Japanâs Casio has become the latest megabrand to take the NFT plunge with the release of âVirtualâ G-Shock tokens based on its popular watches.
In a Casio press release, the firm said it was launching the Virtual G-Shock line on the Polygon blockchain protocol.
The company said it would release â3D modelâ G-Shock NFTs later in the year, but first wanted to reach out to fans of its iconic digital watch.
Casio claims it has sold over 130 million G-Shock watches worldwide following its 1983 debut.
But before debuting the NFT watches, the firm will issue NFT âmembership cardsâ that will provide owners with special access to âlimited channels.â
The firm said it would issue 15,000 of the NFT âcardsâ beginning on September 23, but invited customers with Casio IDs to register their interest in claiming a card before the general release.
âCardâ holders will be granted âspecial accessâ to a range of new events and meetups, and âparticipate in co-creation projects.â
Per Japanâs CoinPost, Hiroshi Takahashi, the CEO of Casio stated that the projectâs aim was to âboost increase the presence of the G-Shock brand in the virtual and Web3 worlds.â
More Japanese Firms Turning to NFTs?
A fast-growing line of Japanese fashion, sportswear, and accessories brands is continuing to pursue NFT-powered business.
While the NFT boom has died down somewhat in other markets, Japanese firms have been spurred on by comments from Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who has repeatedly talked up NFTs and Web3 as grown engines for the national economy.
Sportswear titans Asics and Mizuno have already entered the fray, with NFT footwear based on some of their best-selling lines.
And other businesses are also keen.
In May this year, the airline All Nippon Airways announced the launch of its own aircraft-themed NFTs, Impress Watch reported.
Earlier this month, the nationâs top financial regulator said it was ready to ask parliament to ease tax rules for domestic corporations.
The rules have been described as ârestrictiveâ by critics who say Japanese firms are being forced out of the domestic market.