1

History and Origin of Pearls

Pearls are perfected naturally, without any human intervention. The Bible says that there are 12 gates in heaven made of pearls, hence the term "Pearly Gates." Pearls have long been highly valued as a symbol of beauty.

Unlike diamonds and rubies, pearls do not require polishing or cutting, and so they have been used since ancient times as the most familiar gemstone. In fact, jewelry made of pearls has been excavated from ruins all over the world, and there are records showing that humans were already involved with "pearls of the sea" around 4000 BC (about 6000 years ago) in the Persian Gulf near the Arabian Peninsula.

In Japan, Jomon pearls dating back about 5,500 years have been discovered in the Torihama shell mound in Mikata-cho, Mikata-gun, Fukui Prefecture. The oldest book in Japan, the Kojiki, compiled 1,300 years ago, contains a description of "Shiratama." It describes pearls as an analogy for beauty, stating, "Even the red beads shine through their strings, but your appearance like white beads is even more splendid and beautiful." Additionally, 4,158 pearls were used in the ceremony to open the eyes of the Great Buddha of Todaiji Temple, and they are still kept in the Shosoin Repository in Nara.

2

Japan's proud world-class Akoya pearls

Among the historically rich Japanese pearls, Akoya pearls are considered the most precious. Akoya pearls have been known as the king of natural pearls since before they were cultivated. Due to the seasonal differences in water temperature, Japanese Akoya pearls are the most transparent of all the pearls found in the world, with excellent texture, luster, roundness, and thickness, and they boast some of the highest quality in the world.

Mie, Ehime, Kumamoto, and Nagasaki prefectures, all known for their pearl production, have ria coasts. The inlets of ria coasts have low waves, calm winds, and deep water, which lead to good plankton growth. Minerals from the mountains carried by the rivers are also important. With both the rich sea and the fertile mountains, Akoya oysters are well suited to growing.

3

The careful handiwork that supports pearl farming

Akoya oysters are originally very delicate shellfish that are easily affected by environmental changes and were thought to be difficult to cultivate. However, at the end of the 19th century, Kokichi Mikimoto succeeded in cultivating Akoya oysters by inserting glass nuclei into them, and this marked the beginning of the flourishing of pearl farming in Japan.

In 1907, a patent was applied for to produce perfectly round pearls using Akoya oysters, and Akoya pearl production has increased since then through the adoption of various technologies.

Akoya oyster farming involves growing the mother oysters for one to two years. In the spring, they work hard to embed the nuclei that will become the pearls, and in the summer they remove various attachments such as barnacles and oysters. From autumn to winter, it's time to harvest the pearls. Most of the work that takes place throughout the seasons is done by hand. Furthermore, only about 30% of the oysters can be sold as high-quality gemstones. In addition, in recent years, producers have been suffering from a series of necrotic deaths of Akoya oysters due to the outbreak of a virus of unknown cause, causing problems for producers.

After going through all these difficult challenges, the pearls grown at the farm are transported to the processing manufacturer. Craftsmen keep a watchful eye over each stage of the process, from culturing to processing to sorting. Although the work is divided among different groups, there is absolutely no compromise in any of the steps, which is a major reason why Japan's pearl industry reigns as one of the world's top pearl manufacturers.

4

Japanese passion for pearls

In Uwajima, Ehime Prefecture, a pearl producing area, all nuclei are inserted into Akoya oysters by hand. The producers themselves call this a "major operation," and even veterans with 50 years of experience in pearl farming say that this is the most stressful part. The quality of a pearl is determined by a detailed combination of three factors: the sea, the mother oyster, and the technique, and it takes a skilled craftsman to determine this. In 2019, a large number of Akoya oysters across Japan suffered necrosis, and Uwajima was no exception, with all the Akoya oysters being cultivated being wiped out. Even so, the craftsman says, "If we could see almost everything through, calculate everything, and create pearls, I doubt we would have been able to get this far."

In Ise-Shima, also known as a pearl producing region, the Pearl Festival is held every year on October 22nd to commemorate the Akoya oysters that died during pearl farming. The Pearl Festival is held in Ago Bay and Kashikojima, the home of pearls, and is an event to pray for the repose of the Akoya oysters that end their lives when pearls are born, and for the promotion of pearl farming. After a memorial service is held at the memorial tower in Maruyama Park, the mother-of-pearl oysters are released into Kashikojima Port.

Dressed in white beachwear, female divers dive into the ocean to collect shellfish and seaweed. They were once essential to harvesting cultured pearls.

5

The core of WSP is "discernment"

In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of Akoya oysters dying due to global warming and the outbreak of a virus of unknown cause. Coupled with a lack of successors due to the aging population, it is becoming harder and harder to obtain high-quality pearls. Even under such circumstances, WSP has been able to continue providing customers with high-quality pearls that are worth more than their price, due to their long-standing track record as "professionals specializing in pearls."

WSP's strength lies in its unwavering commitment to the "original beauty of pearls" and to conducting honest business. Even in today's difficult times when pearl production has drastically decreased, WSP has been able to steadily secure pearls of various qualities from all over Japan by building long-term relationships of trust with pearl farmers and processors (manufacturers) who share the same noble mission. The pearls collected in this way are strictly ranked in-house and sold under the motto "Good products at reasonable prices." Wholesale allows for larger purchases than retail, so it is possible to keep distribution costs down even for high-quality pearls that are quite expensive at the market price. In addition, WSP designs in-house to suit the characteristics of each pearl, offering a wide lineup ranging from standard to unique pieces. Furthermore, by not spending excessively on advertising, WSP creates a virtuous cycle by giving back to producers, protecting the marine environment, and, above all, benefiting its customers.

WSP takes pride in being Japan's "pearl professionals" and hopes that wearing pearls will enrich the hearts of those who wear them, whether it be on a special occasion or an ordinary day.

6

WSP's SDGs Activities

In recent years, WSP has been operating under the theme of "A company that does beautiful things seriously" and the philosophy of "We will share 'Good vibes of life' forever," working on the WSP SDGs STYLE. At the core of this is the idea of a "four-way win": good for the seller, good for the buyer, good for society, and good for future generations.

To sustainably protect the marine environment, we are exploring ways to get involved in activities to reduce waste in rivers and oceans. To restore marine and coastal ecosystems and achieve healthy and productive oceans, we donate a portion of our sales to organizations such as the Nature Conservation Society of Japan, which protects rich nature, the Ocean and Japan Project, which promotes marine experiences and environmental protection, and Florence, a certified NPO that supports children's welfare.

In addition, by using a beauty ingredient called conchiolin made from pearl oyster shells in cosmetics, discarded pearl oysters are put to effective use. The nacre (the surface of the pearl) of pearls that are scratched or cracked and cannot be used as jewelry is also used as a raw material for cosmetic ingredients and health foods such as supplements. Additionally, the use of upcycled and recyclable materials, such as cosmetic containers, is increasing.

Through pearls, the jewel of the sea that has been loved since ancient times, WSP will continue to aim for coexistence and co-prosperity with the sea. We will share “Good vibes of life” forever.