Kehai Clocks

"We sometimes find the presence of a clock unpleasant. And sometimes the existence of time is also unpleasant. So a slightly ambiguous sign of time is just fine."
-Makoto Koizumi

The Kehai Clock transforms our relationship with time through elegant ambiguity. Named for the Japanese concept of 気配 (kehai) - "the presence of something in the vicinity" - it renders time as a subtle suggestion behind frosted glass. Hour and minute hands move like shadows across the translucent surface, while a solitary red dot traces its path with quiet intention.

At just over 5 inches in diameter, the clock's minimal aluminum frame appears to float, creating a delicate tension between presence and absence. Available in three tonal variations that either dissolve into their surroundings or create gentle contrast against the wall.

Designer: Makoto Koizumi 
Seiko SKP movement for fluid, silent motion
Frosted glass face with precision aluminum frame
5.1" diameter, 2.2" depth
Single AA battery (included)
10.4 oz
White, Butter Yellow, or Gray variations

Through decades of refined practice, Koizumi has explored the poetry within functional objects. His work as Professor Emeritus at Musashino Art University reflects a deep understanding of how design shapes our daily experience. Winner of the 2012 Mainichi Design Award and 2015 Grand Prize at the Japan Crafts Exhibition, Koizumi creates pieces that invite us to reconsider our relationship with the ordinary, transforming utility into contemplation.