One of those conventions was the idea that the more perfectly shaped a pearl is, the more valuable it is, while baroque pearls with distinctive shapes are often overlooked. But just as each of us is different and learns to love ourselves as we are, isn’t every pearl beautiful precisely because it is unique? I came to believe that every one-of-a-kind shape created by nature deserves to be loved.

The same is true of dyed pearls. They are sometimes avoided simply because they are dyed, yet Japan is home to world-class dyeing techniques. Rather than treating natural beauty as the only right answer, I believe that the beauty created through human craftsmanship deserves to be enjoyed more freely.

Another thing I questioned was the way pearls are distributed. Traditionally, pearls passed through multiple wholesalers between the auction and the customer. Drawing on the direct-to-consumer expertise I developed with Brillar, I built a system in which we buy directly at pearl auctions and deliver straight from our company to our customers. By removing as many intermediaries as possible, we are able to offer high-quality pearls at more accessible prices.

However, a direct-to-consumer model cannot succeed without the trust of our customers. That is why we have always placed the greatest importance on the satisfaction of every single customer, from quality and service to aftercare.