The G-Shock Seven Lucky Gods Limited Edition Series
Casio’s G-Shock brand have constantly been pushing the limits of timekeeping toughness since ’83, have recently announced a new SHICHI-FUKU-JIN (Seven Lucky Gods) Series of special model watches. This follows in the success of previous Limited Edition collections that have been produced, with the Gorillaz series being the most notable in recent times, and now the G-Shock Seven Lucky Gods is the latest!
The Origin of The Seven Lucky Gods
The Seven Lucky Gods, named Ebisu, Hotei, Benzaiten, Bishamonten, Daikokuten, Jurojin, and Fukurokuju, represent a blend of indigenous Japanese religion and Buddhism into a uniquely Japanese divine belief. These deities have their origins in ancient gods of fortune in Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Shinto, and other sources.
According to the Humane King Sutra (Humane King State-Protection Perfection of Wisdom Sutra), paying homage to these deities will serve to avoid seven misfortunes and be bless with seven fortunes. This belief began around the end of Japan’s Muromachi Period. Belief in the Seven Lucky Gods dates from the end of Japan’s Muromachi period, was widespread among the people of the Edo period, and has continued into the present day.
When referring to the seven misfortunes and the seven blessings of happiness, these are described the concept of tenkaifuku, that your misfortunes will be immediately eliminated and then replaced with abundant happiness! Faith in the Seven Gods of Happiness was formed from this base concept. The seven great misfortunes of the world (unusual events involving the sun or moon, unusual events involving the stars, wind and storm damage, water damage or flooding, fire, drought, and theft) are eliminated immediately, and replaced with the seven blessings of happiness (long life, good fortune, popularity, purity, authority, love and respect, and abundance). Therefor. the term tenkaifuku describes putting aside your troubles and calling searching for happiness instead.
Toshikazu Nozaka, the artist behind this collection, is a skilled and active skateboarder and artist, and has designed both the watch and the packaging for Casio, and the G-Shock Seven Lucky Gods limited edition! The artwork that is featured on the outer packaging pays homage to the Japanese characters that spell out the words Shichi-fuku-jin kodakara asobi. The kodakara asobi part of this message is a subject taken up by various artists in the world of ukiyo-e and color woodblock prints dating from the latter years of the Edo period.
Based on his own passions and interests, as well as the respect he has for the pioneers that have become before him, Nozaka produced the art with an incorporation of the Seven Lucky Gods and then seven aspects of modern culture; skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, BMX biking, break-dancing, freestyle football, and DJ-ing. His art draws from the tradition of kodara asobi that has been passed down, and he has created a work of art for the modern era and made it a part of the G-Shock story.
We will be following and writing about all 7 of these watches, so make sure to keep an eye on the blog to find out about each individual piece!
