Kokichi Mikimoto

In this Japanese name, the surname is Mikimoto.
Kokichi Mikimoto
御木本 幸吉
Born(1858-01-25)25 January 1858
Toba, Shima Province, Japan
Died21 September 1954(1954-09-21) (aged 96)
Resting placeAoyama Cemetery, Tokyo
Occupations
  • Cultured pearl farmer
  • entrepreneur
Known for
AwardsGrand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure (posthumous)

Kokichi Mikimoto (Japanese: 御木本 幸吉, Hepburn: Mikimoto Kōkichi, 25 January 1858 – 21 September 1954) was a Japanese entrepreneur who is credited with creating the first cultured pearl and subsequently starting the cultured pearl industry with the establishment of his luxury pearl company Mikimoto.[1][2]

He was inducted into the House of Peers by imperial decree and posthumously awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure.[2][3] On 18 April 1985, the Japan Patent Office selected him as one of Ten Japanese Great Inventors.[4][3]

The company was ranked as one of the world's most luxurious brands by Women's Wear Daily Magazine and Mikimoto was considered one of the best Japanese financial leaders of the 20th century by Nihon Keizai Shimbun.[3] He is also known as the founder of Mikimoto Pharmaceuticals, a company specialising in beauty products containing pearl calcium. Mikimoto Pearl Island is named after him. In addition, the "Phoenix Mikimoto Crown" used by Miss Universe winners as well as the pageant crown used by Miss International is credited to his patented work.

  1. ^ Joyce, Kristin and Addison, Shellei. Pearls: Ornament and Obsession. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993.[ISBN missing][page needed]
  2. ^ a b Ward, Fred. Pearls: Bethesda, MD: Gem Book Publishers, 2002.
  3. ^ a b c "Philosophy and History – Company Information". Mikimoto Cosmetics. Archived from the original on 28 February 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  4. ^ "Ten Japanese Great Inventors". Japan Patent Office.