Mikimoto Kōkichi: The Pearl King and His Museum

A statue of “Pearl King” Mikimoto Kōkichi.

Hundreds of Akoya oysters are suspended beneath rafts floating on Ago Bay.

The Shell-Lingual system includes sensors attached to the oysters and a surface unit to generate electricity, and send signals back to shore. © MIKIMOTO

The Mikimoto Pearl Island Museum details how these shining spheres are cultivated.

Visitors to the museum learn how pearls can be cultivated using techniques devised by Mikimoto Kōkichi.

Strings of pearls come in different shades.

Women demonstrate traditional ama diving off Mikimoto Pearl Island, located in the city of Toba, Mie Prefecture.

A stunning biwa lute rendered in shitan rosewood and karin (Pterocarpus indicus), encrusted with gold, platinum, marbled turban shell, 6,284 Akoya pearls, and 4,408 diamonds totaling 220 carats in all.

A crown made by Mikimoto designers in 1979 incorporates 796 of the company’s finest cultured pearls and 17 glittering diamonds.