Journeys in Japan: 15x27

Ise-Shima: Timeless World of Pearls

Called “tears of mermaids” or “dewdrops from the moon,” pearls have captivated people since antiquity. The world’s first cultured pearls were born in Ise-Shima in Mie Prefecture. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, Do Minh Khai from Vietnam explores the Ise-Shima area, the home of magical pearls. She learns how the first cultured pearls were developed, experiences pearl harvesting, and encounters a new type of pearl jewelry created by a young designer.