KURONO TOKYO

Hajime Asaoka’s passion for watchmaking runs so deep he often isolates himself for days—working through the night, posting at 3AM, and disappearing into creation. His intense, singular focus drives every detail, even if it means vanishing from the world around him.

Hajime Asaoka hand-mixes the color and surfacing of most Kurono dials himself, testing countless shades and finishes. Each variation is carefully evaluated under different lighting—until one meets his exacting standards.

For Urushi dials by Kurono, they are entirely handcrafted—layered, polished, and perfected by the master craftsman in Kyoto. Despite Urushi's toxicity, only human touch can achieve the depth that machines cannot replicate.

Hajime Asaoka personally designed both the Aoyama and Shanghai salons—from layout to atmosphere—to reflect the same precision and care found in every Kurono watch.

Hajime Asaoka personally sets up each Kurono launch display at the Aoyama salon—down to photographing and printing the backdrop himself. It’s a quiet reflection of his philosophy: every detail matters.