Pearl man in Kobe Japan "Dream of Japanese Akoya pearls"

Happy New Year 2012!

2012-01-05T10:20:00.000+09:00

Happy New Year 2012!
We are just back to office today!

Personally, I spent good time with my family during the vacation.

Japanese Akoya new crop auction has been started. The quality are almost same as last year or little bit better. The quantities of good quality are less than last year.
So the prises are strong in good quality, particularly 8, 9mm.

Demand of good quality are strong in domestic and oversea market. So the problem would be shortage in good quality for this year.

We have to keep watching the situation.

Winter vacation

2011-12-27T13:47:00.000+09:00

Our office will be closed Dec. 29 to Jan. 4 for our winter vacation.
We will be back on Jan 5.

2011 was tough year for pearl business. We had Big earthquake and Tsunami. Japanese yen has been too strong against US dollar & Euro.
We hope the situation would be better for nest year.

Have a happy new year 2012!

South Sea Pearl auction in Kobe

2011-10-23T17:02:00.000+09:00

South Sea Pearl auction was held in Kobe last week and I was attending it.
Most of buyers were Japanese pearl manufactures including big companies as MIKIMOTO.

First day is mainly South Sea Pearls, second day is Tahitian black pearls and third day is commercial quality.
Most of pearls were for material of necklace.

Price of top quality were very strong in South Sea Pearls and Black Pearls.
Recently sales of Japanese market is getting recover. Japanese people haven't spent money after earthquake in North part of Japan, however sales of high quality Jewelry is good in Department store in Tokyo area now.
Some Japanese are tired to be "Jishuku" which don't spend money.
This is one of the reason of result of prices.

Japanese Yen has been strong against US$ & Euro, so these price of high quality pearls are very difficult to export for oversea countries.

Prices of medium to low quality were stable. Because price of volume zone in the market is limited.

Summer vacation

2011-08-03T09:05:00.000+09:00

Our office will be closed August 12 to 16 for summer vacation.
Jewelry industry in Japan has been slow after earthquake in North part of Japan.
Also weak US$ & Euro against Japanese Yen make our export business difficult.
I hope exchange rate would be better before Christmas season.

Internatioanl Jewelry Fair in Kobe 2011

2011-05-27T11:03:00.000+09:00

Internatinal Jewelry Fair in Kobe 2011 was held May 11 to 13th and I visited last day.
Jewelry industires in Japan didn't expect many visitiers this time, because of earthquake and Tunami in North part of Japan.
Nucler power stations in fukushima are still in troubles, so many overssea buyers are afraid to visit Japan.

However there are some oversea buyers and some Chinese buyers bought top quality of pearls as Japanese Akoya Pearls strands, Golden South Sea Pearls.

I feel most of exhibiter carry same merchandises and it is not easy to fined character of company.
Wholesalers want to handle popular items, so everybody carry same goods.
It's not easy to purchase of stock for visiters, because most of exhibiter handle same type of merchandises.

Cash management of Japanese manufactures has been tight, so it is hard time to make oridinal merchandises for them.

KOBE PRECIOUS PAERL & CO., LTD.
http://pearl.kobepp.com/

Golden Week - Japanese spring vacation

2011-04-28T10:28:00.000+09:00

Our office will be closed April 29th to May 1st, May 3rd to May 5th for Japanese national holidays.
Many Japanese companies are going to close April 29th to May 8th for 10days.
It's like Japanese spring vacation.

Usually many Japanese take trip to sightseeing, spa, oversea in this time.
However there are not so many tourists this year, because of the earthquake.

Thank you very much! We are Okay!

2011-03-14T09:02:00.000+09:00

Major Earthquake & Tsunami hit North part of Japan on March 11th.
Probably over 10,000 people dead and injured in North part of Japan and it's going to take long long time to recover.
Also nuclear plans get in trouble now and this is big problem for North part of Japan.

We got many e-mail and Fax from over sea, which thank you very much!
Fortunately our company "Kobe" are located west side of Japan.
So we are Okay this time so far.

North part of Japanese are "Gaman tsuyoi" which is strong for patient, because they are living in long winter.
So they are tough and I believe that they can go though this hard time.

Also we went through Big earthquake in Kobe and we will help North part of Japan by our experience.

It's going to be long way to recover and it's just started.
We can do it!

Export of pearls from Japan in 2010

2011-02-17T09:31:00.000+09:00

Amount of exporting of pearls from Japan in 2010 is about 21,764kg US$203,770,000.-.

The amount was down about 3% compared with 2009. Main reasons are exchange rate as strong Japanese Yen and economy situation for all over the world.

However amount of exporting Japanese Akoya Pearls are increased about 8% compared with last year.

Amount of exporting South Sea Pearls & Black Tahitian Pearls are down.
We feel there are enough quantities of these pearls in the market.

India & Thailand market was increasing last year and we expect that they are growing up more in 2011.

Manufacturers & Exporters of Japanese Akoya Pearls http://pearl.kobepp.com

Video of KOBE BRAND Japanese Akoya Pearls

2011-02-08T09:00:00.001+09:00

JAPAN PEARL EXPORTERS' ASSOCIATION made new promotion video of "KOBE JAPAN QUALITY - Japanese Akoya Pearls".

Japan has 4 season as Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter and 4 season make good quality of pearls.

Kobe have history of processing of pearls as pearl city and Kobe has reliable grading of pearls.

New crop auction was over

2011-02-06T16:09:00.000+09:00

New crop auction of Japanese Akoya cultured pearls was over.

Average prices of top to medium quality are about 20% higher than last year.
The quantity of top to medium are short this year.
Also demand of Chinese market is strong and there are not enough quantities for them.
That is why the price was going up.

Domestic market has been weak and we predict this year too.
So we can not increase price for domestic market but export "China market".

New merchandises are coming around summer.

Happy New Year 2011!

2011-01-05T12:54:00.000+09:00

Happy New Year 2011!
We are back to the office today. It was short and very cold weather vacation.

Japanese Yen has been strong against US$ & Euro since last year.
It was problem for our export business.
However Fine quality Japanese pearls are popular for oversea market.
We expect to export more of Japanese Akoya pearls for Asian countries.

New crop auction has been started.
Price of fine quality are raised about 10~20% compared with last year.
Because quantity of fine quality are less than last year.

We hope new year is going to be a good year for pearl business.

New Crop

2010-11-18T13:42:00.000+09:00

It's November now and New crop season of Japanese Akoya pearls is coming soon.
According pearl farmer, situation of crop have been Okay.
This summer was hot, however oysters haven't died so much.
Because many big pearl farmers are out of business this season.
Sizes are down to small.
I hope I could see many of good quality for coming season.

Short distance Triathlon

2010-09-13T10:34:00.000+09:00

I attend short distance triathlon last week.
Swim was 1,500m, bicycle was 40km, marathon was 10km.

It has been unusual very hot and humid summer here in Kobe Japan.
Race day was very hot.

I aready swet when I wore swim suit. Sea was very carm, however i took a time.

Bike part was good. I bit tired when last part.

Then run part was my worst part. My legs had already big damage. I took a time, but I finished run.

Triathlon is very hard sport, but defenetely it is fun.
I enjoyed!

Japan Pearl Quality Label

2010-07-06T12:49:00.001+09:00

Japan Pearl Exporters' Association have a plan to make new inspection system "Japan Pearl Quality Label".
They just made up sample of the quality and I was checking them.

Pearl thickness is very heavy. It is most important thing.

Luster is also heavy. Dull can not be passed the inspection.

Round, semi-round, baroque shape is Okay, however they have to be smooth shape.

White, pink, green, yellow color is Okay, however dull creamy color can not be passed the inspection.

Few spotted are Okay, however heavy spotted can not be passed the inspection.

The pearls which are passed the inspection are given number and ordinal plastic label. Japan Pearl Exporters' Association will keep each number.
It is not easy to make fake label.

I feel quality sample are very good quality and there are not much on the market now.

If Japan Pearl Exporters' Association would start the system and keep the level, the market would know what is good quality of Japanese Pearls.

Japan Pearl Exporters' Association say that Japan Pearl quality Label system is going to start in September Hong Kong Jewelry Fair.

New crop of Japanese Akoya pearls

2010-03-14T17:59:00.001+09:00

New crop auction of Japanese Akoya pearls has been finished.

Total amount of quantity is decrease, particularly in good quality.

So price keep strong in good quality until end of the auction.

Price of medium quality keep strong too.

New merchandises will be ready in this summer, and price would be raised in fine quality.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-05T10:49:00.002+09:00

Our winter vacation was over and I'm back to the office.

Most of Japanese companies start today Jan. 5th.

New crop auction has been started since last December.

Price of fine quality has kept high price so far for all sizes.

There are shortage of fine quality in Akoya pearls, so big company as MIKIMOTO pay high price.

Midium and lower quality are not started yet.

Most of Japanese pearl manufactures predict that price would be down as market price and strong Yen.

Anyway we expect good quality pearls in recent years.

That's only way to make customer's happy.

Exproting pearls from Japan

2009-11-24T18:19:00.002+09:00

During January to September, the amount and quantity of exporting pearls from Japan went down about 50% compared with last year.

The reasons are stock marketing crush and weak US dollar since October 2008.

Actually it is hard to predict next year for pearl business, however we only can say we have to produce fine quality of Japanese Akoya pearls.

Otherwise nobody wants to wear pearls necklace anymore.

Tahitian Black Pearls auction in Kobe

2009-05-13T15:43:00.004+09:00

Tahitian Black Pearls auction was held in Kobe.

Most of buyers came from Asia.

The quality fo pearls were little bit less luster compare with past.

There were few peacok color.

Prices were strong for fine quality and weak for medium to commercial quality.

There were many pf 10 - 11mm. for Japanese market.

Golden Week this year

2009-05-06T08:19:00.002+09:00

Japan has vacation as national holidays in May, it called "Golden Week".

It starts from April 28 to May 6 this year.
Economy situation is not good right now, so some companies take 18days of day off.

Japanese government make price of free way down recently.
Also price of gasoline has been down compared with last year.
So there are heavy traffic jam this Golden Week.

My dog run!

2009-04-12T14:04:00.002+09:00

It is Cherry blossom season now.

My dog likes run, run, run!

Japanese Akoya pearls auction

2009-02-14T11:37:00.001+09:00

Japanese Akoya pearls auction has been started.

Quality of this year depend on the place. Some area made very good quality, however some area made poor quality.

So it is not easy to say price of this year.

In general, price of fine quality is strong. Particularly price of 6 to 7mm is strong.

Price of poor quality is weak. Because economy situation is not good in all over the world including Japan.

Many pearl farms are closed the business, so total quantity is down.

Pearl Export business

2009-01-22T13:17:00.003+09:00

I'm proud of my business and I like my business very much.
I can sell merchandise of our country, I can explain how nice of Japanese goods and I can communicate with all over the world.

So I wish I could export more and more of Japanese Akoya Pearls, however the situation is not easy now.
The quantity of Japanese Akoya pearls are limited in recent years, particularly good quality.
Also Japanese Yen is too strong against other currency.

Actually I couldn't help these things. It's beyond my controll.

So our company sift more domestic sales in recent years and it couldn't help.

I haven't heard from many of our over sea buyers.
I miss that I negotiate with them.

Happy New Year 2009!

2009-01-04T17:01:00.002+09:00

New year 2009 has been started.
Our office will be opened tomorrow.

New crop auction of Akoya pearls will be started middle of this month.
It is difficult to predict the price of them.
It should be going down from last year as economy situation and exchange rate.
However we predict that probably the price of good quality would be same or higher than last season.

Because the demand of high quality is still strong and the quantity is short.

It is difficult job to making our price lists of 2009.

Sales mind in U.S.A.

2008-12-16T17:23:00.003+09:00

We have been in recession since last economy crash in U.S.A.
It's supposed in Christmas sale time in Japan now, however consumer mind is very cold.
Many of Japanese poeple are pesamist, so we like to save money and prepare for future life.

Recenty my friend went to New York.
It was "Black Friday sale" and retail store were crowded.
My friend was supprised, because it looked that they didn't worry about economy crash.
They still keep spending money.

I would say too much pesamist is killing the economy.
Japanese have to be more optmist.
Optmist mind bring biright future.

Of course too much optmist is also no good, but we have to be changed little bit.
Otherwise, we can not beet this recession.

Strong Yen

2008-10-24T15:01:00.004+09:00

Japanese Yen has been strong against US dollar and Euro since economy crash in U.S.A.
It sounds good for Japan, however it is bad thing for Japanese exporter like us.

We don't raise price of our product, however automatically price of our product is going up for our customers.
We couldn't do anything and it's beyond our control.

Actually Japanese economy is not strong as money investor to think.
Consumer mind in Japan has been week.

So we just wait until exchange rate would be back to normal.

Japanese Akoya Pearls - so far good

2008-09-22T14:05:00.004+09:00

The situation of cultivation of Japanese Akoya pearls are good so far.
Temperature of sea was good this summer, so they grow up without problems.
Therefore we can expect good pearls next harvest season in December.

Problem is economic mood.
Economic mood has been no good since U.S.A. economy shock.
It affected all over the world and consumers don't buy Jewelry now.
So it may affect auction price for Japanese Akoya pearls.
It is true that there are shortage of fine quality goods, so everybody want to get them.
However if the cost is too high, we can not sell them.

100km Ultra Marathon

2008-09-16T13:10:00.003+09:00

I attended "100km Ultra Marathon" last Sunday.
It was first time for me and Fortunately I finished it.
It took 13 hours 36 minutes.
It was one of my dream that I could run 100km ultra marathon.

Start was 4:30am. I got up 2:45am and had a breakfast 3:00am.
Limited time was 14 hours, so I may run until 6:30pm.

This marathon course was mountain side. So most of road was up and down.

My running pace was much slow than usual marathon, so my condition was good until 50km.

There were big mountain after 60km. 15km was up road, so I walked.
My pace was down after 60km and I lost my energy.
Last 20km was really hard.

I stopped most of aid station and took sports drink, salt, fruits, food, so I could run again.

Finish was really something.
However I can not think about next race so far...

Picture of Pearl Jewelry for Pet

2008-09-08T21:21:00.002+09:00

We start to selling "Pearl Jewelry for Pet".
So I took pictures of dogs which wear Pearl Jewerly.

I get use to take picture of girls who wear Pearl Jewelry.
However it is not easy to take a picture of dogs.
They didn't stay same place, didn't listen me, always move...

Anyway, I took many pictures and finally I could take few nice pictures.
I like this picture.

It was hard job, but it was fun. Because I like dogs.
I'm happy to work with dogs.

Retail customer from U.S.A.

2008-09-02T15:11:00.006+09:00

Basically we are manufacture, wholesaler and exporter of Japanese Akoya pearls.
So we expect to visit us buyer of oversea pearl importer.

Recently we had a call from American. I was out of office at that time, so our staff took care of him.
Our staff thought he was buyer of pearl importer from U.S.A.
He came to our office and our staff noticed that he was not buyer but tourist who was looking for Japanese pearl necklace for gift.

Yes, we do retail business too. We are very glad that he likes taste of Japanese Akoya pearls very much.
He bought Japanese Akoya pearl necklace and earrings set with satisfied.

I feel very happy that when our customers like our pearls.
I would like many people to know that how Japanese Akoya pearls are beautiful and attractive.

3.2km Open water swim

2008-08-25T08:16:00.003+09:00

I attended 3.2km Open water swim race yesterday.
I finish 1 hour 2 minute and I'm satisfied about my result.

The place was near Kobe. It was small island called "Ieshima".
Course is 3.2km one way course.
Condition was very good. It was sunny sky and there were not big wave.

I re-started swim about 5 years ago. I was swim sometime when I was student.
Short distance is hard for my age, so I prefer long distance as over 1,000m.

I swim 2 to 4 times a week for 1,000 to 2,000m.

I feel that 3.2km was not so hard for me and I enjoyed about 1 hour.
This race open once a year, so I'm looking forward to next years!

Pearl Jewelry for Pet

2008-08-20T10:01:00.002+09:00

We have a plan to develop Pearl Jewelry for Pet and this business plan is approved by Japanese government economy program last July.

The pearls are protecting from dust of pet by coating which we developed.
We plan to making pair Pearl Jewelry with owner of pet.
We will make over 30 sets of them until next March.

I was on "KOBE NEWS PAPER" yesterday about Pearl Jewelry for Pet.

Olympic game and trend of Japanese woman's shape

2008-08-18T11:45:00.002+09:00

Japanese short summer vacation is over. Most of Japanese are back to the work.
During this summer vacation, many Japanese were watching Beijing Olympic game.

I was looking forward to Olympic game, particularly swimming and marathon, because I'm doing both of them.
Japanese swimming team was strong this time. Unfortunately Japanese marathon team couldn't take any medal.

During watching Olympic game, I feel that women athlete who are shaped up are very attractive.
Most of Japanese women want to be a skinny in recent years. They don't like muscle and try to control the weight by food.
Actually that kind of skinny body don't look healthy.

I think trend of Japanese women's shape would be real shape up healthy body as Olympic athlete near future.

We have to design Pearl Jewelry to match with woman's athlete.

Summer vacation

2008-08-06T16:04:00.002+09:00

Most of Japanese company takes summer vacation which is called "Obon yasumi".
This summer vacation is much shoter than European or Amerian summer vacation.

Usually it is about 3 days.

Most of Japanese company takes a vacation August 13 to 17th for this year and some companies take August 9 to 17th as one week.

Japanese pople like spa which is called "Onsen" in countryside. We stay old Japanese style hotel and take dinner and spa. It gives us relax time.

I like "Onsen" very much, however I couldn't go there much since we open retail store. Because I have to take care store during summer vacation season. Many tourists are coming to Kobe.

This time our office will be closed August 13 to 17th, however I will be in the office during the time.

Coming to office by bicycle

2008-07-31T09:25:00.002+09:00

I come to our office by bicycle one to twice a week. It is about 20km and takes about 50minute. It is really fun and healthy.

I usually get up about 4:45 am and running about 7km 40 minute. Then I take shower and eat breakfast, I go to the office by car or train. I arrive the office about 7:20 am.

When I go to the office by bicycle, I get up 5:20 am. Then I eat breakfast and arrive the office about 6:50 am. I can sleep 35 minute more and come to the office 30minute earlyer.

I save more than 1 hour and cost of gasoline and train fee. Also I can take good exercise.

There are not much people use bicycle for coming to the office in Japan. I think it is good for Eco, health and deduct CO2, so I hope bicycle will be popular in Japan.

Loose Pearls Pairs on card

2008-07-29T09:25:00.003+09:00

We have been exporting Japanese Akoya cultured pearls for over 50 years.
We export strands, loose pearls half drilled, 3/4 H.D. etc. and one of the our best exporting item is pairs of LPHD and 3/4 H.D. on card.

We have been making pairs since my uncle was in business.
At that time, commercial quality of 3/4 cut (big cut) pairs on card was popular and my uncle was exporting ton of them.

Time has been changed, now commercial quality of Japanese Akoya pearls are not popular now.

We are making mostly medium to fine quality LPHD and 3/4 H.D. pairs on card.

We could make 3 to 9mm. pairs, so our customers can promote wide range consumers.

Matching of pairs are not easy job. All pearls are little bit different color and luster.
Also customers ask us quick job.
So it needs experience.

Of course I have been matching pairs since I was a child, so I'm also good matching pairs maker.

I enjoy triathlon!

2008-07-10T13:48:00.002+09:00

My hobbies are swim, bicycle and marathon. So I can do triathlon.
Season of triathlon race is limited. It has to be summer, because swim part should be sea.

I attended triathlon race last month and this month. Swim part is 1.5km, Bike part is 40km and run part is 10km. It called Olympic distance race.

I finished both of races. It takes 2 hours 56 minutes and 2 hours 49 minutes.
It was hard but I enjoy the race, because I can feel nature.
Also I can appreciate my body.

I plan to attend "open water swim" for 3.2km in August and "ultra marathon" for 100km in September.

Our retail fair

2008-07-03T17:36:00.004+09:00

We are having retail fair twice a year as summer and winter. We just finished our summer retail fair last week.

We were selling Jewelry of Japanese Akoya pearls, South sea pearls, Tahitian black pearls and Fresh water pearls.

Japanese economy has been not good recently, because of inflation. So this time our customers didn't want to buy much of Jewelry.

Japanese Akoya pearls are still strong demand here, because over 50 years old people believe that best pearl is Japanese Akoya pearls.
This time we sold baroque shape, multi color and standard necklace and earrings.

We hope Christmas time would be much better.

Start again!

2008-07-03T17:19:00.004+09:00

I haven't written my blog for a while, because I was too busy to take care our domestic business. We opened our retail store in Kobe about 2 years ago. Now we found good shop manager and she takes care of it. So I'm back.

Typhoon and pearl cultivation

2005-10-19T10:58:00.000+09:00

We have many typhoons in recent years and they are getting bigger.
We have asked many question about "Typhoon give big damage to pearl firm?"
Most of people think about that typhoon took pearl oysters aways and all pearl firms become messy.
Actually it is not true.
Typhoon bring big wave to pearl firm, however it is only surface of the sea.
Inside of sea don't move so hard as surface.
Also pearl oysters are hanging by the strong net, so they stay pearl farm.
Therefore usually typhoon don't affect pearl cultivation.

Personally I expect that big typhoon tumble sea of pollution and bring clean water, however even big typhoon couldn't make it.

Rain season

2005-07-26T14:58:00.000+09:00

Japan has four season as Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, plus one more Rain season as "Tsuyu". Usually it starts from June to middle of July. Humidity is very high during "Tsuyu" and it is un-comfortable for us.
However rain is very important for agriculture and also pearl farm before summer.
Pearl oyster need good plankton for feeding. Good plankton come from forest in mountain and rain bring them to the sea.
It has been not much rain during "Tsuyu" in Japan in recent years. It is problem for pearl farming.
So pearl farming is relied on nature and we have to take care more about nature.

Size of Pearls

2005-05-17T12:24:00.000+09:00

Larger pearls as over 8mm. South Sea Pearls and Tahitian Pearls are popular for the recent years. There are many 10mm. on the market, so consumer feel even 8mm. is small.
Larger pearls are gorgeous and impress to the consumer. And much more less work and make profit for sales side.
How is it when it thinks about a side to wear only actually?
As for the necklace of the pearl, 6mm has been standard size in before long from the old days.
Even a big western women is the size that it matches a figure that much and most.
Also smaller earrings of 5mm and under are popular too and there are strong demand.
Earrings of the little pearls makes women elegant and these can be used for casual style.
It is only made the problem of the recent pearl farmer side, and the tendency that the good inside of 7mm and more of the efficiency makes medium to larger pearls are strong, and the production of 6mm and under has been decreasing very much.
It feels this tendency the doubt of whether to be good for the guest if it is suitable for the market as expected, of it to be very good.
When it thinks about the thing of a side originally to reach though it thinks for various problems that to be to raise smaller pearls, it thinks that the one that the amounts of production of the little size whose quality is better were increased is more wholesome.

Golden Week

2005-05-09T07:46:00.000+09:00

We have long holiday this season and it called "Golden Week".
April 29, May 3, 4, 5 are national holiday and some companies closed 10 days.
Many Japanese are going to over sea this season.
Pearl manufactures are busy for processing for new crop in this season, so I haven't get long holidays for "Golden Week".
This time, I run 70km marathon at May 3rd. It took 8 hours and it was one of the hardest race for me. I lost weight 4kg.

Sick of my son

2005-04-16T10:45:00.000+09:00

My son became 3 years old last Wednesday. It is very fast for me.
My son was in the hospital about 10 days last month because he had high fever for 2 weeks.
My wife was with him for weekdays and I was with him for weekend. My mother took care of my daughter in day time and I took care of her at night. Actually I can not concentrate for business during the time and I gave up to attend marathon race.
I was so happy when my son was back to home with my wife. I realize usual family life is precious time and health of family is very important thing.
Now I check more of my family's health.

April fool

2005-04-04T15:40:00.000+09:00

April 1st. Is "April fool" in Japan too. However Japanese joke style is not same as western.
So some people gets upset about joke, therefore it is not popular day here.
When I was in New York, not so many people talked about big joke at "April fool". So I think Japanese people misunderstand about "April fool". Most of Japanese people think that most of western people are talking about joke all day in "April fool".
Sense of humor is very important thing for life, however every culture has own humor and it is not easy to learn it for foreigner.

Small Sizes

2005-03-28T10:22:00.000+09:00

Recently we have many requirements for smaller sizes as under 6.5mm. for export. For domestic, Japanese women like medium to bigger size as over 7mm.
So most of pearl farmers wants to making over 7mm and smaller sizes are short recent years particularly fine quality.
For commercial quality, they can use Chinese Fresh water pearls, however these quality is not enough for fine quality.
If Japanese farmers are making more fine quality of smaller sizes, definitely it would be popular items. However problem is smaller sizes don't make profit for farmers. They prefer to making medium to bigger sizes, because it is heavier than smaller sizes and making more money.
It is the problem for our pearl industry.

"HANADAMA" grading

2005-03-15T09:54:00.000+09:00

There is no public grading of pearls so far. Recently some stores and catalog house are using "HANADAMA" grading. According to them, "HANADAMA" is gem grade and there is certification.

We have been pearl dealer for 3 generation and our definition of "HANADAMA" is very rare. There were not much quantity when condition of pearl farm was good as 20 to 30 years ago.
The quality of real "HANADAMA" is like metallic deep purple color and luster is excellent. Of course shape and smoothness are important, however I notice that luster is most important part of Akoya pearls.
Unfortunately condition of pearl farm has not been good recent years, and I don't see real "HANADAMA" for long time.
Actually recent "HANADAMA" grading is not real "HANADAMA". So basically we don't get certification of "HANADAMA" grading for our sales.

It is sad things that many pearl dealers are selling "HANADAMA" grading pearl which is not real "HANADAMA".
I believe that real "HANADAMA" is dream of Akoya pearl and we should not forget about it.
It is the culture and history of Akoya pearl and we have to keep making for the future.

Customer from New York

2005-03-11T11:19:00.000+09:00

We had customer last 2 days and she came from New York. Actually she is a president of pearl dealer which I used to work.
She went Hong Kong show first and visited Kobe, Japan.
She told me about recent life style of New York and there are big differences when I was in New York. Actually I was in New York about 15 years ago.
I'm surprised that rent in New York is up about 150% to 200%. I used to live in Queens and upper west side. I paid $650permonth for small studio in upper west side and she told me that it costs now at least $1,300 to 1,500. Salary of New York is higher than Tokyo, however I can not image for rent over $1,000.
Also rent of Blonx and Harlem are up too. I wonder that where are low income people to live?
Anyway, I miss New York much. I don't want to live there anymore, however I would like to go to shopping and eating. I could buy many good things as close, shoes, etc. For good price and could eat all kind of foods for good price.

"HANADAMA" grading

2005-03-10T10:13:00.000+09:00

We can see "HANADAMA" grading, top grade, pearl necklace on the store, catalog shopping in Japan.

I've been doing pearl business since my uncle for 3rd generation. My experience of "HANADAMA" grade is really top grad. There were only few lot and the quantities were limited in 20 years ago when the pearl farm situation was much better than recent years. So, only pearl farmer and manufacture can have them.
"HANADAMA" has really heavy pearl coated and color is metallic purple. Of course shape and smoothness are important, however their color and shining give me more impact.

Therefore the quality of "HANADAMA" grading in recent years is different items of "HANADAMA" which I know. So we don't give "HANADAMA" grading for our retail in Japan.

Real "HANADAMA" is very important culture for Japanese pearl business and we have to keep producing for the future.
"HANADAMA" quality is the dream of pearl and Japanese pearl farmers and manufacturers should not forget about it.

Not a type of retail sales person

2005-03-08T08:13:00.000+09:00

It seems that I'm not a type of retail sales person. We had some retail sales during business fair and all of them were that I was not in the booth. It's happened not only this time but other retail fairs too. Usually our sales staff who are women make the retail sale.
I have confidence to selling pearls for whole sales. I can make good presentation for our merchandises. However retail sale is other yard and it is not just merchandise.
Also I don't care much about my fashion or hair style. I go to $15 barber.
Maybe I should care more about my fashion and hair style.

Business fair

2005-03-07T13:01:00.000+09:00

We attend Business far in Osaka last Saturday March 5th.
This business fair was not only for Jewelry company, but many kind of business.
Over 90 companies had booth and there are so many visitors.
Our booth can sell the merchandise, of course I don't expect much sales this time, but I thought it might be better to make profit for fair expense.
We brought casual pearl accessory line. Retail price is up to US$300.-
We had some required for wholesale and sold some for retail.
It is lot of job to prepare for the fair, however always we could meet new people.
So if we have a chance, we shall attend business fair.

Flower powder allergy

2005-03-03T10:09:00.000+09:00

Flower powder allergy is serious problem in Japan recent years. It is like cold, but there is no fever. There are eye, nose, throat problem.
I live in mountain area and there are so many flower powder in this season.
I've got flower powder allergy since 10 years ago. Actually I couldn't sleep at night for throat ache.
I start exercise since 2 years ago and flower powder allergy has gone. I was very happy.
But I catch very bad cold in this January and I couldn't do any exercise, then I get flower powder allergy again.
I have to do exercise until die.

My wife's Birthday

2005-03-01T11:57:00.000+09:00

Today is my wife's birthday. I have class of swimming tonight, however I cancel it and go back home earlier.
I'm going to buy Sushi, red wine and cake. Because she can not eat meat, she doesn't like white wine much and she like sweat. I'll go to shopping for her birthday gift this weekend.

My father's generation didn't celebrate the wife's birthday. It was Japan old traditional style. They think about business all the time. Business is No. 1 priority and family was second.
However Japanese culture has been changed and many people said family is No. 1. Also I think so either.
I hope it's going to be a good her birthday dinner.

Manufacture & Pearl Farmer

2005-02-25T14:18:00.000+09:00

New crop auction, HAMAAGE, is almost over this season. There are not much high quality material this season again.
We are manufacture and have been doing business with Pearl farmer for long time.
However we still can not understand each other. Manufacture always talk about consumer market and Pearl farmer always talk about cultivation.
When Mr. Mikimoto started cultivation of pearls, he made pearls and sold pearls. This mean he could think both side. His dream was "making beautiful pearls for women."
After 100 years, manufacture and pearl farm are separated and we forget about the dream.
Now manufacture and farmer have to remind "Dream of Pearl".

20km marathon

2005-02-21T15:41:00.000+09:00

I attend 20km marathon race yesterday.
It was very cold day and I takes 1 hour 43 minutes.
I couldn't did enough training this time, because I had bad cold in January and had very high fever about 10 days.
So I had only 2 weeks training before race, so it was not so bad result for me.
I felt 42.195km was quite long, so this time I felt 20km is not so long. The race was held in the morning and I could spend the time with my children in the afternoon.

The race aide served instant Chinese noodle after the race. I felt the taste was very good!
Chinese noodle, called "Ramen" is very popular food in Japan and there are so many stores, however I could not find better taste than the yesterday's one.

Association

2005-02-18T12:11:00.000+09:00

I joined some associations as business, alumni, hobby, etc. It is fun to meet new friends and good for me. If someone stays an association long time, they ask to become director and manage meeting.
Managing side of association is interesting. There are more chance to meeting member and to making own idea of meeting.
Now I'm director of 3 associations. It is fun and I make many new friends and connections.
However human relationship is not so easy. Every member has own idea and it is big job that every member makes happy. Also cooperation is very important thing in Japanese society.
Sometime I feel tired to be director. It is much easier that I join association as just a member.

St. Valentine day

2005-02-15T09:48:00.000+09:00

It was St. Valentine day in Japan. It is a day of declaration of love with some gift in Western. However it is a day of women give chocolate to men in Japan. About 40 years ago, it was more serious and women give chocolate only for declaration of love. Right now, women give chocolate friends who is men and it doesn't matter "love".
Also women who give chocolate expect returning gift at March 14 which is called "White day". Chocolate costs about $1 and they expect more expensive gift. If men who is given chocolate give about $1 gift, she is disappointed.
So St. Valentine day is big business in Japan. I'm expect that many men buy our pearl Jewelry for March 14.

New York

2005-02-09T13:06:00.000+09:00

I was in New York 1987 to 1991. I help partner of my uncle's company in daytime and studied English or Gem at night time. It was very hard for first 1 year for me, because I couldn't speak English well. Also I didn't get used to US culture. New York is melting pot and I met many kind of people.
After 1 year, my English become better and I was getting enjoyed New York life. I can buy many fashion items, can go famous museum, can eat all kind of foods, etc. I still miss New York very much.

Family business

2005-02-08T14:54:00.000+09:00

Pearl business is my family business. My uncle started pearl exporting about 70 years ago. My father joined his company. Then my father made his own company. I helped my father, then I went to New York for working partner of my uncle. After 5 years, I came back to Kobe and make my own company.

I grew up with pearls, because my house was pearl processing factory. I can not wear pearls, however I like beautiful luster of pearls.

Hello!!!

2005-02-07T12:30:00.000+09:00

Today I make blog and this is the first comment.
I would like to communicate with over sea people and introduce our pearl business, Japanese life, etc.
I live in Kobe which is middle part of Japan. There are sea and mountain.
Usually it is carm weather here, however it has been very cold in this two weeks.
My wife start blog too, but her blog is in Japanese. I try to pot as much possible.