When Tokyo hosted the 1964 Summer Olympics, the success of the Games rested not only on athletes or infrastructure, but on the discipline and coordination of the Organizing Committee. This was the first Olympics ever held in Asia, and it carried enormous symbolic weight. Japan was still within living memory of post-war devastation, and the eyes of the world were watching closely.
 
The committee, led by Yasukazu Yasui, carried the responsibility of delivering an event that would redefine Japan’s global standing. Tokyo Governor Ryotaro Azuma oversaw the capital’s rapid transformation into a modern city, while Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda aligned the Games with the nation’s economic growth strategy. At the international level, IOC President Avery Brundage presided over the Olympic movement during this pivotal moment in history.
 
They coordinated venues, international delegations, broadcasting, transportation networks, security, and the strict technical standards that would define Olympic results. The pressure was immense. Failure would have been global and public. Instead, the Games ran with remarkable efficiency. Their success accelerated Japan’s economic momentum, strengthened global confidence in its industry, and restored its international prestige.
 
As official timekeeper, Seiko stood at the center of that success. In the years leading up to 1964, the company invested heavily in research and development, committing substantial capital and engineering talent to electronic timing systems, quartz-based measurement instruments, and advanced photo-finish technology capable of measuring results to fractions of a second. The flawless execution during the Games marked a turning point. From that moment on, Seiko was no longer viewed simply as a domestic Japanese manufacturer but as a serious global competitor, paving the way for its international expansion in the years that followed.
In recognition of the committee members whose leadership made the Games possible, Seiko presented specially engraved watches as tokens of appreciation. This Seikomatic Weekdater 6206-8990 is one of those gifted watches, directly connected to the individuals who carried the weight of the event.
 
While the original owner is unknown, based on the official report structure, it likely belonged to one of roughly 170 organizing committee members, whether a senior government official, corporate leader, sports federation representative, or even a member of the Imperial Household involved in the Games.
 
Even more remarkable, this example survives unworn, complete with its original box and instruction manual. For a sixty-year-old presentation watch tied to one of the most defining chapters in modern Japanese history, such preservation is exceptional.
 
The watch currently works flawlessly and to preserve its original condition, it will be sold as-is.
 
Ships from Tokyo, Japan.