Tokyo’s Kuramae district, located in Taito City along the Sumida River, has evolved from a largely overlooked warehouse area into a vibrant hub for artisans and craftspeople. Once primarily a storage zone for rice and later specialized wholesalers dealing in textiles, kitchenware, jewelry, and precious metals, Kuramae has developed a reputation as “Tokyo’s Brooklyn” due to its concentration of small studios, specialty coffee shops, and craft breweries.
Akie Kawagoe, professor and researcher at Bunkyo Gakuin University specializing in traditional Japanese crafts, notes that Kuramae remained relatively deserted until the early 2000s. However, the availability of large, affordable spaces originally intended for warehousing has made it attractive to artists seeking studio environments.
Several jewelry makers highlight how Kuramae’s industrial past now supports contemporary craft. Petite Robe Noire, founded by Yoshiyo Abe, operates out of a former paper-cutting factory. Abe began sourcing vintage costume jewelry internationally but shifted toward designing her own pieces after engaging with Japanese artisans and appreciating the handcrafted techniques behind antique jewelry. Her work features silver chains accented with tourmalines and includes pieces like the Luna necklace, composed of individually hand-cut half-moon silver discs, reflecting cross-cultural influences she learned from a mentor in Mexico.
A short walk away, the Shinkai workshop presents a minimalist storefront illuminated by large windows and connected directly to the jeweler’s workspace. Mizuki Shinkai, who runs the brand with his wife Kanako, emphasizes jewelry’s emotional connection to its wearer and the importance of maintaining a hands-on approach despite having a team of artisans. His designs pay close attention to details such as weight, balance, and comfort to encourage longevity in use. Notable examples include the Jet diamond ring, featuring a 1.01-carat pear-shaped diamond, which is also available for international customers. Shinkai appreciates Kuramae’s unhurried environment, which he sees as conducive to careful craftsmanship and creative inspiration among local makers.
About ten minutes away, mmm jewelry, operated by Marika Mayanagi, occupies a compact, appointment-only space that doubles as a workshop. Mayanagi transitioned to jewelry making after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, which underscored for her the importance of a craft that is portable and personally sustainable. Specializing in baroque pearls known for their unique, asymmetric forms, her signature piece, the D Ring, can be stacked with various colored gemstones to create personalized styles. Mayanagi selected Kuramae for its proximity to Okachimachi—Tokyo’s main jewelry wholesale district—and the cluster of gemstone dealers, pearl suppliers, and metalworkers it hosts. She also values the district’s blend of established local businesses alongside independent shops, encouraging visitors to explore the neighborhood as a whole. Through her work, she aims to contribute to the livelihoods of skilled craftspeople active in the area.
Together, these artisans exemplify Kuramae’s transformation from an industrial warehouse district to a creative enclave, blending historical legacy with modern craftsmanship in Tokyo’s evolving urban landscape.