About us
Monaka represents the harvest moon and full moon.
We offer jewelry made using rare natural stones and diamonds sourced from all over the world.
How to look at gemstones as jewelry and as a mineral lover,
The unique stone used is selected from two different perspectives.
The brand is characterized by its carefully selected unique materials and designs that bring out their unique characteristics.
We hope that our products will be treasured for a long time as important personal items that express the individual.
Each piece is carefully handmade.
"Monaka" is an archaic word for the mid-autumn full moon.
An eye for gems as decorative items along with a mineralogist's love of fine stones
Inspired by a truly original selection of distinctive precious stones
that are combined with sensitively selected unique materials
and assembled into designs that bring out the inner beauty of the ornaments.
Each individual piece of jewelry is carefully handcrafted to become a treasured personal expression
that will be cherished for years to come.
Designer: Asako Takaragami
Learned engraving and design at Itami Jewelry College
Moved to Antwerp, Belgium
Designing and creating jewelry at a fashion accessory atelier
After returning to Japan, he joined a jewelry company in Kyoto.
Involved in the development of products that represent the brand image
Designing high-end jewelry for department store sales in Tokyo
Learn about buying jewelry overseas, diamonds and precious stones
Started activities at monaka in 2012
Designer: Asako Hojin
Asako studied design and became a goldsmith at Itami College of Jewellery.
After graduating, she left Japan to work as a designer/maker at a fashion accessory studio in Antwerp, Belgium.
She relocated back to Japan to work at a jewelry company based in Kyoto where she was deeply involved in developing iconic products.
Then she moved on to a new career at a department store in Tokyo where she gained experience in designing high-quality jewellery for high-profile clients and buying jewellery from overseas.
This gave her in-depth knowledge of diamonds and precious stones.
In 2012, Asako started her own jewellery brand, monk.
Awards
Winner of the Best Award in each country (Japan) at the 21st International Fashion Creator Newcomer Award Competition in Paris
Winner of the runner-up prize at the 2003 Pearl Kobe Style Contest
Selected for the "HRD Diamond Awards 2007" Diamond Competition in Antwerp, Belgium
Awards
"The 21st Fashion Creator New Artist Award International Competition" First Prize for
Japan/among Japanese entries (Paris, France)
“2003 Kobe Pearl Contest” Second Prize (Kobe, Japan)
Selected participant of the "HRD Diamond Awards 2007" (Antwerp, Belgium)
Company Store
-MONAKA aoyama
107-0062 Tokyo, Minato-ku, Minamiaoyama 3-14-26 Casa Serena 1F
03-6434-7816
OPEN : 11:00 - 19:00
-MONAKA isetan shinjyuku
160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku 3-14-1 Isetan Shinjuku 1F
03-5357-7527
OPEN: 10:00 - 20:00 Same as Isetan Shinjuku store
-MONAKA Osaka
550-0015 Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Nishi-ku, Minami-Horie 1-16-1 Meblo 16th Building #306
06-4965-2153
OPEN: 11:00 - 19:00 Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays