History of Japanese pearl farming / History of Kitamura pearl farming
In Europe, pearls were once extremely precious gemstones that only royalty and aristocrats could own due to their rarity. However, in 1893, Japan became the first country in the world to successfully cultivate pearls. During the Taisho era, Japanese cultured pearls made their way to Europe. However, European jewelers who held interests in natural pearls claimed that Japanese cultured pearls were imitations and attempted to exclude them from the market. Japan filed a lawsuit in what would become the famous "Paris Trials." After requesting appraisals from renowned Western scientists, they ruled that "cultured pearls are essentially the same as natural pearls," and Japan won the case. Thus, Japanese Akoya pearls gained global recognition and continue to fascinate people around the world as a gemstone representative of Japan.
The history of Japanese pearl farming
The History of Kitamura Pearl Farming
- 1901 (Meiji 34)
- Koichiro Kitamura, the great-great-grandfather of the current president, began pearl farming at the Sakoumaura pearl farm in Nansei Town, Tokai District, Mie Prefecture.
- 1905 (Meiji 38)
- Kokichi Mikimoto succeeds in producing perfectly round pearls.
- 1908 (Meiji 41)
- The patent for the round pearl was registered and jointly held by Mr. Mise Tatsuhei and Mr. Nishikawa Tokichi.
- 1911 (Meiji 44)
- A Kasaragi fish farm will be opened in Kasaragi Pond, Ugura Village, Tokai District, Mie Prefecture.
- 1913 (Taisho 2)
- Nagashima Pearl Farm was established in Nagashima-cho, Kitamuro-gun, Mie Prefecture. Kitamura Koichiro traveled from Mie Prefecture to Tsushima Island in Nagasaki Prefecture to begin field research in order to develop a new pearl farm.
- 1919 (Taisho 8)
- Mikimoto supplied the London market with cultured round pearls at a price 25% lower than natural pearls, threatening European jewelers.
- 1921 (Taisho 10)
- The Ofunakoshi Pearl Farm was opened in Ofunakoshi, Tsushima, Nagasaki Prefecture, becoming a pioneer in full-scale cultured pearl farming in Tsushima.
- 1921 (Taisho 10)
- In Kobe, Todo Yasuie was the first to succeed in removing stains and adjusting the color of pearls. Pearl processors began to flock to Kobe in search of this stain removal and color adjustment technology. As pearl farming developed west of the Kansai region, pearls from all over Japan began to be gathered in Kobe, the largest trading port in the Kansai region, and Kobe became a pearl production center.
- 1924 (Taisho 13)
- At the Pearl Trial held in Paris, it was ruled that there was no difference between natural and cultured pearls, and cultured pearls became a gemstone recognized worldwide. As cultured pearls began to appear on the market, the price of natural pearls plummeted.
- 1926 (Showa 1)
- Domestic pearl production reaches a record of 670,000 pieces (approximately 377 kg).
- 1930 (Showa 5)
-
Masayo Fujita succeeds in commercializing pearl farming using oysters.
- 1931 (Showa 6)
- He opened a store in Fukiai Ward, Kobe City. In addition to pearl farming, he also processed pearls, sold them domestically, and exported them overseas. He began researching "symbiotic cells," but it ended in failure.
- 1932 (Showa 7)
- With the emergence of cultured pearls, which were cheaper than natural pearls, Middle Eastern countries such as Bahrain and Kuwait, which relied on natural pearls for 90% of their total national income, transformed from pearl nations to oil nations.
- 1934 (Showa 9)
- The world's largest pearl, the "Allah's Pearl" (23cm in diameter, weighing 6.5kg, estimated value 5.3 billion yen), was discovered in the Philippines.
- 1935 (Showa 10)
- Freshwater pearl cultivation using oysters begins.
- 1938 (Showa 13)
- Tsutomu Kitamura becomes the second president.
- 1938 (Showa 13)
- Domestic pearl production reaches 11 million pieces (approximately 6 tons).
- 1939 (Showa 14)
-
The Daisen Aquaculture Farm was opened on Tsushima Island in Nagasaki Prefecture.
- 1939 (Showa 14)
- World War II begins.
- 1940 (Showa 15)
- The "7.7 Luxury Ban Order," also known as the "Rules to Prohibit the Manufacture and Sale of Luxury Goods," came into effect on July 7th, bringing all pearl farming operations to a complete halt.
- 1945 (Showa 20)
- The Kobe office in Kumanai-cho, Kobe city was burned down during the Great Kobe Air Raid, but the pearls were spared because they had been buried underground.
- 1945 (Showa 20)
- After the end of World War II, SCAP took coercive measures, banning the general sale of pearls and confiscating the stock of United Pearl Co., Ltd., the wartime control organization.
- 1946 (Showa 21)
- After the war, the company resumed its pearl farming business using the buried pearls as capital.
- 1947 (Showa 22)
- He began researching "symbiotic cells" again and achieved success.
- 1949 (Showa 24)
- The restrictions on pearl trade imposed by GHQ were lifted, and the revival of pearls began.
- 1950 (Showa 25)
- The two companies were incorporated as Kitamura Pearl Co., Ltd., which handles pearl farming and processing, and Kitamura Shoten Co., Ltd., which handles domestic sales and overseas exports.
- 1951 (Showa 26)
- Kitamura Shoten Co., Ltd. is absorbed into Kitamura Shinju Co., Ltd., and new capital is increased to 20 million yen.
- 1952 (Showa 27)
- The Pearl Culture Business Law is enacted, with the objectives of promoting cultured pearls, improving the quality of pearls, promoting pearl exports, and thereby contributing to the development of the national economy.
- 1952 (Showa 27)
- The Omasu Farm was opened on Tsushima Island in Nagasaki Prefecture.
- 1953 (Showa 28)
- Sales representatives will be sent to New York State.
- 1954 (Showa 29)
- We provide funding and materials to local businesses in Iki, Nagasaki Prefecture, and begin farming. We partner with the Mie Prefectural Fisheries Experiment Station to collect young oysters at the Kasaragi Farm in Mie Prefecture.
- 1954 (Showa 29)
-
The Japan Pearl Hall was established to revive Kobe, which had been the center of the pearl trade in Japan since before the war. The Japan Pearl Hall, which was visited by Emperor and Empress Showa shortly after its completion, was equipped with a wide range of the latest technology at the time, including Japan's first fully automatic elevator and fluorescent lighting throughout the building.
- 1956 (Showa 31)
- Established the Kobe Pearl Cooperative Association in collaboration with the Japan Pearl Exporters Association. Opened a branch in Zurich, Switzerland in collaboration with Otsuki Pearl Co., Ltd.
- 1957 (Showa 32)
- Increased capital to 25 million yen.
- 1959 (Showa 34)
- Kobe Sales Office relocated to Nakayamatedori, Ikuta Ward.
- 1960 (Showa 35)
- Domestic pearl exports exceed 10 billion yen.
- 1962 (Showa 37)
- Capital increased to 30 million yen.
- 1963 (Showa 38)
- Capital increased to 50 million yen.
- 1966 (Showa 41)
- Domestic pearl production reaches its post-war peak of 150 tons.
- 1967 (Showa 42)
-
The second president, Tsutomu Kitamura, becomes the third chairman of the Japan Pearl Association. In the same year, he attends the International Pearl Conference held in New York.
- 1968 (Showa 43)
- The New Measurement Law was enacted, allowing the use of "momme" (momme) to measure the weight of pearls. Even today, the unit "mom" is recognized worldwide in the pearl industry.
- 1970 (Showa 45)
- At the Osaka Expo, the pearl industry teamed up with the silk industry to hold a "Silk and Pearl Exhibition" at the Japan Pearl Hall in Kobe.
- 1970 (Showa 45)
- Susumu Chikazawa becomes the third president.
- 1972 (Showa 47)
- The company was split into Kitamura Pearl Farming Co., Ltd. (capital 10 million yen), which mainly engaged in pearl farming operations, and Kitamura Pearl Co., Ltd. (capital 10 million yen).
- 1973 (Showa 48)
- Kobe office moved to Kitanocho 3-chome, Ikuta-ku. Young oyster seedlings were collected at Kasaragi Aquaculture Farm in Mie Prefecture.
- 1974 (Showa 49)
- Domestic pearl production fell to 37.5 tons, about a quarter of its peak.
- 1980 (Showa 55)
- The Pearl City Kobe Council (PCK Council) is established to promote Kobe as the "City of Pearls."
- 1983 (Showa 58)
- Domestic pearl production recovers to 70 tons (Kitamura Pearl production accounts for approximately 2% of the total).
- 1992 (Heisei 4)
- A red tide caused by a new species of plankton called "Heterocapsa" suddenly appears in Ago Bay, Mie Prefecture, damaging a large number of pearl oysters.
- 1993 (Heisei 5)
- Makoto Chikazawa becomes the fourth president.
- 1994 (Heisei 6)
-
The International Pearl Summit was held, and the World Pearl Organization (WPO) was established with 16 countries and international organizations. The first WPO was held in Kobe the following year in 1995.
- 1995 (Heisei 7)
- Kitamura Pearl Culture Co., Ltd. (capital 49 million yen) and Kitamura Pearl Co., Ltd. (capital 12 million yen) each increase their capital.
- 1996 (Heisei 8)
- Mass mortality (sudden death) of pearl oysters due to an infectious disease occurs, and the damage spreads throughout the country.
- 1998 (Heisei 10)
- The nickname for the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is decided to be "Pearl Bridge."
- 1999 (Heisei 11)
- Domestic pearl production falls to 25 tons (Kitamura Pearl production accounts for approximately 7% of the total).
- 2003 (Heisei 15)
- The NPO "Hitotsubu no Shinju" (One Pearl) is established to cultivate pearls and to carry out tree planting activities for the conservation of nature and the environment.
- 2004 (Heisei 16)
- The Japan Pearl Promotion Association will be running a "30th Anniversary Pearl Wedding" campaign.
- 2006 (Heisei 18)
- Kitamura Shinju launches its original brand "Tushima Blue".
- 2007 (Heisei 19)
- "NEO PEARL KOBE" was established in Kobe, the city of pearls, with the aim of adding value to pearls, such as adding a Kobe-like fashion element.
- 2007 (Heisei 19)
- Kitamura Shinju's original brand "Umihotaru" is launched. "Umihotaru" is certified by the Kobe Selection sponsored by the Kobe City Industrial Promotion Foundation.
- 2008 (Heisei 20)
- The 100th anniversary of the invention of the round pearl is celebrated.
- 2009 (Heisei 21)
- Kitamura Shinju x COLLETE GIFT's collaborative product "Gift from the Sea" is certified as a Kobe Selection.
- 2011 (Heisei 23)
- Domestic pearl production falls to 15 tons (Kitamura Pearl production accounts for approximately 10% of the total).
- 2015 (Heisei 27)
-
The "Pearl Certification Examination" is conducted by the Japan Pearl Promotion Association. The purpose of the examination is to clarify the vague value standards and various theories surrounding pearls and to convey the beauty of pearls to as many people as possible.
- 2015 (Heisei 27)
- Yusuke Chikazawa becomes the fifth president.