C-brain
About Company
Kanazawa / Handmade Watches & Clocks
C-Brain Co., Ltd.
The beauty of handcraft,
in everyday timekeeping.
C-Brain is a watch and clock atelier in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan. From dials made with mineral pigments, metal leaf and urushi lacquer to the warmth of hand-drawn numerals, its timepieces bring the character of handwork to objects worn and enjoyed every day.
Making timepieces in Kanazawa since 1994
The “C” in C-Brain stands for Creative, Culture and Communication. With human connection at the heart of its work, the atelier brings the subtlety and warmth of handcraft to the familiar act of telling the time.
Its principal brands are Hanamokko and Kelutuan. Alongside wristwatches, C-Brain makes table clocks and offers interchangeable straps, inviting customers to explore combinations of color and material.
Japanese colors and materials, captured on a dial
Hanamokko brings traditional Japanese materials and colors to the wrist. Mineral pigments, gold leaf, urushi lacquer and washi paper give each dial depth, texture and a distinctive response to light.
Iwa-enogu, the mineral pigments also used in Japanese painting, lend a granular texture to the surface. Together with the shimmer of metal leaf and the sheen of lacquer, these materials turn a glance at the time into a moment of appreciation.
For your wrist and your home
Hanamokko
Wristwatches that explore Japanese colors and patterns through mineral pigments, metal leaf and lacquer.
Kelutuan
Hand-drawn numerals and a varied color palette bring a gentle touch of individuality to everyday style.
Hanamokko Table Clocks
The atelier's approach to materials, developed through its wristwatches, finds a new expression in clocks for the home.
Connecting regional skills through timepiece design
Hanamokko table clocks feature bodies turned by woodworkers from the Yamanaka lacquerware tradition. Their rounded forms and tactile surfaces are paired with dials finished in mineral pigments or surihaku, a decorative metal-leaf technique. Some surihaku dials also incorporate Futamata washi paper from Kanazawa.
For wristwatches, C-Brain offers a custom-order service with a choice of dials, cases and straps. Repair and maintenance support helps customers continue enjoying their watches long after choosing a design.
In the media
Bringing traditional techniques to table clocks
Issue 127 of ISICO's magazine explores how C-Brain adapted the materials used in its wristwatches to develop table clocks, drawing on Yamanaka woodturning and Futamata washi paper.
Read the article (Japanese)A visit to C-Brain's Kanazawa atelier
This workshop visit traces the company's beginnings with representative director Hitoya Inami and follows the making of its dials. It explores the ideas behind using mineral pigments, metal leaf and lacquer in watches, and the atelier's commitment to handwork.
Read the article (Japanese)Company information
| Company name | C-Brain Co., Ltd. |
|---|---|
| English company name | C-Brain Co., Ltd. |
| Representative Director | Hitoya Inami |
| Established | November 10, 1994 |
| Head office and atelier | 1-9-5 Wakunami, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0953, Japan |
| Business activities | Design, production and sale of handmade watches and clocks |
| Principal brands | Hanamokko, Kelutuan and iroha |
| Website | C-Brain official website and online shop |
| Social media | Instagram / X |
Contact / Kogei Japonica
Press, product development and collaboration
For press inquiries, product development or collaboration involving C-Brain, please contact Kogei Japonica and mention C-Brain in your message.
Contact Kogei Japonica
