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

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

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.