A new pearl piece has been added:
9mm stud earrings from the Sixty Series.
As I have mentioned several times in previous articles, the Sixty Series pearls were harvested more than 60 years ago and come directly from the great-grandson of Yasui Tōdō, the inventor of pearl stain removal.
These particular pearls were probably not considered top quality even back then, but for me, their value lies not only in their appearance but also in their history.
They are pearls from Sukumo, the birthplace of the world’s first round cultured pearls—an almost forgotten holy ground of pearl cultivation. Its brief glory ended in just a few years due to a devastating flood. From then on, Ise, the birthplace of Mikimoto, has reigned as the sacred land of pearls.
Through these pearls, you can catch a glimpse of the origins of pearl farming and the history of stain removal techniques.
“Who cares about all that?”
Well, don’t say that just yet.
When you care deeply about someone, you naturally become curious about their background.
The same can be said not just for these earrings but for every pearl.
That history is scattered throughout this site. One could say it lacks structure, but it is also filled with layers of stories.
Flower Jem introduces pearls in long texts, tangled narratives, and meanderings away from the main theme.
This may not appeal to those who are strictly functional, logical, and efficient. But just as some people prefer wandering off the direct path from school to home, collecting small adventures and memories along the way, there may be others who enjoy such detours.
My birthday is August 7, which happens to be the same as Ryotaro Shiba, a famous Japanese novelist. He was known for his historical novels, often filled with tangents and side stories. While he was sometimes criticized for that, I personally love those diversions—they make me feel the slow, meandering flow of life.
Of course, I am not a writer, and my words may not have the same charm. But if there are readers who enjoy traveling along these roundabout paths with me, I would be grateful.