BWeaves Amazing Journey to Japanese Pearl Farms

[lary007]

After last night's (25-June-2025) PP Live Event with the 20 year old high quality akoyas, I thought I'd dig out my 70 year old 5.5-6 mm akoyas.

My Mom bought this choker necklace when I was born, so 66 years ago.

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I don't know why, but all of a sudden I am in LOVE with those old mikimoto clasps and have been looking for one!

 

[BWeaves]

I almost forgot all the gifts. Hisano and Jeremy had a huge tote bag full of gifts (chocolate) to give to all the various groups we met. And we were given gifts at various booths. One vendor gave each of us a large bag of his favorite tea. I received tea, pearl polishing gloves, a pearl pin, and a 4 leaf clover. I need to remember to bring gifts next time I go to Japan.

 

[Barbarino]

First up, what to wear? I knew I had to wear akoya pearls for this trip. Plus, I wanted to make sure that everyone important to me was represented.

From the top!

Mikimoto earrings.
Little h emerald and pearl tin-cup and little h emerald and soufflé pearl enhancer, all made by Hisano.
Natural white Hanadama rope bought from Jeremy at Pearl Paradise.
South Sea, Japanese akoya, and Chinese freshwater pearl tin-cup from Sarah at Kojima Pearl.
Peacock Tahitian ring from Kamoka Pearl Farm, bought from Tevai's mother Celeste.
Vintage akoya pearl ring inherited from my mother. She would have loved this trip.

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And there's more!!!

Right after the trip to Japan, I immediately flew to Cleveland, OH for BRAIDS 2025, an international Kumihimo (Japanese braiding) conference. Of course, I was underdressed for the banquet. I'm too embarrassed to post a photo what I was wearing at the conference. Her obijime (the thin braid around her waist) was handmade by her.

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When I got back, there was a package waiting for me, that Hisano had forwarded to me. Erika Hashimoto, who I met at the JPF '06 (Japan Pearl Fair), had sent me a gift of one of her pearl pins. She wraps a knot of silk Kumihimo around an akoya pearl and mounts it as a pin. What a treasure!

I sent her a photo of my current Kumihimo project on my Takadai (high braiding stand). My braid is called Kikko (Tortoiseshell pattern).

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The braiding stand is called a Takadai (high stand). The bamboo sword is called a Tou. The Tou is hanging on a peg on the right front leg of the Takadai. The top of the stand is called a Torii, just like the gates at the Shinto shrines. The lead weighted bobbins that hold the threads are called Tama. The things with the pins that keep the tama in order are called Koma. I can pull a chair up and sit inside the Takadai. The Japanese versions have a board inside the Takadai to kneel on.

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Here's Erika at the JPF '06 with one of her pins.

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Unrelated to pearls - How clever that the metal chafing dish covers have a transparent window so you can visualize the contents without actually having to remove the cover and lower the temperature of the food and dripping the moisture of condensation from the cover all over the tablecloth! (Isn't it great to see how other countries do things?!)

 

[BWeaves]

Unrelated to pearls - How clever that the metal chafing dish covers have a transparent window so you can visualize the contents without actually having to remove the cover and lower the temperature of the food and dripping the moisture of condensation from the cover all over the tablecloth! (Isn't it great to see how other countries do things?!)

I didn't even notice the clear lids on the chafing dishes! The lids were always open when we went through the lines. Plus, this was in Cleveland, OH, not Japan.