A Watch Story Between Paris and Tokyo.

 Three Casios on My Desk—and the Little Fox I’m Still Waiting For

A Watch Story Between Paris and Tokyo

It began with a watch.

I came across a small Casio with a matcha-green face, a silver-toned case and a tiny fox resting quietly above the hands. It was not flashy or luxurious in the traditional sense, but something about it immediately caught my attention.

The watch was the new Casio × Café Kitsuné collaboration, the AQ-230ECK-3A. By the time I began looking for it, it was already difficult to find.

I am still waiting and hoping for an official restock.

But somewhere along the way, my search led me to three other Casio watches—and I ended up purchasing all three.

The Three I Chose

The first is the Casio LTP-V007D-7B, a small rectangular watch with a silver stainless-steel bracelet and a white Roman-numeral dial. It feels clean, polished and slightly architectural.

The second is the Casio LTP-V007L-7B2. It has a similar rectangular Roman-numeral face, but its dark brown leather strap and delicate gold-toned hands give it a warmer, more traditional character.

The third is the Casio MTP-M305L-1AV, a larger rounded-square design with a black dial, tan leather strap and a small moon-phase display. It feels more contemporary and expressive than the other two.

They are different, but together they reveal what I seem to be drawn to: classic shapes, restrained colors and small details that make an everyday object feel special.

These are the three I purchased.

And then there is the fourth—the little matcha-green Café Kitsuné watch that I am still waiting for.

More Than a Café

My interest in that watch made me curious about Café Kitsuné itself.

Why does this little fox have such a devoted following?

Café Kitsuné is not an old Parisian café with generations of history behind it. Its tradition is a modern one, created at the meeting point between France and Japan.

Its parent company, Kitsuné, was founded in Paris in 2002 by Gildas Loaëc and Masaya Kuroki. The idea began with music, expanded into fashion through Maison Kitsuné, and eventually entered the world of coffee with the opening of Café Kitsuné in Tokyo’s Aoyama neighborhood in 2013.

Music, clothing, architecture, coffee and travel all became part of the same creative universe.

The word kitsuné means “fox” in Japanese. In Japanese folklore, the fox is known for its ability to transform and take on different forms. It is a fitting symbol for a brand that moves so naturally between music, fashion, cafés and everyday objects.

Parisian Ease Meets Japanese Simplicity

The attraction of Café Kitsuné comes from its balance.

It carries the relaxed sophistication of a Paris café, but it also reflects the restraint and thoughtful details often associated with Japanese design. Nothing feels overly decorated. The colors are gentle, the fox logo is playful without being childish, and even an ordinary coffee cup feels carefully considered.

It is polished, but not intimidating.

That balance makes the brand feel both special and approachable. A Maison Kitsuné coat may be a luxury purchase, but a cup of coffee, a fox-shaped cookie or a small café accessory allows more people to step briefly into the same world.

It Sells a Way of Living

Perhaps Café Kitsuné’s greatest strength is that it does not simply sell coffee.

It sells the feeling of slowing down in a beautiful city, sitting at a carefully chosen table and noticing the small details of an ordinary afternoon.

The music, interiors, clothing and drinks all tell the same story: everyday life can be practical and still be beautiful.

That may be why the brand feels so relevant now. Many of us are not necessarily searching for more things. We are searching for a more meaningful and aesthetically thoughtful way to experience the things we already do—getting dressed, listening to music, meeting someone for coffee or spending a quiet hour alone.

Why Matcha Matters

Café Kitsuné began introducing matcha to its Paris audience before matcha became the international lifestyle trend it is today.

For the latest Casio collaboration, the matcha-green face became more than a fashionable color. Paired with the vintage silver design, it represented the Japanese side of Café Kitsuné’s identity and the quiet pleasure of enjoying a simple moment.

The familiar Casio AQ-230 was transformed with a matcha-green face, the profile fox, engraved Café Kitsuné details and special packaging.

Technically, it remained an everyday Casio watch.

Emotionally, however, it became a small piece of the Café Kitsuné world.

That is what thoughtful design can do.

The One I’m Still Waiting For

I have not purchased the Café Kitsuné watch yet. It sold out quickly, and resale prices are already much higher than I would comfortably pay.

So I will wait.

Perhaps an official restock will come. Perhaps it will not. Either way, the watch has already led me toward a small collection that I genuinely enjoy.

The three watches I purchased each mark the beginning of a different story: one polished, one timeless and one a little more playful.

The fourth remains on my screen for now—a small matcha-green possibility between Paris and Tokyo.

Perhaps we are not always drawn to an object only because of what it is. Sometimes we are drawn to the life it helps us imagine.

A cup of matcha.
A favorite song.
A quiet café table.
A small watch marking the hours.

Life is worth gazing slowly.

— HappyKay Studio

The Watches Featured

• Casio LTP-V007D-7B — silver stainless-steel bracelet
• Casio LTP-V007L-7B2 — dark brown leather strap
• Casio MTP-M305L-1AV — black moon-phase dial and tan leather strap
• Casio × Café Kitsuné AQ-230ECK-3A — currently waiting for an official restock

Sources

• Casio: AQ-230ECK-3A Official Product Story
• Café Kitsuné × Casio Collection
• Vogue: Café Kitsuné and Its Paris–Tokyo Lifestyle

Editorial Note: This post reflects my personal purchases and independent research. It is not sponsored by Casio, Café Kitsuné, Maison Kitsuné or Amazon. The accompanying editorial image is an AI-assisted visualization created from product references; product appearance may vary.