The Story of Pearls: A Fusion of Mystery and Craftsmanship
Known as “drops of the moon” and “tears of a mermaid,” pearls are mysterious gems nurtured inside shells over many years.
In ancient Roman and Greek mythology, pearls were regarded as tears of goddesses. In Japan, in 1893, Kokichi Mikimoto succeeded in the world’s first pearl cultivation, spreading this beauty worldwide.
We invite you to discover the story of a gem cherished across time, born from the shell and the sea.
The Legend of “Drops of the Moon”
Ancient Romans believed that on moonlit nights, shells inhaled mist drifting down from the sky, giving birth to pearls.
In Greek mythology, there is a romantic legend: when Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, was born, her tears and droplets falling into the sea turned into pearls.
The Birth of Cultured Pearls: From Japan to the World
In 1893, Kokichi Mikimoto achieved the world’s first successful hemispherical pearl cultivation in Toba.
With the belief, “I wish to adorn women all over the world with pearls,” he advanced cultivation technology, establishing Japan as a major pearl nation and making MIKIMOTO famous worldwide.
Ise-Shima and the Ama Culture
Ise-Shima in Mie Prefecture is the heart of Japanese pearl farming. Since ancient times, ama (female divers) have harvested and tended to akoya oysters. Their “isobue” (fisherman’s flute) is even listed among Japan’s Top 100 Soundscapes.
In Maruyama Park, Ise City, stands the Pearl Oyster Memorial Tower, honoring and showing gratitude to the oysters that produce pearls.
Evolution of Fashion
Once extremely rare and costly, natural pearls became accessible to all thanks to advances in cultivation.
Brands like Chanel and Dior popularized the combination of black dresses and pearls, establishing pearls as a modern fashion essential.
A pearl is a one-of-a-kind gem, created through the harmony of nature’s blessings and human wisdom.