Two Years and Thousands of Layers in a Single Gem: Doi Pearl on the Art of Pearl Farming

2026.02.25

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When you look at a finished pearl, you see a serene and beautiful object. But within that single gem lies a delicate "surgery" performed on the oyster, a period of convalescence, and the passage of one to two long years.

We visited Doi Pearl, a farm in Uwajima, Ehime Prefecture—one of Japan's foremost pearl-producing regions. They tell us, "No matter how much care you pour into it, you never know the result until you open the oyster. That's the reality of pearl farming." We went to see firsthand this world of pearl cultivation, a craft born from confronting nature and embracing uncertainty.

PROFILE

Kazunori Doi

President, Doi Pearl Co., Ltd.

1974: Born in Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture.
Graduated from Uwajima Higashi High School and Tokyo University of Fisheries (now Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology).
After working at the Pearl Science Laboratory, returned to his hometown of Uwajima.
Currently President of Doi Pearl Co., Ltd.
1997: Certified as a "Pearl Master" by the Pearl Science Laboratory.
2005: Appointed President of Doi Pearl Co., Ltd.
2007: ANA "Kando Annainin" (Inspiration Guide).
2009: Chairman of the Ehime Prefecture Fisheries Federation, Miura Fisheries Cooperative, Young Fishermen's Council.
2009: Director of the Ehime Prefecture Young Fishermen's Liaison Council.
2021: Vice Chairman of the Uwajima Pearl Sales Cooperative.

The Division of Labor Behind Every Pearl: The Uwajima Production Hub

Uwajima is a major production hub, accounting for roughly 30-40% of all pearls produced in Japan. Its calm inland sea and intricate rias coastline create the perfect environment for cultivating Akoya oysters. But pearl farming isn't a job that can be handled by a single artisan or company alone.

There are specialists who raise the Akoya oysters, others who create the nuclei, those who manage the cultivation, and still others who handle the final processing and sorting. Each expert plays a distinct role, collaborating to bring a single pearl to market.

"If you tried to do everything yourself, you'd run out of time and energy. That's why, as a region, we've established this division of labor."

This system of specialization was born out of necessity, given the immense time and labor required. The Uwajima pearl industry thrives on a framework where the entire community unites, leveraging its rich natural environment and sophisticated techniques to cultivate high-quality pearls.