Before a single production component is made, Hajime spends countless hours refining the watch at his own workbench. He personally creates its initial sketches and prototypes, refining the dial architecture, typography, color, case proportions and finishing until every element reflects his intended vision.
This distinction is increasingly rare in contemporary watchmaking. Many watches are developed through large design departments, with different teams responsible for individual components and collections. Kurono Tokyo instead carries the continuity of a single creative hand. From the smallest hour marker to the relationship between the dial, hands, case and crystal, each detail forms part of one coherent design language.
As a member of the AHCI and a recipient of Japan’s Gendai no Meiko, or Contemporary Master Craftsman, distinction, Hajime Asaoka has earned international recognition for the originality and technical integrity of his work. Kurono Tokyo allows a broader community of collectors to experience that same personally directed design philosophy through watches conceived for more accessible production.
"In my stance as a designer, there is not a single compromise."
~ Hajime Asaoka
Hand mixed colors
Hand drawn typeface
Case Refinement
Bent By Hands
Beyond Watch Design
Hajime Asaoka’s involvement in Kurono Tokyo extends beyond the design of the watches themselves. With a personal passion for photography, he takes part in product photography and is particularly meticulous about capturing the true colors and character of each dial, especially those that shift subtly under different lighting. He even dedicates time to editing photographs and videos himself, ensuring that what collectors see is as faithful as possible to the watch in hand. From the first sketch to the final presentation, Hajime’s vision shapes every aspect of Kurono Tokyo.
Visual Direction By Hajime Asaoka
Honored at Home. Internationally Acclaimed.
Hajime Asaoka's expertise is well-recognized. A self-taught watchmaker and a certified master craftsman, he is a member of the prestigious Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI) and was awarded the title of ‘Gendai no Meiko’, Contemporary Master Craftsman by the Japanese Government, in 2022.
Gendai No Meiko
In 2022, Hajime Asaoka was named a Gendai no Meiko, or Contemporary Master Craftsman, by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Established in 1967, the national distinction honors craftspeople and technicians who demonstrate exceptional skill and have made meaningful contributions to the advancement of their professions.
For Hajime, the title recognizes not only his work as a designer, but his mastery as a practicing Japanese watchmaker. Through Kurono Tokyo, he brings the same understanding of proportion, color, typography and dial architecture to watches created for a broader community of collectors.
Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants
Hajime Asaoka has been a member of the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants, or AHCI, since 2015. Founded in Switzerland in 1985, the AHCI recognizes independent watchmakers for their originality, technical ability and contribution to horology, with membership representing recognition from within the independent watchmaking community.
As one of Japan’s pioneering independent watchmakers, Hajime occupies a distinctive place within this international circle. Through Kurono Tokyo, he brings the same disciplined approach to proportion, detail and visual authorship into a more accessible form of Japanese watchmaking.
Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève
Kurono Tokyo timepieces have been selected for the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, one of the international watch industry’s most prominent annual competitions. The GPHG recognizes notable contemporary creations from historic manufactures, independent ateliers and emerging brands, presenting its official nominees to a global audience of collectors, journalists and watchmaking professionals.
For Kurono Tokyo, this recognition demonstrates that a more accessible watch can still possess originality, cultural substance and a clearly authored design language. From Art Deco compositions to Japanese lacquerwork and considered complications, each recognized model reflects Hajime Asaoka’s belief that visual and horological integrity should not be determined by price alone.
A Global Community
Kurono Tokyo is deeply grateful for the support we have received from collectors and enthusiasts around the world. What began in Tokyo has grown into a global community, bringing us together through gatherings in Dubai, Geneva, Shanghai, and beyond. Each opportunity to meet our supporters in person, hear their stories, and see our watches become part of their lives is something we genuinely cherish. It is this continued enthusiasm, trust, and shared appreciation for Hajime Asaoka’s watchmaking that allows Kurono to continue doing what we do. Wherever we meet, we remain grateful to every person who has supported Kurono and become part of our journey.
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