Pearl FALCO is pleased to announce our Singapore Event, ‘Unveiling The Secret Gem – Ise Shima – Pearl FALCO’s Akoya Pearl Jewelry Grand Prix 2022 Singapore Edition,’ thanks to the Japan Creative Centre and the Embassy of Japan in Singapore for their continued generous support.

So Many Great Young Designers & Artists Participated This Year. Looking forward to seeing their impact on the design world in the coming days! Students from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Raffles College of Higher Education and the Jewelry Design and Management International School have continuously participated in this Year’s Grand Prix. Thank You!

Grand Prix Akoya Pearl Jewelry 2021 Singapore Edition

Akoya Pearl Jewellery Grand Prix 2021

Ms Mai Makito - CEO of Pearl FALCO

Pearl FALCO is delighted to continue to showcase this exhibition at the Japan Creative Centre again this Year. We welcome everyone to view the top 30 entries at the JCC and cast your vote for your favourite creation!  

And for this Year’s Grand Prix, Pearl FALCO is honoured to organise the ‘Explore Ise Shima with Ama Diver & Local Media’ Event with Ise Shima Local Media Kicksmash21 and Practising Female Diver to unveil the Secret Gem of Ise Shima together and ‘Styling with Your Brilliant Pearls’ Workshop with Maiko Makito, CEO of Pearl FALCO and Kanako Mori, L’AtelierK. Additional highlights include the opening and closing ceremonies of the exhibition. Be sure to mark your calendars with the corresponding dates below! 

More Details from Japan Embassy Singapore, Japan Creative Center

Pearl FALCO’s 5th Annual Grand Prix’s Theme. “Moonlight”

Now in its 5th Year, the Pearl FALCO Grand Prix was initially conceived by Maiko Makito, Managing Director and Co-Owner of the Pearl FALCO Corporation, who took the helm of her family’s pearl business in Japan just a few short years ago. Since then, Maiko has strived to share Ise Shima Japan’s cultural treasures and sustainable pearl cultivation practices in Mie Prefecture with the rest of the world. 

Pearl FALCO’s Annual Grand Prix’s primary goal is to share the beauty of Akoya pearls and Ise Shima Japan with the world. This Year’s theme is “Moonlight.” 

Since ancient times, many cultures have cherished pearls as ‘Dewdrops from the Moon’ dropped into the ocean. Maiko said, “Calm and soothing moonlight exactly looks like the lustre of Akoya pearls.”

Ise Shima, Japan. Birthplace of Sustainable Pearl Cultivation

Ise Shima, Japan, is the birthplace of cultured pearls. In the late 1880s, practices were developed to cultivate beautiful round pearls sustainably. These cultivation methods ultimately led to the growth of sustainable pearl aquaculture worldwide. 

Cultured pearl cultivation is a multi-year “team effort” in every sense of the term. Even after years of long-tested cultivation methods have been applied, fewer than 30% of cultured pearls will be used for jewellery. 

The 2 most significant challenges facing Akoya pearl cultivation in Ise Shima are the declining number of experienced pearl farmers and climate change. In the last two years alone, Akoya pearl production has declined by at least 80%. Pearl FALCO hopes to bring this awareness to the Grand Prix – how we impact the natural world, not just in Ise Shima, but on a global scale. 

We hope you will join Pearl FALCO in striving to help mitigate the worst side effects of climate change, not only to keep the grand tradition of sustainable cultured pearl farming in Ise Shima alive and well but for our collective well-being now and for generations to come.

JCC Grand Prix Akoya Pearl Jewellery 2022

Exhibition and Voting Period:  9 – 18 February 2023. Thursday – Saturday

Closed on 12th and 13th February, Mondays and Sundays

Open to the Public

Opening Hours: 10:00am to 6:00pm

Venue: Japan Creative Centre (JCC), Embassy of Japan in Singapore

4 Nassim Road Singapore 258372

Opening Ceremony

Speech by JCC Director Mr Toru Furugori

Speech by Managing Director & Co-owner of Pearl FALCO

Corporation Ms Maiko Makito

Speech by Managing Director of Kicksmask21 & President of

Shima Nature School Mr Tomoaki Azuma

Date:  Thursday, 10 February 2023

Time: 11am – 12pm

Explore Ise Shima with Ama Diver & Local Media

“Learn more about Ise Shima, the birthplace of cultured pearls, from MrTomoaki Azuma, Movie Producer, Managing Director of Kicksmash 21 and President of Shima Nature School, as well as Ms Mayumi Mitsuhashi (74-year-old practicing Ama Diver). You can also sample food which Ama Divers usually eat, such as miso soup and  sushi.

Date: Saturday, 11 February 2023

Time: 2pm – 3:30pm

Styling with Your Brilliant Pearls

Discover the mystery of pearls, by understanding many eye-opening facts about pearls, as well as learn how to adorn yourself with these natural gems, from Ms Maiko Makito of Pearl FALCO and Ms Kanako Mori, Founder of L’AtelierK.

Date: Saturday, 18 February 2023

Time: 2pm – 3m

Closing Ceremony

Join us online on JCC Facebook Live or JCC as Ms Maiko Makito of Pearl FALCO officially closes the exhibition by announcing the top five winners of the competition and the next competition’s theme.

Date: Saturday, 18 February 2023

Time: 4:30pm – 5:30pm Online

Azuma Kicksmash21 rev 1

Tomoaki Azuma

female diver mitsuhashi

 Mayumi Mitsuhashi

Kanako Mori

 Kanako Mori

jcc map 2018