Gentle Life with a Touch of Sorrow
Acoya Pop-up at MONO JAPAN STORE
10–15 November 2026
We are delighted to welcome Acoya to MONO JAPAN STORE for a special six-day pop-up.
Born from the legendary Akoya pearls of Omura Bay in Nagasaki, Acoya explores the cultural, spiritual and natural world surrounding the pearl — connecting the sea, nature, craftsmanship, memory and everyday life.
The history of Akoya pearls in Japan stretches back more than 1,300 years. Each pearl is a small miracle of life, born from the oyster and shaped by the sea. No two pearls are alike; each has its own colour, shape and character.
Acoya embraces this individuality and seeks to rediscover the forgotten stories woven between people, the sea and nature. At the heart of the brand is the idea of “the value of pearl culture” — preserving the heritage of Akoya pearls while imagining a new culture in which people, the sea and nature exist in harmony.
Acoya Jewellery
Acoya’s jewellery celebrates the individuality of each Akoya pearl, combining pearls with Japanese craftsmanship, gemstones and stories drawn from nature and culture.
C Collection
An understated, easy-to-wear collection for everyday life. Each pearl is carefully selected for its colour, shape and character, allowing its natural individuality to shine.
Anima Collection
A collection inspired by living things, the universe and the idea of the pearl as a soul.
The collection includes pieces such as A Piece of Ripple, inspired by Seigaiha, the traditional Japanese wave motif symbolising an enduring wish for peaceful and happy days; The Leonids, where tiny keshi pearls appear like stardust in the night sky; and Psychē, inspired by the butterfly and its symbolism of the soul, transformation and fleeting beauty.
Also within the collection is the Pearl Fan, a contemporary interpretation of the traditional Japanese folding fan. Created together with Edo-style fan craftsman Hiroshi Matsui and washi maker Rogier, the fan incorporates Akoya mother-of-pearl into delicate Japanese paper.
Water / Magic Hour Collection
Inspired by the emerald waters where Akoya pearl oysters live.
The collection combines Akoya pearls with gemstones to express the changing colours and beauty of the sea. Its deeper philosophy is rooted in the connection between forest and ocean: to protect the forest is to protect the sea, and to protect the sea is to protect our home.
Midir nu Hi Collection
Inspired by Yonaguni Island, a remote Japanese island where untouched nature still remains.
The collection brings together Akoya pearls and the spirit of the island, celebrating its blue sea, wild landscape and native horses while expressing a desire to preserve this precious natural environment.
From Omura Bay to the Netherlands
Acoya also carries a fascinating historical connection with the Netherlands.
During Japan’s period of national isolation, Akoya pearls from Omura Bay were exported to the Netherlands through the Dutch trading post in Hirado. They were among the first pearls from Japan to reach Europe.
This raises an intriguing question: could some of the pearls depicted in Johannes Vermeer’s paintings have come from Omura Bay?
Of the paintings attributed to Vermeer, many feature pearls, including the famous Girl with a Pearl Earring. We may never know the answer, but the possibility creates a beautiful thread between the Japanese sea, Dutch history and one of the most celebrated images of a pearl in Western art.
From the waters of Nagasaki to the Netherlands, the journey of the Akoya pearl continues.
Acoya & MONO JAPAN
Designer Chitose Ohchi has been connected with MONO JAPAN since the very first MONO JAPAN Fair in 2016. Over the years, we have had the pleasure of introducing her work through exhibitions and collaborations in the Netherlands.
We are very happy to welcome Acoya back to MONO JAPAN STORE and to share its unique world of pearls, Japanese craftsmanship and stories of the sea.
10–15 November 2026
MONO JAPAN STORE
