to-repair watches.
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Age: 21
Your favorite watch and why
Orient Chrono Ace. I bought several of the same type, disassembled them, and assembled the parts myself.
What happens after graduation?
Founding of a brand that he designs himself.
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Age: 23
Your favorite watch and why
A Rolex Submariner inherited from his uncle. His current watch collection consists of 34 watches.
What happens after graduation?
Repairs for now.
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Age: 34
Your favorite watch and why
Grand Seiko Tentagraph. The new high-beat movement is great.
What happens after graduation?
Received job offer for Seiko overseas.
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Age: 25
Your favorite watch and why
"Apple Watch Ultra" because it calculates swimming distance and calorie consumption.
What happens after graduation?
He became an independent watchmaker and created a real Yo-kai Watch.
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Age: 25
Your favorite watch and why
Chrono Tokyo Classic. I was attracted to the design and bought it on a 12-month loan, which I paid off this month.
What happens after graduation?
Offered a job in manufacturing.
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Age: 29
Your favorite watch and why
This Omega watch was inherited from my parents and contains a 510 movement.
What happens after graduation?
Vintage watch repair.
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Age: 26
Your favorite watch and why
Zenith Chronomaster. He loves chronographs, and it was a gift from his father.
What happens after graduation?
He was offered a job as a repairman at an overseas watch brand.
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Age: 23
Your favorite watch and why
Citizen Eco-Drive "Tony Stark" model. I'm a big fan of American comics, so I decided to buy it immediately.
What happens after graduation?
He was offered a job as a watchmaker at a Japanese watchmaking company.
Will it be 10 years from now before a watch made by these hands astounds the world? Or maybe even five years from now?
