Casio’s HOTEI 45th Anniversary G-SHOCK GUITARHYTHM Model, a hotei g-shock watch, marks 45 years of Tomoyasu Hotei’s music career. It does so without bright colors. A single gray geometric pattern carries the design.
Hotei is a Japanese guitarist who has performed with David Bowie and recorded with Iggy Pop. He is also a co-founder of the rock band BOØWY.
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This watch, numbered GM-5600HT26-1JR, is built on the metal-bezel GM-5600 square G-SHOCK. Casio prints the gray GUITARHYTHM pattern across the watch face and the resin strap.
The pattern predates the anniversary. According to Hotei’s official biography, he created the geometric design as a teenager. It has since appeared on merchandise and household goods.
A hotei g-shock watch with a metal bezel
The watch combines a stainless steel bezel with a resin case. Black ion plating covers the bezel and buckle, giving the metal a darker, matte finish, according to Surabaya Inside.
The case measures 49.6 x 43.2 x 12.9 mm and weighs 80 grams, Surabaya Inside reports. The Gadgeteer adds that the resin strap fits wrists from 145 to 215 mm, so buyers should measure before ordering.
Casio rates the watch at 20 bar. The Gadgeteer equates that rating to 200 meters of water resistance. Surabaya Inside also reports shock-resistant construction and mineral glass over the digital display.
The red Super Illuminator LED backlight is the only real color accent on this timepiece. It includes an afterglow function that keeps the display lit briefly after the button is released. A flash alert can make the backlight blink with the alarm, hourly signal, and timer.
Digital functions and battery life
The stopwatch records in 1/100-second increments during its first hour, then switches to one-second increments, per The Gadgeteer. It supports split times and measures up to 24 hours. Surabaya Inside confirms the 1/100-second stopwatch.
The countdown timer runs up to 24 hours and can auto-repeat. The watch also includes one multifunction alarm, an hourly time signal, and a full automatic calendar.
Casio estimates about five years of battery life. The Gadgeteer reports timekeeping accuracy of plus or minus 15 seconds per month. Those specifications suggest infrequent battery changes and steady, everyday timekeeping.
The packaging carries the same geometric artwork across its exterior. The case back is engraved with the GUITARHYTHM mark, and the strap keeper is printed with “45TH.”
Price and availability
The original report gives a Japanese price of ¥36,300 including tax. The Gadgeteer lists the same figure, about $229. Surabaya Inside says Casio had not disclosed pricing for this limited edition, so the sources disagree.
Casio plans a December 2026 release in Japan. Surabaya Inside names the G-SHOCK Store and the Casio Online Store as standard retail channels. The Gadgeteer says the first Hotei store preorder window has closed.
A second preorder window is scheduled for November 25 to 30, subject to availability. Purchases through Hotei’s stores include two exclusive HOTEI x G-SHOCK guitar picks. Preorders are limited to one watch per person.
The listed distribution focuses on Japan. Buyers elsewhere will need to check with official retailers.
Who should buy it
Hotei fans have the clearest reason to buy this hotei guitarhythm watch. The pattern and the anniversary markings do most of the work.
This version asks you to pay for the artwork, not for new timekeeping features.
Buyers wanting a connected alternative can compare Apple Watch Ultra 4 and its watchOS 27 features, which offer far more software than this digital timepiece.
The watch’s appeal rests on one gray pattern. The timekeeping tools are the familiar set found in any G-SHOCK watch, so the graphics carry the design.
Via yankodesign.com
Frequently asked questions
How water resistant is the Hotei G-SHOCK GUITARHYTHM watch?
Casio rates the watch at 20 bar. The Gadgeteer equates that rating to 200 meters of water resistance.
How long does the Hotei G-SHOCK watch battery last?
Casio estimates about five years of battery life for the watch. The Gadgeteer also reports timekeeping accuracy of plus or minus 15 seconds per month.
How much does the Hotei 45th Anniversary G-SHOCK cost?
The original report gives a Japanese price of ¥36,300 including tax, and The Gadgeteer lists about $229. Surabaya Inside says Casio had not disclosed pricing for this limited edition, so the sources disagree.
When will the Hotei G-SHOCK GUITARHYTHM watch be released?
Casio plans a December 2026 release in Japan. Surabaya Inside names the G-SHOCK Store and the Casio Online Store as standard retail channels.
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