Susumu Toyoda

"Meeting Mr. Kokichi Mikimoto"

Everyone was eagerly looking forward to meeting Mr. Kokichi Mikimoto, the famed "Cultured Pearl King" at his vast pearl farm in Toba located on Ago Bay south of Nagoya. The visiting party consisted of Ambassador and Mrs. John Allison, General and Mrs. John E. Hull and several aides. We flew from Yokosuka Navy Base on a PBY and landed smoothly on Ago Bay. After transferring to a launch we were taken to a reception room. There waited Mr. Mikimoto, dressed in a formal montsuki and hakama wear (upper wear with family crest and a divided skirt) and his grandson.

Greetings were exchanged and we all sat down. Then Mr. Mikimoto surprised me by telling his grandson, who speaks English perfectly, that he wanted me to interpret for him and his guests. Then with a flourish he reached in his left sleeve pulling out a neatly wrapped package and presented it to Mrs. Allison. He asked her to open the package. It contained a beautiful necklace of matching pearls. Then with equal flourish Mr. Mikimoto reached in his right sleeve and pulled out a matching package and gave it to Mrs. Hull. It contained an equally beautiful strand of pearls. Both ladies were enthralled by Mr. Mikimoto's novel way of presenting the pearls and very much thankful for the gifts.

After a short period of conversation Mr. Mikimoto excused himself to rest. At the time he was in his nineties. The party toured the pearl farm escorted by the grandson. At one point we were shown the process where the oysters were opened to reveal the cultured pearl or pearls. The men in the visiting party were offered one oyster each, opened by one of the workers, revealing a good-sized pearl. We all felt that we were offered oysters pre-selected to contain large pearls.

As the party bid farewell at the boat landing Mr. Mikimoto's son came to thank the party for visiting the pearl farm and that his father apologized for not coming down to personally say goodbye. He had sent his son bearing his bowler hat to wave goodbye to the party. To this day I can still see Mr. Mikimoto's bowler being waved in farewell.