Mikimoto Pearl Island: The Story of the World's First Cultured Pearl

By Mio Ieda

Local in Toba

Did you know that Toba is the birthplace of the world’s first cultivated pearls? The technology was invented by Kokichi Mikimoto, who was born and raised right here in Toba City. This is the inspiring story of how these breathtakingly beautiful gems came to be.

A Life Dedicated to Pearl Cultivation and Regional Prosperity

Kokichi Mikimoto was born in 1858 as the eldest son of a local udon shop owner in Toba. At age 20, he traveled to Tokyo to broaden his horizons and discovered that many visitors from abroad were fascinated by pearls. At the time, pearls were purely natural—accidental gifts of nature. Concerned by the overfishing of Akoya oysters, Kokichi became determined to find a way to breed them and artificially cultivate pearls. After years of trial and error and numerous failures, he finally succeeded in cultivating semi-spherical pearls in 1893. While perfecting his craft, he opened the "Mikimoto Pearl Store" in Ginza, Tokyo. He soon expanded to London, New York, and Paris, enchanting the world as the "Pearl King." Despite his global success, Kokichi remained deeply devoted to his hometown. He lobbied for the establishment of Ise-Shima National Park, brought the railway to Toba, and funded the construction of "Mikimoto Road" connecting the Inner and Outer Ise Shrines, as well as the "Fukaya Waterway" connecting the Pacific Ocean to Ago Bay.

Discover the World of Pearls at "Mikimoto Pearl Island"

The site where Kokichi first succeeded in his mission—formerly known as Ojima Island—is now Mikimoto Pearl Island. Today, it serves as a comprehensive center for learning about these "tears of the moon" through various exhibits.

At the Pearl Museum, Japan's first museum dedicated to pearls, the science of how pearls are formed and modern cultivation techniques are explained through dioramas and displays. The collection of magnificent pearl art pieces and jewelry is truly breathtaking.

Several times a day, you can watch professional Ama (traditional skin divers) dive into the sea to collect oysters. You can even hear the "Iso-bue" (sea whistle), the unique whistling sound made by their traditional breathing technique.

The island also features the Kokichi Mikimoto Memorial Hall, which chronicles his dramatic life and achievements. Naturally, the island features a Mikimoto Pearl shop where you can purchase authentic pearl jewelry as a one-of-a-kind souvenir from Toba.

A Dream That Adorns the World

Kokichi's journey wasn't easy. Five years into his research, a devastating red tide wiped out his oyster beds in Shima. It was when he checked the remaining oysters at his Toba site that he discovered five semi-spherical pearls, marking the dawn of the cultured pearl industry. Thanks to the cultivation methods he pioneered, pearls are now produced in Tahiti, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and beyond, each with unique regional characteristics. Kokichi’s famous dream, "To adorn the necks of all women around the world with pearls," continues to live on today.