Held in Kobe, Japan from November 10-12, 2025, the 7th Japan Pearl Fair brought together pearl buyers and exhibitors from around the globe at one of the most significant B2B pearl industry events.
Organized by the Japan Pearl Promotion Society, in collaboration with the Japan Pearl Exporters’ Association (JPEA) in collaboration with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), with support from the Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe City, this seventh iteration of the Japan Pearl Fair further solidified its reputation as the premier trade event for exhibiting saltwater cultured pearls processed in Japan.
The 7th Japan Pearl Fair
Over the three days of the event, more than 100 Japanese pearl exhibitors showcased beautiful pearls and fine pearl jewellery to nearly 800 visitors, the majority of whom were international buyers. The fair was held at Kobe International Exhibition Hall No. 3.
Kobe has long been associated with pearls and has served as the hub of global pearl trade for over a century. It is also where many Japanese pearl businesses are headquartered.
As a result, many exhibitors exhibited an impressive array of saltwater cultured pearls, including cultured Akoya, South Sea and Tahitian pearls. These were offered as loose pearls (singles, pairs and in lots), necklace strands and finished pearl jewellery.
Business Opportunities
A distinctive feature of the 7th Japan Pearl Fair was its emphasis on facilitating meaningful business engagements between exhibitors and buyers.
Organizers offered a range of attractive incentives to buyers, including free hotel stays for the first 50 international buyers who registered and completed qualifying transactions during the event. These initiatives were aimed at encouraging closer business ties between Japanese pearl suppliers and international buyers.
In addition, expert concierges with specialized knowledge of pearls assisted buyers in finding pearl suppliers best suited to their needs.
Another important aspect of the pearl fair was its innovative hybrid format. While in-person attendees were able to conduct their business face to face, registered international buyers who could not attend the show in person, were able to conduct online business meetings. Thus, this hybrid format widened the fair’s reach and accessibility.
Showcasing Japan’s Pearls to the World
The 7th Japan Pearl Fair focused on quality and craftsmanship. Japan has long been at the forefront of the global cultured pearl industry and, this B2B event showcased that legacy.
Gem quality, rare cultured Akoya pearls, both as loose pearls as well as necklace strands, were carefully selected by the exhibitors for the fair. While lustrous white Akoya pearls with pink overtones were the crème de la crème, many buyers were also drawn to blue Akoya pearls and mix-colour Akoya pearl necklaces.
Buyers seeking highly niche items were rewarded with drilled keshi Akoya pearl strands that were as small as 2mm in size!
Classic finished Akoya pearl jewellery, with round, white and highly lustrous Akoya pearls set with diamonds, were in strong demand. Finished jewellery featuring Akoya pearls paired with coloured gemstones was also popular.
In addition, top quality Tahitian and South Sea cultured pearls, sourced from different parts of the world, were also available.
Keshi saltwater pearls attracted particular attention. Highly lustrous golden South Sea keshi pearls, available as loose lots looked almost like gold nuggets while mix-colour South Sea keshi pearl strands drew many visitors.
Similarly, Tahitian keshi pearl strands along with organically-shaped baroque Tahitian pearls, were niche items that garnered considerable interest.
A select number of exhibitors offered a wide selection of certified cultured pearls for buyers who were looking only for the best of the best!
Seminars and Insightful Discussions
The fair’s seminar programme also played an important role in sharing industry knowledge and generating insightful discussion.
The seminars included panel discussions and expert-led talks covering key industry topics such as trends in Japan’s pearl industry, key updates to the Pearl Guidelines 2025, a Pearl Proficiency hands-on mini course as well as talk on the beauty of Akoya Pearls. Most seminars were conducted in Japanese, but real-time online translations were available for non-Japanese speakers.
Japan Pearl Fair Welcome Party
A by-invitation-only event, the 7th Japan Pearl Fair’s welcome party was a lively gathering where buyers, exhibitors and organizers had the opportunity to network and mingle. The party got started with a traditional Japanese sake ceremony, followed by a lavish buffet featuring both traditional Japanese and international dishes.
Looking Ahead
The successful conclusion of the 7th Japan Pearl Fair reaffirmed its role as a key international pearl industry event. The event not only celebrated the beauty of Japanese Akoya pearls and diversity of saltwater cultured pearls, it also highlighted the importance of collaboration and knowledge among industry insiders.
