Koji Iwakura, the founder of TOHODO, is known as the "Father of Jewellery" in Japan. He was the head judge of the International Pearl Design Competition for more than 20 years, and in 1964 he organised and founded the Japan Jewellery Designers' Association. In the 1980s he held solo exhibitions in London, Paris and New York.  

In over half a century of designing jewellery, Koji Iwakura has won numerous awards for his work. He has been invited to collaborate on the development of promotional items for Kyocera, Shiseido, Morinaga, Seikosha, and Seibu. He has also designed jewellery for royalty such as Empress Michiko, Princess Grace of Monaco, and queen of Sweden. He was the first person to have a piece of jewellery in the collection of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo.  

TOHODO is located in the IMPERIAL HOTEL TOKYO, which is not only known as Japan's "State Guesthouse", but also as the earliest shopping mall in Japan, with a history of 130 years. 

Over the past hundred years, it has been home to some of the world's best-known brands as well as centuries-old Japanese brands.  

“The exposure to many beautiful things in our lives has invariably broadened our knowledge and improved our aesthetics. As our appreciation continues to improve, our requirements for jewellery will also become more stringent.  

If we still stick to the old rules and continue creating with the same materials, designs and production methods of the past, we will make people aesthetically tired, and ultimately lose interest in jewellery. 

I see this grim reality, so I ask myself to create works that are full of artistry but also focus on the flavour of handmade. It would be a great pleasure for me if I could make people feel this in my work.”

- Koji Iwakura