Kenji Uchimura is the founder, CEO, and designer of Kuoe Kyoto, an independent Japanese watch brand established in 2020. A native of Kyoto, Uchimura’s path into the horological industry was shaped by his international education and a personal interest in vintage aesthetics.
The conceptual origins of the brand date back to 2010, when Uchimura was a university student studying language in London. During his time there, he encountered a shop specializing in antique watches from the 1940s through the 1970s. He was particularly drawn to the longevity and classic design of hand-wound timepieces, which maintained their functionality across decades. This experience led to a professional vision of creating new watches that blended traditional vintage style with modern reliability.
After returning to Japan, Uchimura gained several years of experience working for a watch company in Kyoto. During this period, he refined his understanding of the business and product development. In 2020, he realized his goal by establishing Kuoe. The brand name itself is deeply personal, derived from Uchimura’s initials and his birthday on October 8th.
Under Uchimura’s leadership, Kuoe has focused on a “Made in Kyoto” identity. He established a workshop in the city where watches are hand-assembled by local staff, emphasizing transparency and craftsmanship. His design philosophy favors understated, smaller case sizes—typically 35mm to 38mm—and classic military or formal aesthetics, intentionally avoiding fleeting fashion trends.
Since the launch of the brand’s first model, the Old Smith 90-001, Uchimura has overseen the expansion of the collection to include automatic models like the Royal Smith and specialized designs like the Sombrero diver. He continues to manage the brand’s growth from its flagship boutique in Kyoto, seeking to make Japanese-assembled, classic timepieces accessible to a global audience.