Tsutomu Nagai x Mori Pearl

ナガイツトム　✕　森パール

Beautiful Ocean Project

Beautiful pearls come from beautiful oceans.
Our collaboration with Ms. Nagai began in 2021 from Ise-Shima, the home of pearls.
Since then, we have held various events at department stores in Tokyo's Nihonbashi and Ginza, Sapporo, Sendai, and other locations.

Through events that promote the importance of tree planting in the mountains for the rich oceans where Akoya oysters cultivate pearls, and through manga, raise awareness about the current critical state of our oceans.

This year, for the fourth time, I will be expressing myself through live painting at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi. I will be delivering a full version of content that could not be fully expressed at the venue.

This is a secret page that can only be accessed via the QR code installed at the venue until the end of this session. We hope you enjoy it.

What is Akoya Pearl?

The main production area is Japan, and the mother-of-pearl oysters are about 8-12 cm in size. They are characterized by their transparency and strong luster. The fine nacre gives off a soft beauty.
The secret to the beauty of Akoya pearls is partly due to Japan's four seasons. Harvesting takes place in winter, and the drop in water temperature causes the pearls to form a fine nacre (kesho-maki). In the past, they were called "hon-shinju" or "waju," but these terms are now ambiguous and avoided. The average size of an Akoya pearl is about 8mm (ranging from 2mm to about 10mm). In recent years, they have also been cultivated in China and Vietnam.

Shape types

Round and semi-round shapes, which have a high sphericity, give a formal impression.
Conversely, shapes with strong distortions, such as baroque or circle, give a casual impression.