Founder Story(241021)

Founder Story

After working alongside Saburo Nishimura for five years, Aiko evolved from a novice with little knowledge of pearl quality to a proficient leader capable of independently overseeing the classification of hundreds of thousands of auction pearls. Her rapid growth earned the respect of Saburo Nishimura, a veteran in the pearl industry for nearly fifty years, who was impressed by her quick mastery and dedication. Aiko's passion for pearls and her strict adherence to quality standards convinced Saburo that she was the rightful heir to continue his legacy in the pearl industry.

Beyond the pearl trade, Aiko recognized that in most jewelry designs, pearls were treated merely as "beautiful objects"—aesthetic but interchangeable with any other gemstone. For Aiko, however, pearls held a deeper significance; they were emblematic of life itself. Their formation, growth, and unique textures resonated with her notion of the "true self". To Aiko, true self in humans, like in pearls, isn't found in perfection but in the natural, imperfect, and unique paths of growth each undergoes.

Driven by this belief, Aiko aspired for her jewelry to reflect her profound respect and love for pearls. She envisioned them not simply as ornaments but as profound symbols of true self. Thus, she continued her pearl trading endeavors with Saburo while embarking on a new journey to design jewelry. Her creations sought to celebrate the intrinsic beauty and unique story of each pearl, just as each person’s true self is celebrated for its distinct and genuine nature.

To further push the bounds, Aiko created BIWAKO Lab, an initiative within the company that works with multi-disciplined designers worldwide to explore the endless possibilities of what the modern pearl design can look like. 

In 2023, following his 74th birthday, Saburo formally passed the leadership baton to Aiko.

Now as the head of BIWAKO, the legacy of high-quality pearls that Saburo Nishimura cherished is poised to reach new heights, fulfilling his vision of offering the world’s best-in-class pearl with timeless Japanese values that are deeply rooted in the hearts of the people from Lake Biwa.

BIWAKO is the modern Japanese pearl heirloom. It represents the duality often mirrored in nature and the world around us.  It’s something old. It’s something new. It’s timeless, yet timely.