Mikimoto Koukichi There was a man who boasted to the Emperor Meiji that he would "decorate all the women of the world with pearl necklaces." This man was indeed Mikimoto Koukichi, the discoverer of artificial pearls and later to be called the "Pearl King." He was born in the 5th year of the Ansei (1858) as the son of a udon (noodle) shop owner in Toba. As a youth he vowed to become the richest man in Toba. In the 26th year of Meiji (1893), he finally succeeds in breeding semi-circular artificial pearls. He was only 35 years old. Twelve years later, he succeeds in breeding circular artificial pearls as well, realizing his dream.