orn in 1965 in Kanagawa, Japan, Hajime Asaoka studied design at Tokyo University of the Arts, graduating in 1990. His interest in watchmaking was already evident during his early career as a designer.

He recalls: “I designed several watches in the 1990s, but I quickly became aware of the limitations of working as a designer in the watch industry. Since I had always been skilled with my hands, I decided to try making my own watches.” A decisive turning point. He immersed himself in the seminal work of master watchmaker George Daniels, gradually honing his craft while equipping himself with the machinery needed to produce his components in-house.

Portrait of Hajime Asaoka in his Tokyo workshop.

The beginnings of recognition

In 2005, he unveiled his first watch, crafting every component by hand except for the balance spring and mainspring. His ambition was clear: to create the most precise timepiece possible without visible complexity. This pursuit of horological purity would become the cornerstone of all his subsequent creations.

Hajime Asaoka’s iconic Tsunami model, with strong Art Deco overtones.

Calibre éclaté de la Tsunami, réalisée à la main par Hajima Asaoka.

In 2009, he introduced his first tourbillon - the first entirely developed by an independent Japanese watchmaker. A defining milestone: “It was deeply moving when a major Japanese magazine, for which I had previously worked as a graphic designer, presented my Tourbillon #1 for the first time. That was when recognition of my work truly began.”

Tourbillon #1, the first tourbillon created by self-taught watchmaker Hajime Asaoka.

In 2015, he became the first Japanese independent watchmaker to join the prestigious Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI).

His vision remains unchanged: to create the most precise timepieces possible without apparent complexity - a philosophy that continues to shape his work.

View of the movement of the 2023 Tourbillon Noir.

A multifaceted designer and creator

Under his eponymous label, Hajime Asaoka produces just five watches a year, each entirely handcrafted in his Tokyo workshop. Yet his desire to share Japanese watchmaking with a wider audience has led him to develop several additional brands.

In 2018, he launched Chrono Tokyo, followed by Kurono Tokyo in 2019 - both positioned at more accessible price points to bring his distinctive, refined, and highly sought-after designs to a broader public. Chrono Tokyo ceased operations in 2021. As he explains, “I became so absorbed in the launch of Kurono Tokyo, which produces limited series of 300 to 500 pieces, that I couldn’t devote enough time to Chrono Tokyo.”

Kurono Tokyo’s latest creation: an elegant 37mm cushion-shaped dress watch that transforms into a water-resistant timepiece by slipping into a protective outer case that conceals and shields the watch - including its crown. A truly unique design.

His commitment to accessible watchmaking, however, remains undiminished. In 2024, ever exploring new horizons, Asaoka revived the defunct Japanese brand Takano. Founded in 1899, the company began producing high-quality wristwatches with in-house movements in 1957, before a typhoon destroyed its production facilities in 1959.

Having secured a licence from the Japanese Ricoh group, Asaoka set about bringing this dormant name back to life. His first model, the Chateau Nouvel Chronometer, released in 2024, bears the viper’s head hallmark of the Besançon Observatory - attesting to its chronometric precision.

Produced in limited series of 100 pieces, these watches reflect his signature pursuit of refined simplicity. For Asaoka, Takano represents a new chapter: “The Chateau Nouvel Chronometer embodies the Japanese chronometer, and we will continue to introduce new models in the years ahead.”

Takano’s Chateau Nouvel Chronometer, the revived brand led by Hajime Asaoka, certified by the Besançon Observatory’s viper’s head hallmark.

It is also worth noting that Precision Watch Tokyo, Asaoka’s multifaceted structure, collaborates closely with Otsuka Lotec, the rising star of Japanese watchmaking led by Jiro Katayama, winner of the Challenge Prize at the GPHG 2024 with his model No.6 (read our article on Otsuka Lotec here).

Whether through his rare, handcrafted creations under his own name or via more accessible collections - from Kurono Tokyo to Takano - Hajime Asaoka remains faithful to his original philosophy: to capture the universal essence of nature through purity and simplicity, and to express a timeless form of beauty.

In 2024, ever exploring new horizons, the indefatigable Hajime Asaoka revived the defunct Japanese brand Takano.

About the GPHG Academy

Founded in 2020, the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) Academy now brings together more than 1,000 members - accomplished men and women united by a shared belief in the future of watchmaking. As experienced and influential figures across the industry’s key sectors, Academy members contribute to the various stages of the GPHG process, from nominating candidates to selecting the winners alongside the Jury.