KOMA is a furniture atelier based in Ogikubo, Tokyo, led by Shigeki Matsuoka — recognized in 2020 as a "Contemporary Master Craftsman," the highest honor the Japanese government awards to working artisans — alongside Toshihiro Kamei, who designs and makes the watch cases. Kamei's background was in metal engraving. In 2019, drawn to the small and precise, he launched Bespoke Case: a line of watch cases made from rare wood species. The idea was simple. "There are beautiful watches," he said. "But there are no beautiful cases for them."
KOMA's view is that Japanese craft is admired from the outside, but the conditions for the people making it are not sustainable. Their response is to develop what they call the craftsperson's ability to produce — not just to make well, but to bring something to market, build an audience, and sustain a practice on their own terms.
"I'm too busy to think about goals." — Toshihiro Kamei, Bespoke Case / KOMA
