Morioka, known as the "capital of trees and water," and Shizukuishi are both in lands blessed by the rich waters of the Kitakami River system, flowing from the Ōu and Kitakami mountains. These lands with clean air and rich in water are ideal environments for watchmaking.
Mt. Iwate, one of the "100 famous mountains in Japan," has a wide footprint, just as Mt. Fuji does. You can gaze upon it from everywhere in the Morioka and Shizukuishi area, and, of course, also from the premises of the factory. It has a symbolic presence. Its majestic appearance is an emotional anchor for the locals, and even the artisans at Morioka Seiko Instruments Inc. speak in volumes of their attachment to the mountain and local nature.
The beauty of this nature has charmed many men of letters, like the poet Takuboku Ishikawa (1886-1912), and has appeared in many literary works. It is especially found in Kenji Miyazawa's work, as views of Shizukuishi's forests or hilly areas—places that he visited many times as a student—are projected in his fictional "Ihatov" mythical landscape. The Koiwai Farm and the “Nanatsumori Forest” in the surroundings of Morioka Seiko Instruments Inc. are locations where one can experience first-hand the world appearing in Miyazawa's work. The natural environment of Shizukuishi is not only rich in resources; it also has the power to enrich the soul.