Akoya cultured pearl
The Akoya cultured pearl is produced by inserting a nucleus (or nuclei) together with a tiny speck (or specks) of mantle tissue into the oyster (Pinctada fucata martensii). The main culturing areas in Japan are Mie, Ehime, Kumamoto,Oita and Nagasaki prefectures. Production amounts held steady for many years (approx. 70 tons), but recently these amounts have decreased due to abnormal weather conditions, new types of Red Tide and disease among the oysters.