Casio’s Premium S100X Calculator Is a Masterclass in Traditional Echizen Lacquerware and Precision Engineering
Hand-painted by artisan Ryuji Umeda of Yamakyu Shitsuki.
by Sophie Caraan · HypebeastSummary
- Casio elevates its flagship S100X calculator with a traditional Urushi lacquer finish
- The specialized unit is meticulously hand-painted by artisan Ryuji Umeda of Yamakyu Shitsuki
- It features an aluminum alloy body, pantograph keys, and a high-contrast FSTN LCD screen
The Casio S100X Japanese Lacquer Edition bridges the gap between state-of-the-art precision manufacturing and heritage Japanese craftsmanship.
Produced entirely in Japan at the Yamagata Casio mother factory, this flagship calculator transforms an everyday desktop tool into an artisan object. Casio tapped Yamakyu Shitsuki — a historic Echizen lacquerware maker founded in 1930 in Sabae, Fukui — to execute the meticulous finish. Under the expert hand of master artisan Ryuji Umeda, a traditional “Tamenuri” lacquering technique is applied directly to the calculator’s milled aluminum alloy body. The month-long process utilizes pure, filtered raw sap, resulting in a deep, glossy black finish that subtly reveals a red gradient along the edges.
Beyond its striking aesthetic, the specialized device is built with a host of premium technical specifications. It features a thin isolation key design utilizing a pantograph structure, ensuring stable and comfortable input with a three-key rollover for rapid typing. The display integrates a high-contrast FSTN LCD equipped with a double-sided AR coating to eliminate glare. For an added touch of refinement, the screen’s text color mimics the elegant navy blue hue of fountain pen ink. Finishing the elevated design, each unit receives a laser-engraved serial number and arrives in a specialized black presentation box detailed with gold foil stamping.
The Casio S100X Japanese Lacquer Edition is available now via the Casio webstore.