Lexus Seriously Released a 60,000-hour-long Takumi Documentary
In keeping with the spirit of the dedicated craftsmen, the company made a film that recreates the Takumi process. You can, however watch a 1 hour version instead.
Lexus has released a new documentary, Takumi: A 60,000-hour Story on the Survival of Human Craft, that follows four Japanese artisans who have dedicated their lives to their craft. Among those profiled are an automotive master craftsman. A one hour feature-length film can be seen on streaming services such as Amazon Prime. But to underscore the idea of dedication, a 60,000-hour cut of the doc will also be released.
The longer version does clock in at 60,000 hours, and loops scenes of each Takumi’s essential skills of their craft repeated over and over again to highlight the hours, days, and years of practice involved.
In Japan, the Takumi is the highest level of artisan. To achieve this, one must spend 60,000 hours refining your skills. That’s works out to about eight hours a day, 250 days a year for 30 years.
In addition to paying tribute to the Takumi and their contribution to Lexus, as well as other industries, it does address the concern of the future. Will these devoted craftsmen and women survive in an increasingly AI powered world?
“The concept of Takumi has physically and philosophically been at the core of the Lexus brand since it started 30 years ago,” said Spiros Fotinos, head of Global Brand at Lexus International. “Our Takumi masters have over 60,000 hours (30+ working years) of experience developing their craft. To celebrate the brand’s anniversary year, we wanted to capture the essence of Takumi, and their 60,000-hour journey, on film.”
The film, made by director, Clay Jeter, is due for release on Amazon Prime Video on March 19 globally. Viewers can also check out the full 60,000-hour version online at Takumi Craft, which gives a rare insight to the level of dedication and commitment it takes to achieve a special kind of mastery.
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