Meet Keiko Akamine | Owner and jewelry designer at Yu|Mono

We had the good fortune of connecting with Keiko Akamine and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Keiko, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I learned the importance of balance the hard way. Most of my youth revolved around wrestling and being a competitor in such a grueling sport consumed every aspect of my life. When I was 19, I suffered a neck injury during training and in an instant, I lost the one thing that I felt defined me. It took most of my 20’s to realize that I was much more than an athlete and, as silly as it sounds, that there was more to life than sports. Though I will never regret pouring myself wholeheartedly into something I loved, the lesson I gained from this experience is that life is unpredictable but finding balance is a way to weather the storms. Living a balanced life means that when one area of life is inevitably disrupted, there are other things that bring you joy and keep you moving forward. My approach to work is much different than my approach to sports. I pour my heart and soul into Yū|Mono, but it isn’t who I am and it’s not a reflection of my self-worth. I consciously allow myself the flexibility to learn a new hobby, train jiujitsu, travel, take a break when I need it, or drop everything at a moment’s notice if a loved one needs me. Finding balance is difficult, but it has made my life richer and more fulfilling while still allowing me to chase big dreams.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I always joke that I ended up in my career by accident. I was in grad school studying to become a Sport Psychologist and, between reading textbooks and writing papers, decided on a whim to take a jewelry making class at the local art academy. I started tinkering with jewelry, bought a torch and some basic tools, and soon realized I could probably make some spending money if I found a way to sell my jewelry. (As a poor graduate student, finding a way to make some spending money was a big deal) By the time I graduated in 2017, Yū|Mono was starting to develop a small following. I knew I couldn’t give up without finding out what Yū|Mono could become, so I decided to go all in. It was scary, especially since I had no experience with the jewelry industry, but I felt in my gut that it was the right decision. Running a business is a lot of work, but it doesn’t feel like work at all when you love what you do. I love to create and I love that being a business owner means wearing a different hat each day.
If I had to give advice to my younger self, I would say that you should always have a plan, but it’s more important to have the flexibility to allow that plan to change. Starting Yū|Mono meant letting go of the future I envisioned for myself, but the path I gained is so much more than I ever dreamed of.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are SO many people who are responsible for any success I’ve been able to achieve, but two people who have kept me balanced (and sane!) over the last two crazy years are my partner Danny and my lifelong friend Kelsey. Both are small business owners in creative fields (check out @rustandrootfurniture and @kelseynapier) and they’ve been an important part of my growth both in business and as a person.

Website: https://yumonodesign.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yumonodesign/

Image Credits
Alice Van Schaik, Aaron Mizushima