“Learn more about Ise Shima, the birthplace of cultured pearls, from Mr Tomoaki Azuma (Movie Producer, Managing Director of Kicksmash 21, 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 aosa miso soup and tekone sushi.

Date:	Saturday, 11 February 2023
Time:	2pm - 3:30pm
Venue:	Japan Creative Centre (JCC), Embassy of Japan in Singapore 4 Nassim Road Singapore 258372
Admission:	FREE (Registration required)

If the registration is full, or you would like to cancel your registration, please e-mail us at jcc@sn.mofa.go.jp. We regret that there is limited capacity, kindly register early to avoid disappointment. ALL EVENTS ARE FREE OF CHARGE.

Please inform us at least 3 days before the event if you and/or your accompanying guest are unable to make it. No-show registrants will be noted and be given lower priority for our future events.

Tomoaki Azuma was born and grew up in Ise City, Mie Prefecture. After graduating from the University in Nagoya, he joined the local cable TV company and learned the need for local media. He became independent at the age of 28 and started his own video production company. Currently, as a Japanese who is living a balanced life with nature, he is doing a wide range of activities such as video production, movie producer, nature school, agriculture, retailing business of Ise Shima signature product – Japanese Knife, eco-tour, town development etc.

Mayumi Mitsuhashi, is a 74-year-old practicing Ama diver, a breath-hold diver who catches seafood without any oxygen tank. It might be misunderstood that they catch Akoya pearls, but they actually catch seafood like abalone, lobster, sea urchin, turban shell, seaweed etc. Since ancient time, Ama divers have lived in Ise Shima, and are the first to discover natural Akoya Pearl in Ise Shima. Hence, Japan started to culture Akoya Oysters in Ise Shima, and established a method to create a beautiful round pearl for the first time in the world. Ama diver tools were found around 3000 years ago in Ise Shima from ancient ruins, but Ama diver culture is considered to have begun around 5000 years ago.

In 2016, there were around 2000 Ama divers in Japan, with about a half of them in Ise Shima. But the number of Ama divers has been decreasing due to aging, lack of successors and poor harvest due to global warming and seawater condition.

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 (Pearl Falco) and Ms Kanako Mori (founder of L’AtelierK).

Date:	Saturday, 18 February 2023
Time:	2pm - 3pm
Venue:	Japan Creative Centre (JCC), Embassy of Japan in Singapore 4 Nassim Road Singapore 258372
Admission:	FREE (Registration required)

If the registration is full, or you would like to cancel your registration, please e-mail us at jcc@sn.mofa.go.jp. We regret that there is limited capacity, kindly register early to avoid disappointment. ALL EVENTS ARE FREE OF CHARGE.

Please inform us at least 3 days before the event if you and/or your accompanying guest are unable to make it. No-show registrants will be noted and be given lower priority for our future events.

Born and raised in Ise Shima, Japan, the birthplace of cultured pearls and the origin of world-renowned female pearl divers, Maiko Makito is the co-owner and heiress to the family's Japan-based pearl jewellery empire that was founded in 1985. She first took the helm of Pearl Falco in 2016 and expanded the brand’s footprint into the Southeast Asia region with the opening of a Singapore gallery in 2019.

In 2018, her visionary leadership saw the birth of the Grand Prix Akoya Pearl Jewellery in Ise Shima, a pearl jewellery competition. In the same year, she launched a charity fund, Pearl of Hope, as part of her efforts to grant educational scholarships to underserved children all over Asia.

Kanako Mori, the founder of L’AtelierK (Workshop K), is certified as Image Consultant (CIC) and trained by the world top Image Masters. Having lived in Tokyo, London, Paris and now in Singapore, she possesses a cosmopolitan and cross culturalflair for fashion.

Her unique and elegant style management has been impressing and helping people from different age, culture and nationalities, from individuals to corporate, by bringing them confidence through transforming their image.

Join us online on JCC Facebook Live as Ms Maiko Makito (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
Venue:	Online (Premiere on JCC Facebook Live)
Admission:	FREE