Casio America, Inc. has named Yuto Horigome as a global ambassador for G-SHOCK, creating a partnership that connects competitive skateboarding with the watch brand’s decades-long emphasis on durability and innovation.
WATCHES
Horigome picked up his first skateboard at six years old. Years of dedicated practice transformed him into one of competitive skateboarding’s most accomplished athletes. His technical ability and consistent performance at elite competitions have distinguished him internationally. Beyond tournament results, Horigome has helped expand skateboarding’s cultural reach, linking the sport to fashion trends, music scenes, and youth expression globally.
G-SHOCK recognizes similar qualities in its own development. The brand launched over forty years ago with a focus on Absolute Toughness, deliberately designing watches that could withstand extreme conditions. This required rethinking conventional watchmaking approaches and testing materials in new ways. The company has maintained this experimental mindset throughout its history, regularly introducing design innovations and engineering improvements.
I am excited to be able to partner with G-SHOCK. I want to continue taking on challenges in my own way, and at the same time do what I can to support the next generation. I look forward to taking on new challenges together with everyone involved. – Yuto Horigome
The ambassador announcement includes creative elements that highlight both parties’ cultural connections. VERDY, an artist who collaborates frequently with Horigome, created custom typography for promotional visuals. THIRTY 3 MAGAZINE produced a short film documenting how G-SHOCK’s durability philosophy intersects with skateboarding and street culture aesthetics.
Two specific watch models appear regularly on Horigome’s wrist, each representing different aspects of G-SHOCK’s range. The GMW-BZ5000D-1 updates the iconic 5000 series with full-metal construction, a memory-in-pixel LCD display, and an unusual design process that combined human creativity with generative AI analysis of forty-plus years of shock-resistance engineering data. Meanwhile, the DW-5000R faithfully reproduces the 1983 DW-5000C, the very first G-SHOCK model, while incorporating contemporary upgrades including improved LED backlighting and environmentally conscious bio-based resin components.
This partnership represents Horigome’s second ambassador collaboration with Casio and strengthens G-SHOCK’s established connection to street culture and global youth movements. It aims to amplify skateboarding’s visibility internationally while celebrating its influence as both competitive sport and cultural phenomenon.
