Feature Highlight + Interview: One Layer Deeper with KIMITAKE’s Co-Founder Kimio: The Quiet Radical Reinventing Jewelry Through Storytelling

The first thing you notice about Kimio Fukutani isn’t his jewelry — it’s the fire in his eyes. There’s a groundedness in his presence, the kind that doesn’t demand attention but draws you in. Sitting across from me in a sunlit studio in West Hollywood, the co-founder and designer of KIMITAKE speaks with gentle conviction, threading words together like the samurai braided cord.

“You know, I used to think birth was just something that happened,” he says softly. “But my second daughter was born with Down Syndrome. And that changed everything.”

It’s here, in the emotional terrain of fatherhood, that Kimio’s design language takes root. For him, jewelry isn’t about trends or ornamentation. It’s about memory, about connection, about the kind of beauty that comes from living deeply and authentically.

Founded in 2023, KIMITAKE is a fine jewelry brand grounded in three guiding philosophies: Birth, Links, and Harmony. Every collection is born from one of these ideas, whether expressed through raw diamonds, woven cords, or spiraling gold. For Kimio, design begins with meaning.

KIMITAKE Birth Collection

His inaugural collection, BIRTH, features the iconic DNA spiral, which is a symbol of life and the miracle of individuality. “This collection is about honoring the simple fact that you exist,” Kimio explains. “And making your existence shine even brighter in the world.” View the collection here.

KIMITAKE Links Collection

Then comes LINKS — a tribute to connection, memory, and the emotional fabric woven between people. “The bonds between people are what make life vibrant,” he says. “Our jewelry gives form to those invisible threads.” View the collection here.

KIMITAKE Harmony Collection

The HARMONY philosophy is subtler, more atmospheric as it captures the emotional tones that color our daily lives. “No two emotions are the same,” Kimio reflects. “Just like no two pieces in the collection are exactly alike. Harmony doesn’t mean perfection, but balance, change, and beauty in motion.” View the collection here.

Even collections that appear minimal or unconventional stem from these core ideas. “The designs may evolve,” he says, “but the philosophies stay the same.”

KIMITAKE Adeve

Among the most intimate expressions of this is ADEVE, KIMITAKE’s exclusive customization service. Beginning with a single, rare octahedron rough diamond, the stone is cleaved in two and set in separate pieces, which has never been done before in the industry. Why go the extreme lengths to cut a diamond in half? Because it represents a shared origin between two people. “Whether you’re lovers, siblings, or lifelong friends, that bond deserves something rare,” Kimio says. “Even if you're apart, the connection remains.”. Learn more here.

KIMITAKE Samurai Collection - Learn more here.

Every aspect of the brand has a meaning, including the packaging. KIMITAKE’s packaging incorporates centuries-old Japanese techniques like Nishijin-ori textile and Kochi’s washi paper, each box is a miniature ceremony of tradition. “Even the paulownia wood we use has meaning,” he says. “It’s used in Japanese gifting rituals to protect and preserve what matters.”

After a pivotal chapter at The Great Frog in London, he created another brand but it was before launching KIMITAKE. Kimio spent two decades crafting jewelry for his brand which was worn by many celebs in Japan, but later partnered with entrepreneur Takeshi Yokota to what we now know as KIMITAKE. Today, he creates in the United States while staying deeply rooted in Japanese craftsmanship.

His ambitions are quietly grand: “America is entertainment. Europe is history. Japan is craftsmanship,” Kimio says. “We want KIMITAKE to be the bridge — to bring the elegance of Japanese tradition into the world of global luxury.”

Before we wrap, he gently touches a pendant around his neck — a cleaved diamond. His wife wears the other half.

“When things get hard,” he says, looking down at it, “I remember why I started.”

In a culture obsessed with spectacle, Kimio is a different kind of radical because he is the one who builds not with noise, but with soul.

Photos Courtesy of KIMITAKE
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