Oyster Beds

At the age of 32, Kokichi Mikimoto decided to research into the possibility of creating cultured 'pearls,' an accomplishment, considered beyond any man's ingenuity and capabilities in his time. During the years that followed, he met many difficulties which had to be solved before his dream finally materialized in the production of the world's first cultured pearl on July 11, 1893. We visited Pearl Island, the spot where Mikimoto first succeeded in creating a cultured pearl.

Mikimoto developed the cultured pearl by artificially stimulating oysters by inserting an irritant (a grain of sand) inside oyster, causing it to secrete the nacre of which cultured pearls are formed. The irritant sand comes from the Missouri River near St. Louis Mo.

Pearl beds

The seeded oysters are placed in cages and suspended from bamboo rafts. The pearls are harvested six months to seven years later.

The 'Ama' women divers collect 60% ot the total marine products including the 'pearl' oysters, abalone, lobster and seaweed.

Wilhelmne as a 'Ama' Diver

The 'Ama' Women diving for oysters.