Imayo Co., Ltd., a jewelry maison that weaves together Japanese beauty and tradition, is expected to win the Grand Prix and Prime Minister’s Award for the first time at the JJA Jewelry Design Awards 2025, Japan’s most prestigious jewelry competition.
Imayo Co., Ltd. Press Release: August 1, 2025 Jewelry Maison Imayo, weaving together Japanese beauty and tradition, is expected to win the Grand Prix and Prime Minister’s Award for the first time at the JJA Jewelry Design Awards 2025, Japan’s most prestigious jewelry competition. August 27th – 29th, 2025: kagayoi’s award-winning work, “Black & White,” will be unveiled for the first time at the Japan Jewelry Fair (JJF2025).
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/49012/98/49012-98-0f83e200282b4a5711f3a82b09968fcb-1800×2700.jpg Grand Prix/Prime Minister’s Award Winner: kagayoi’s “Black & White’ The new “Black & White” collection from kagayoi, a high-end jewelry brand from Kyoto manufactured and sold by Imayo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City; President and CEO: Nobutaka Imanishi; hereinafter “Imayo”), is set to win the Grand Prix and Prime Minister’s Award at the JJA Jewelry Design Awards 2025, sponsored by the Japan Jewelry Association (JJA). Imayo has been highly praised for her combination of technical skill and artistry at the same jewelry competition, having previously won the Runner-Up Prize and Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Award in 2021 and the Technology Award and Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Award in 2018. This marks her first time winning the Grand Prix and Prime Minister’s Award. The award ceremony will be held at the Japan Jewelry Fair (JJF2025) on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, and you can see kagayoi’s “Black & White” in person at the exhibition booth. This is a must-see for jewelry designers, craftsmen, and everyone involved in jewelry. Please come along to the venue. Grand Prix and Prime Minister’s Award Winner: kagayoi’s “Black & White” – Work Overview This piece of jewelry is inspired by the Ryugin-an Garden at Tofukuji Temple in Kyoto, and features delicate curves and a three-dimensional structure. It embodies the essence of Japanese beauty: “seeing what cannot be seen with the naked eye.” The Ryugin-an Garden, depicted with a dragon emerging from the clouds and white and black sand, embodies the Japanese spirit of beauty: seeing what cannot be seen with the naked eye. Black and white represent yin and yang, light and shadow, man and woman, shield and sword, heaven and earth. Opposites and their harmony. The lines that make up the shape are ripples in the sand that connect with the rhythm of the universe. The lines eventually take shape, and the shape transcends meaning, reaching the heart and becoming a wearable form. Beauty is born in the heart, able to sense the invisible. I designed this jewelry with the hope that these small shapes will bring peace of mind and space for rich imagination.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/49012/98/49012-98-8292e1f4e9e417df28e9fb83d919e758-1824×2700.jpg From top left: kagayoi “Black & White” Ear cuffs, bangles, rings Comment from kagayoi Designer Tsukasa Sawamura (Imayo Co., Ltd.) This “Black & White – Seeing the Invisible” project not only embodies the idea of Japanese beauty, but also conveys a message to the society that surrounds us in our daily lives. “Seeing the invisible,” feeling it with the heart, and thereby enriching the soul and bringing happiness—this has been my consistent goal, and that of all staff at kagayoi, including our artisans and sales staff, through our craftsmanship. We are very pleased that the form of beauty proposed by the kagayoi team has been recognized and appreciated. We are also honored that this award will bring joy to our beloved kagayoi customers. kagayoi “Black & White” Bangle, Ring, and Ear Cuff Set 18K White Gold with Black Ruthenium Plating / Diamond / Akoya Pearl
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/49012/98/49012-98-8ccaee2b35bc672400cf6c20f4c25e16-3900×3900.jpg Bangle
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/49012/98/49012-98-6dd0eeb8a93cc3f1c3b5bbc851d59674-2575×2700.jpg Ring
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/49012/98/49012-98-7fafc7c78240cc17b8d1a355253a3634-3900×3900.jpg Ear cuff About the JJA Design Jewelry Awards Established in 1989, the Japan Jewelry Association (JJA) is Japan’s leading jewelry design competition. Awards are given to outstanding works based on a comprehensive judging process that includes originality, aesthetic perfection, and technical ability. Prestigious awards include the Grand Prix – Prime Minister’s Award, Runner-up – Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award, and Runner-up – Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Award. Winning works are featured at exhibitions and in media both domestically and internationally, furthering the career development of designers. View details “JJA Design Jewelry Award 2025 Award Ceremony” The JJA Jewelry Design Award 2025 Award Ceremony will be held at the Japan Jewelry Fair (JJF2025) on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. The winning works were selected after a rigorous judging process from entries received from across Japan. This is the stage where creators who will shape the future of Japanese jewelry design will make their mark in history. The exhibition booth will feature all 23 of this year’s award-winning works, including kagayoi’s “Black & White,” which is scheduled to win the Grand Prix and Prime Minister’s Award. Please join us for this special occasion to witness the current and future developments in the industry. View details
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/49012/98/49012-98-5be60b83fdd686314110c14e884205d6-600×130.jpg About “Kagayoi” As the capital of Japan, Kyoto’s aesthetic sense has developed as it has attracted the finest artisans and craftsmen of the time to create the most beautiful and sophisticated pieces of clothing. Since 1861 (the first year of the Bunkyu era), we have been delivering authentic brilliance from Kyoto for 160 years. Imayo’s high-end jewelry, “Kagayoi,” is the beautiful embodiment of the sensibilities cultivated in Kyoto, the numerous meticulous details passed down through the generations, and the exquisite craftsmanship. The name comes from the archaic word “kagayofu,” meaning “to sparkle and shine.” A fusion of the traditions and culture unique to Kyoto, Japan, and the exceptional skills of our artisans, Imayo’s jewelry awakens the “Japanese aesthetic” that lives within every mature woman, adding a touch of splendor and elegance to every moment she wears it. View details
About Imayo Co., Ltd. In 1861 (the first year of the Bunkyu era), the first generation, Yohei Imanishi, founded the company in Gojo Sakaimachi, Kyoto, as a haberdashery selling hairpins, combs, and other items. Over the next 160 years and six generations, the company has remained true to its desire to enrich people’s hearts with authentic jewelry. Today, as an integrated jewelry manufacturing and sales company, it offers the high-end brand “kagayoi,” as well as the advanced brand “Hyacca,” the anniversary brand “ICHAROI,” and the lab-grown diamond brand “SHINCA.” View details IMAYO Official Website URL: https://imayo-boutique.jp/ IMAYO Official Online Boutique URL: https://imayo-boutique.jp/shop/ IMAYO BRAND UNIVERSE kagayoi Official Website URL: https://imayo-boutique.jp/shop/c/ckagayoi Hyacca Official Website URL: https://imayo-boutique.jp/shop/c/chyacca/ ICHAROI Official Website URL: https://imayo-boutique.jp/shop/c/cicharoi SHINCA Official Website URL: https://imayo-boutique.jp/shop/c/cshinca OFFICIAL COLLABORATION JEWELRY SHOHEI OHTANI × IMAYO URL:
https://imayo-boutique.jp/shop/pg/1imayo-SHOHEI-OHTANI/ SHOHEI OHTANI × SHINCA URL: https://imayo-boutique.jp/shop/pg/1shinca-SHOHEI-OHTANI/ For more information about this release Press release attachments
