An Intimate Dialogue in Tokyo

There is a distinct difference between displaying a watch in Manila, surrounded by a decade of history, and displaying it in Tokyo, where I am simply an artist among so many more seasoned and talented ones.

Moreno Watch Studio held a special one-day showcase at Kisui last March 15th. This wasn't designed to be a bustling exhibition; it was a quiet, singular moment to introduce my independent work to the city that has become my training ground.

The Setting: Kisui

The choice of venue was deliberate. Kisui is not a space built for foot traffic or crowds; it is a sanctuary. I wanted a setting that embodied Ma (negative space)—where the noise of the outside world falls away, leaving only the creator, the observer, and the timepiece.

For this one day, the studio wasn't trying to reach the masses. The goal was connection. The intimacy of the space meant that I could not just show the watch, but I could speak to the person glancing at it.

Beyond The Watch

Because the gathering was small, time seemed to slow down. I wasn't rushing from one visitor to the next. Instead, I had the luxury of long, deep conversations.

I shared the story of the Kaminari—not just its technical specs, but the journey it represents. I spoke about the transition from Manila to Tokyo, the solitude of the bench, and the philosophy of blending Filipino warmth with Japanese discipline.

Japan is a place where context matters as much as the object. The guests didn't just look at the finishing; they listened to the struggle and the intent behind it. The nods and smiles I received were not just for the watch, but for the story that birthed it.

A Quiet Confidence

This event was about depth, not breadth. It was about proving that Moreno Watch Studio has a voice that resonates in an intimate setting, even in a foreign land.

Leaving Kisui that evening, I felt a shift. I had successfully engaged in a dialogue with the local culture on my own terms. This quiet, personal confidence would become the foundation for my next major engagement—a much larger, formal presentation with the Philippine Embassy just a few weeks later.

Photo from Kisui