Mikimoto Pearl Island

Mikimoto Pearl Island (ミキモト真珠島, Mikimoto-Shinju-Jima) is a small island in Ise Bay, offshore Toba, Mie Prefecture, Japan.

Mikimoto Pearl Island (from National Land Image Information (Color Aerial Photographs), Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism)
Pearl bridge

This island is known as the birthplace of cultured pearl aquaculture and it belongs to Mikimoto Pearl Museum Co., Ltd. (株式会社ミキモト真珠島, Kabushiki-Gaisha-Mikimoto-Shinju-Jima). The company runs the island as a tourist attraction, exhibits pearls and pearl craft goods, and holds shows featuring ama divers.

History

In 1893, Mikimoto Kōkichi, a local entrepreneur, succeeded in producing cultured pearls on an island in Ise Bay called Ojima (相島). In 1919, the island was sold by the town of Toba to Teikoku Kisen Shipping Company but was purchased back by Toba in 1927. It was resold to Mikimoto Kōkichi in 1929, with the funds used to establish an elementary school. Mikimoto developed the island as a center for pearl production.

In 1951, Mikimoto renamed it Mikimoto Pearl Island and set up a company to develop it for tourism. A commemorative museum of the life of Mikimoto was established in 1958 and a Pearl Museum in 1962. A bridge connecting the island to the mainland was completed in 1970.

The Pearl Museum was rebuilt in 1985 and the Mikimoto Museum in 1993.

Facilities
One scene of an ama diver's show

Pearl Museum
Highlights of the collection include
  • Obidome-Yaguruma (帯留矢車): This obidome for a kimono was exhibited at Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne in 1937. It was made from 41 pearls, diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, platinum and 18 carat gold. By rearranging its components, it is possible to make 12 accessories such as brooches, hair ornaments, and rings.
  • Globe: This globe is made from 12,541 pearls, 377 rubies, and 373 diamonds. Its diameter is 33 cm.
  • Liberty Bell: It was exhibited at the 1939 New York World's Fair. It was made from 12,250 pearls and 366 diamonds.
  • Mikimoto's Five-Storied Pagoda (御木本五重塔, Mikimoto Gojū-no-Tō): This model pagoda was exhibited at Sesquicentennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1926. It was made from 12,760 pearls.
  • Himeji Castle: This 1/90 scale miniature reproduction of Himeji Castle was made of 19,000 pearls, 447 diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and rubies.
  • Pearl Crown I: This is styled after the state crown of Queen Mary used at the coronation of King George V in 1911 and is made from 872 pearls and 188 diamonds.
  • Miss International Crown: This is the third oldest international Beauty Pageant and a Big 3 major pageant in the world (1960-now). The crown used at the coronation night by the winner that has been chosen.
  • Gunbai Uchiwa: This war fan was exhibited at Encouragement of Industry Exposition Tokyo at 1907 and at the Japan–British Exhibition in London in 1910. It is styled as a Korean fan as presented to Hideyoshi and was made from 515 natural and 290 cultured pearls.

Mikimoto Kōkichi Memorial Hall

This museum contains exhibits on the life Mikimoto Kōkichi. Among its exhibits is a reproduction of the udon shop "Awakō" (阿波幸), where he was born.

Others

The island also contains a bronze sculpture of Mikimoto Kōkichi, the Shrine of Pearl, the Forest of Wild Birds and Observatory, the Restaurant "Awakō," and a pearl shop.

Access

The island is a five-minute walk from Toba Station (Kintetsu Toba Line and JR Sangū Line).

References

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