Attempting to provide a list of the names of Japanese Wadokei makers of the Edo Period is a difficult difficult task for a non-Japanese speaking Scotsman – as I am. However, the following list has been prepared to the best of my knowledge from various sources I have encountered. I crave forgiveness for any errors. I am not aware of any similar list.  Reporting of any errors or omissions will be very welcome.

My task was made more difficult by the fact that many Japanese artisans changed their name throughout their life and career.

I thank MURAKAMI Kazuo– author of the book in English entitled “Japanese Automata – Karakuri Zuii”, and who acted as my interpreter on my visit to the Omi Jingu Shriner, for providing assistance in sorting Family Names from Given Names. I am much indebted to him for his contribution to this work – in a language that I neither speak nor write.

Where known or interpreted, Family names are in Upper Case, and Given Names and Titles are in lower case in the Japanese convention – SURNAME Given Name.

I am also indebted to the authors of many of the books from which I have extracted clockmakers’ names. See my web page of Acknowledgements. Where identifiable, reference sources and page numbers are given in (brackets).

In the 1830’s there were clocksmiths in different cities who produced Wadokei of novel shapes and of beautiful finishes. These hand-made clocks was an indication of the art and skill which the Japanese craftsman had attained.