The Seiko 5 Sports Masked Rider SRPJ91 Brings Back Cult 1970s Tokusatsu Design

Today, it’s yet another Seiko 5 Sports watch that you’ll discover. It is, indeed, a never-ending story, with so many new models coming each year. That being said, I must admit that Seiko has some resources and creativity. Some of the models are quite questionable, but the latest limited edition that we’ll talk about… Well, it simply looks cool. And the reason for that is not specifically the TV Show and character that it pays tribute to, but more the fact that it revives a style that used to exist in the 1970s. Let’s discover the Seiko 5 Sports Masked Rider SRPJ91.

What makes this new Seiko 5 Sports SRPJ91 special isn’t only the fact that it pays tribute to The Masked Rider, but the revival of an old design altogether – something you might know under the name Seiko Kamen Rider (the other name for The Masked Rider). Typical of TV shows broadcasted in Japan in the late-1960s and early-1970s, it has gained quite of a cult status despite a questionable production quality. And even more, the main character, Takeshi Hongo (the story involves fighting ex-Nazis, mutant cyborgs, motorbikes, brainwashing and a doubtful grasshopper-themed costume… ah, the 1970s…) was wearing a Seiko reference 5126-8090, later nicknamed Kamen Rider. There’s a cool story by our friends at Fratello on this topic if you want to know more.

This vintage Seiko 5 model featured a black dial and a silver-coloured bezel insert with black scale, and a matte black dial with baton hands and markers, and several touches of colour. And it is back in 2023 with the new Seiko 5 Sports Masked Rider SRPJ91. Using as a base the SKX-styled case of the collection, it’s a bit of a mix-and-match of various elements but ultimately, this new model works. All features and specs are classic Seiko 5 Sports, with a dive watch-like case (inspired by the SKX007), a unidirectional rotating bezel, a crown at 4 o’clock and a 100m water-resistance. The case measures a slightly hefty 42.5mm diameter x 13.4mm height, but with short lugs (46mm in length). Inside is the automatic calibre 4R36 – 3Hz, stop-seconds, 41h power reserve, and day-date display.

What matters is the look of this Kamen Rider re-edition. It comes with a specific circular brushed steel insert with a black scale, and just like the original model, the SRPJ91 has a distinctive dial. Textured and funky in design and colour (it is very dark green), it is inspired by the helmet of Masked Rider 1. It means baton applied markers and hands, all filled with slightly beige LumiBrite, a silver-coloured block minute track and a red lollipop seconds hand, and a framed day-date window. The crystal on the back features a specific decoration too – the Tachibana Racing logo. And the watch is worn on a black textured leather strap with a red-toned inner side.

The Seiko 5 Sports 55th anniversary Masked Rider Limited Edition SRPJ91, a.k.a Kamen Rider Re-Edition, will be a limited edition of 4,000 pieces, available in April 2023. It will be priced at EUR 450. For more details, please visit seikowatches.com.