Hajime Asaoka
Hajime Asaoka is an independent watchmaker based in Tokyo, Japan. He designs, machines and finishes high-end mechanical watches largely by hand, including Japan's first tourbillon wristwatch.
| Base | Tokyo, Japan |
|---|---|
| Training | Tokyo University of the Arts |
| Milestone | Japanese-built tourbillon, 2009 |
| Membership | AHCI |
| Website | hajimeasaoka.com |
What is Hajime Asaoka?
Hajime Asaoka is a Japanese independent watchmaker who works from a small atelier in Tokyo. His name is also the name of his watch brand, which produces limited numbers of mechanical watches.
History
Asaoka trained as an industrial product designer at the Tokyo University of the Arts. Rather than attending a Swiss watchmaking school, he taught himself by studying George Daniels' textbook Watchmaking. In 2009 he presented his first in-house tourbillon, described as the first Japanese-built tourbillon wristwatch.
Products and positioning
His watches are designed, machined and finished almost entirely by hand. The Tsunami is among his most acclaimed models. He is a member of the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI), the association of independent watchmakers.
Asaoka is also the designer behind Kurono watches and has been associated with Chrono Tokyo, projects that have brought his design language to a wider audience.
Why it matters
Hajime Asaoka has become a central figure in Japanese independent watchmaking, showing that high horology can emerge outside Switzerland and helping to draw collectors' attention to small Japanese ateliers.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Hajime Asaoka?
Hajime Asaoka is a self-taught independent watchmaker based in Tokyo and a member of the AHCI.
What is Hajime Asaoka known for?
He is known for hand-finished mechanical watches such as the Tsunami and for the first Japanese-built tourbillon wristwatch.