Hinamachi is a residential neighborhood located in the Tamagawa area of Setagaya Ward (Setagaya-ku), Tokyo. The area is known for its quiet, suburban atmosphere, making it a desirable place to live for families and individuals seeking a balance between city life and tranquility. Within this peaceful setting lies Iolom, a space where metal, organic materials, and design experimentation converge. Iolom is more than a jewelry brand, it is the personal vision of Noriaki Sakamoto, an artisan who has forged his own path in craftsmanship. With no formal training in jewelry design, Noriaki transitioned from interior design to jewelry after a client’s request, teaching himself through books and relentless experimentation. Since launching Iolom in 2008, he has continued refining his work, blending metal, organic materials, and unconventional inspiration into wearable art.

An Unparalleled Approach to Materiality

At the heart of Iolom is a philosophy of exploration, each piece is a product of trial and discovery. Noriaki works extensively with silver and brass, creating one-of-a-kind metal compositions that no other artisan replicates. His signature brass-silver alloy is the result of years of experimentation, making his jewelry instantly recognizable for its texture, patina, and raw beauty.

His work goes beyond traditional metals. Noriaki is the only jeweler in Japan using mammoth horn, a rare material previously reserved for elite families' personal stamps in Japanese history. A museum shop in Japan granted him exclusive rights to this prehistoric medium, which he now incorporates into select designs.

Collaboration and Expansion

Noriaki has extended his craftsmanship through collaborations with other visionaries. He has worked with Rigards on titanium-based objects for their eyewear displays and continues to partner with Ziggy Chen, designing bags and belts for the designer’s collections. Beyond collaborations, Noriaki also produces leather bags under his own label and recently, he has introduced a room spray that reflects his desire to create objects that shape one’s environment. This dedication to creating extends to his store space, where every display object is handcrafted from brass, echoing the materiality of his jewelry.

The Studio, Store, and Beyond

His atelier, situated directly above the store, is where every piece is shaped by hand, an uninterrupted connection between creator and creation.

For those seeking an even deeper engagement with craftsmanship, Noriaki also runs a separate gallery space just 20 minutes away, where he occasionally curates and showcases other artisans’ works. This endeavor reflects his commitment to boosting Japan’s independent craft industry, ensuring that traditional techniques and experimental approaches continue to thrive.

Signature Designs and Timeless Experimentation

Among Iolom’s most recognized works are his stove-inspired rings and bracelets, a nod to traditional Japanese aesthetics transformed into modern, sculptural pieces. The balance between industrial edge and organic imperfection defines his designs, making them timeless yet unmistakably his.

Having spent over 15 years refining his approach, Noriaki continues to experiment, particularly with his brass-silver technique, which took nearly two years to perfect. His pieces remain fluid yet deeply personal, evolving with every new discovery, yet always rooted in his hands-on, self-taught methodology.