This video takes you to the quiet bays where Japan’s akoya pearls begin. It shows the beauty of the surroundings, the rhythm of farm life, and the multi-generational families who devote their lives to the art of growing akoya pearls. You’ll also see short interviews with Hisano and Jeremy, talking about what makes these places just so special!
As you'll see from the short film, every step, from grafting to cleaning the shells, is done by hand and with such tremendous care. These are people who have spent decades perfecting a process that still depends entirely on skill, patience and respect for nature.
Hisano and I wanted to share this glimpse because it captures what photos alone can’t — the feeling of being there, surrounded by the quiet beauty that gives rise to Japan’s pearls.
About the Author
Jeremy Shepherd
Founder, Pearl Paradise | President, The Pearl Association of America
I founded Pearl Paradise in 1996 and Pearl-Guide.com in 2004. I serve as president of The Pearl Association of America and authored Pearls As One, the pearl industry's leading certification course, now translated into 10 languages.
Over 30 years in the pearl trade, I've sourced pearls from farms across Japan, French Polynesia, Australia, China, Fiji, Mexico, and the Philippines, and produced three pearl industry documentaries: Pearls the Documentary, The Tahitian Pearl, and Power of Pearl. I have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Financial Times, Newsweek, Entrepreneur Magazine, Freakonomics Radio, Inc. Magazine, and many trade publications.
