Japan Pearl Tour and the 7th Japan Pearl Fair hosted by the Japan Pearl Exporters Association

[jeg]

Day 4 began with a check out from our hotel and a short flight from Nagasaki to Kobe, The City of Pearls. Kobe will be our final destination where we will do some day trips and attend the Japan Pearl Fair. After arriving at the Kobe airport, we traveled by taxi to Otsuki Pearl. Otsuki Pearl is the largest pearl processing company in Japan. The company was founded in 1930.

In 1922, Kikuo Otsuki, the founder of the Otsuki Pearl Company, developed the spherical pearl formation technique which made it possible to cultivate perfectly round, large sized pearls.

 

[jeg]

We are taken to a room where they are half drilling small pearls to be used for rings and earrings. I noticed several personal items in each worker’s station- from fans, humidifiers and cute trinkets.

In the next room we visited, the workers were focused on sorting.

 

[jeg]

 

[jeg]

Some sorting cards (with the help of Google Translate) that represent the sorting process.

Blemishes

Luster

Shape

Nacre

We were able to walk to our new hotel from here. It’s conveniently located across from the Japan Pearl Fair Venue. Our hosts are now on their way to prepare for the event and our group will gather in a few hours for dinner before calling it a day.

 

[jeg]

Day 5. We hopped on a van and journeyed out to Mikimoto Island. This will be a short post because I did a pretty deep dive into Mikimoto Pearl Island a few years ago in the thread titled “A Visit to Mikimoto Pearl Island”. The rest stops here are large and almost like a strip mall.

I love the sky bridge full of children’s art banners.

Of course, the Ama show. They are renovating the viewing platform, so it is currently being staged at a temporary location

Our group

When we returned to Kobe, Mr. Sundeep Shah, from House of Keshi/Pearl Exporting Company, along with his wife and daughter, treated us to Indian Cuisine for dinner.

 

[CathyKeshi]

Thanks Jeg!

 

[jeg]

Day 5. It was a free day today! We went our separate ways for the day. Several people traveled to Nara to experience the Deer Park. Although I don’t remember a lot about it other than the deer roaming freely, I did experience the park when I was younger. I really wanted to go shopping. I love Japanese clothing. But first, Tao and I were invited to visit the House of Keshi/Pearl Exporting Company where Mr. Sundeep Shah specializes in Akoya keshi. I will create a separate thread for this visit, since it was a personal detour and not part of our tour.

After having a fabulous time playing with the keshi, Tao and I headed to the Sannomiya Center Gai to do a little shopping. It’s a large arcade with all sorts of shops and restaurants.

The first day of the 7th Japan Pearl Fair begins tomorrow!!!

 

[JerseyPearl]

I am hoping to attend the Pearl Fair next year...but in the meantime, I am living vicariously through your photos and comments! What an incredible trip you must be having. Enjoy!!

 

[Pearlgully]

Thank you, Jeg, for the beautiful photos and narrative.

 

[jeg]

Thanks so much everyone for following along!

This morning we met in the hotel lobby and walked over to the Pearl Fair. The venue is right across the street from where we are staying. The opening ceremony is quite ceremonious. Several of the officials give a speech, then one by one they are called up to the stage where they are handed white gloves to wear. After everyone is in line, they hand each person a pair of scissors. Jeremy was one of the participants in the official ribbon cutting ceremony.

 

[jeg]

After the ribbon cutting, we were led on a little tour of the showroom by Mr. Chikazawa, the owner of Kitamura Pearls, the farm we visited on Tsushima Island the first day. I took a few pics while on the tour-

 

[jeg]

And pearly pics as we walked around the showroom-

 

[jeg]

 

[jeg]

Having trouble uploading- I’ll try again later…

 

[jeg]

 

[jeg]

The Welcome Party was another ceremonious event. I really fell down on the job tonight. I didn’t get any photos of the banquet hall and by the time the speaking concluded, I turned around and the buffet was already in full action, so I didn’t get any photos of that either.

The evening begins with speakers, followed by the Kagami Biraki, or breaking of the sake barrel. The lid of the barrel is opened with wooden mallets and represents harmony, new beginnings and shared good fortune. The sake is drunk by all guests creating unity.

 

[jeg]

A group photo from the evening-

 

[BWeaves]

Oh JEG, great photos! So much fun. I'm having flashbacks, haha. I can tell by the pearls exactly whose booths you were in, and that gives me great joy.

 

[CTD]

What an incredible opportunity and experience! Thank you for sharing your journey through words and pictures.

 

[Pella]

Wonderful JEG. Just wonderful. Thank you so much. Great job. I keep looking at the photos and then going to the JPY to AU$ converter and then, sighing.