I think Seiya is shutting down.

[3migo]

I'd also noticed the multiple extended vacations and this most recent unspecified duration break and was worried.

I've bought multiple watches from Seiya & he's always been fantastic. Ridiculously fast shipping, quick & kind communication, and he sold/shipped JDM models to the states *long* before Seiko had any real American presence for the good stuff.

Hopefully this is just a break & we'll see him return. Would be a real shame to lose Seiya.

[powerband]

I can’t count as high as the number of watches I’ve bought from him over the past 15 years. He was/is the JDM man. More importantly is that I hope he and his family are well.

I remember (vaguely) that he struggled with mental health issues. Hopefully that’s behind him.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[pete26]

I follow him on Instagram and he is cruising around Tokyo in his VW Beetle. I suspect that the JDM market has become too hard and he's probably thinking about retiring.I believe he sources watches from a few notable AD's around Tokyo and is kind of like a broker, whereas Chino and Higuchi were/are AD's.

[pete26]

I know it's been a while but definitely think Seiya is gone for good. He's still tooling around in his VW beetle so good for him. I guess it's a lot easier now to get JDM watches from other sources and GS is now available as a global brand, so his sales probably went down.

[powerband]

Miss his wonderful service. An icon for JDM watch sourcing for a couple of decades. Best wishes a d health to him and his family.

[pete26]

He's definitely gone and very little chance that if he did return whether anyone would still buy from him.

It appears that Higuchi is also gone and has shut his website down. Searching Higuchi-inc comes up with another website that is distributing various products from Japan. The head of the Company is another Higuchi who is a Lawyer and possibly his son.

[Torrid]

He's definitely gone and very little chance that if he did return whether anyone would still buy from him.

It appears that Higuchi is also gone and has shut his website down. Searching Higuchi-inc comes up with another website that is distributing various products from Japan. The head of the Company is another Higuchi who is a Lawyer and possibly his son.

That sucks. Seiya was always my favorite. I don't think I ever bought from Higuchi but I definitely regularly looked. I've bought from ShoppinginJapan.net a couple of times, but it seems more like a Japan Amazon than a single person to deal with like Seiya. They're reliable and have good prices though.

[Selym]

Is Chino still in business?

[hoppyjr]

Is Chino still in business?

Their site is still up, but I only see Citizen & Casio.

[justsellbrgs]

If a collector knows the names - Seiya, Higuchi, Roachman, Reto…… I can tell how they have been collecting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[pete26]

If a collector knows the names - Seiya, Higuchi, Roachman, Reto…… I can tell how they have been collecting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yep, Know all those names, still FB friends with Wayne Lee (Roachman) who is a lecturer in the US. Reto died in tragic circumstances and of course Seiya and Higuchi. All blasts from the past.

[pete26]

Is Chino still in business?

Their site is still up, but I only see Citizen & Casio.

I bought a GW5000 a couple of years ago from Chino, so they are still operating but as you say only Citizen and Casio. Not even Manaslu anymore.

[pete26]

If a collector knows the names - Seiya, Higuchi, Roachman, Reto…… I can tell how they have been collecting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, not even Manaslu is on their site.