Born in Japan, Mariko Sumioka spent part of her childhood in Brazil, where her fascination
with jewelry and gemstones began.
She initially worked in the oil and gas industry before turning to jewelry and metalwork. In
2011, she graduated from the Edinburgh College of Art.
Now based in Tokyo, she draws primary inspiration from Japanese architecture. Her signature
technique involves assembling silver elements to create patterns reminiscent of the
interlocking roof tiles found on traditional temple roofs.
She participates in numerous international exhibitions.

Shinji Nakaba began his jewelry practice in 1974, following his studies at Hiko Mizuno
College of Jewelry in Tokyo. Prior to this, he explored various creative fields, including
fashion design, studio hairstyling, and shoemaking.
His work is distinguished by a singular use of pearls and by his engagement with glyptic
art—the carving of gemstones—through which he develops a sculptural approach to jewelry.
He also incorporates reclaimed materials, expanding the narrative and material complexity of
his pieces.
In 2023, Nakaba was a finalist for the LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize.
His works are held in major public collections, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal;
the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; and Espace Solidor (Cagnes-sur-Mer).

Trained under Yasuki Hiramatsu, a pioneer of contemporary jewelry, from 2002 to 2009,
Fumiki Taguchi obtained a Master’s degree in metal hammering from the Graduate School of
Fine Arts at Tokyo University of the Arts in 2005.
He conducts in-depth research on silver while developing a personal approach to traditional
Japanese engraving (wagane-bori).
Taguchi is an Associate Professor at Kobe Design University.
His work is held in collections including the National Museums Scotland (2015), the Museum
of Arts and Design (2023), and the RISD Museum (2024). He was also a finalist for the
LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize in 2025.

Manami Aoki graduated from Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry in Tokyo in 2017. In 2019, she received the Talente Prize during Munich Jewellery Week.

Her work establishes a subtle dialogue with wood, particularly hinoki. She hammers each piece until the fibers emerge, evoking tousled hair upon waking. She then “combs” and styles them to achieve their final form.

The daughter of artists and a graduate of Tokyo University of the Arts, Aya Iwata works primarily with silver, pâte de verre, and cloisonné enamel, her preferred technique. With her emblematic series of brooches Kumo-noie (“houses in the clouds”), she explores themes of memory, connection, and the passage of time through material and form.

Her work is regularly exhibited internationally and is held in prestigious collections, including the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Limoges.

Born into a family of artists in Kyoto, Takashi Kojima studied architecture at Kyoto
University of Art and Design.
Since 2010, he has developed his work at his atelier-boutique FACILE in Kyoto.
Takashi Kojima explores the potential of shells that were used for pearl cultivation and later
discarded. In particular, he highlights their rough, weathered, and eroded outer surfaces,
which are often covered with algae or other marine organisms.

He has exhibited internationally. His pieces are held in collections including the Design
Museum Den Bosch and Espace Solidor.

The work of Kimiaki Kageyama, a master Japanese goldsmith, drawns on techniques
derived from the making of sword fittings and armor, particularly the use of alloys and urushi
lacquer.
His work is distinguished by a particular focus on materials and their transformation, where
technical heritage meets a interest in plant forms.
A leading figure in jewelry education in Japan, he was among the first instructors in
metalwork at Hiko Mizuno Jewellery College. He has participated in Schmuck (Munich)
since 1992.
A recipient of numerous awards, he also leads workshops and lectures internationally.