World-famous pearl dealer. Son of a noodle shop "Awako" owner. He ran a seafood business while helping the family business. He undertook aquaculture of Akoya pearl oysters (pearl shells) in 1890 and started to experiment with the cultivation of pearls in Ago bay. He succeeded in cultured semi-circle pearl cultivation under the guidance of Kakichi Mitsukuri among others in 1893. He opened the Mikimoto Pearl Shop in 1899 in Tokyo. A cultured pearl cultivation method was invented by Tokichi Nishikawa, the son-in-law, and its patent was granted in 1908. He opened outlets not only in Japan but also overseas in such places as London and New York. He exhibited the Mikimoto pearls in expositions around the world. He was referred to as the "pearl king". He was selected as a member of the House of Peers in 1938.