Jeweler Miwa was the first to introduce diamond engagement rings to Japan.<\/h4>\n\n\n- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- How many years has the shop been open?<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- It\u2019s been about 100 years since we first opened the shop in 1915, and I\u2019m going on my 55th year as president. The shop moved to its current location in Ginza just before the Tokyo Olympics (in 1964).<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Were you a specialty jeweler from the very beginning?<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- Yes. At the time, precious stones could not be officially imported to Japan. We were finally allowed to officially import them at around the end of the Olympics, but most gem vendors were watch shops or glasses shops. It was extremely rare for a store to specialize only in gems from the start. We also began pearl aquaculture business in 1954, and it was even rarer for a shop to specialize in both gems and pearls.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- That\u2019s amazing. When I got married, I received an engagement ring. I heard that this custom was started in Japan by Miwa.<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- I thought it would be a good idea to try the custom of giving engagement rings, that was originally commonplace overseas, in Japan as well. Miwa was the first shop to introduce diamond engagement rings to Japan.<\/dd>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n
![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_11_01.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nI want people to love their gems and treasure them forever.<\/h4>\n\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Did you experience any particularly memorable episodes when buying gems?<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- One of our VIP customers was extremely fond of precious stones, and I once had the opportunity to go with her to countries of origin as a connoisseur.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- No kidding! I would love to go.<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- Yes, but it was sometimes dangerous. I was told to fear for my life when I left the hotel to buy gems. I was also pick pocketed.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- It sounds like a tough trade. I get the feeling that most women want diamonds, but are there trends for precious stones as well?<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- Not at the moment. It is more that people are choosing gems that they have a personal liking for.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I understand the feeling. As a violinist, of course I pick violins with great sound, but I\u2019m also the type of person who strongly focuses on my first impression. When I was looking for an engagement ring, I was recommended a high-grade diamond, but it did not impress me at all. <\/dd>\n
- Gems seem to have mysterious connections.<\/dt>\n
- <\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- Yes, they certainly do. You can feel something is there in them. For example, legend has it that blue diamonds bring bad luck to those who get one. Or the opposite \u2014 some people say good things have happened to them by holding a precious stone. Perhaps it\u2019s all in the mind, but I think it\u2019s the mystery of the stones. I want people to love their gems and treasure them forever.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n
![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_11_02.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_11_03.jpg\")
<\/p>\nExterior of the main branch of Jeweler Miwa in Ginza<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_11_04.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\nI want to make Miyuki-dori famous\u2026 Thoughts on the Flower Carpet Flower Festival<\/h4>\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I understand you founded the Ginza Miyuki-dori Beautification Association and help develop Miyuki-dori. Could you tell us the origin of the name of this street?<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- It got its name from being the street that Emperor Meiji took to graduation ceremonies and other events at the Naval War College (now National Cancer Center) in the Meiji era.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I never knew that. This is a very historical street.
What types of activities are you doing with the Miyuki-dori Beautification Association?<\/dd>\n - Miwa<\/dt>\n
- I had an eye-opening experience a while back. When I took a taxi from Tokyo station and asked to be taken to Miyuki-dori, the driver responded with, \u201cWhere?\u201d I thought it was a famous street, but was shocked to learn that it is not well-known by the public. I felt I must do something to change that.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- That\u2019s hard to imagine today.<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- Yes, I know. As I already mentioned, Miyuki-dori has a strong connection to the Emperor, so I thought we should do something to celebrate Emperor Meiji\u2019s birthday that was on April 29 as a tribute. Similar to the Italian Infiorata (meaning flower carpet) festival, I thought it would be great to try making a bed of flower petals on the street. It just happened to be the tulip season. The heads of tulips must be removed to keep the bulbs strong, so I thought about using those heads.
I went right away to Toyama Prefecture to ask for tulip heads and received as many as 200,000. The event took up the road, so the police showed some reluctance, but I went directly to the then Commissioner to ask his permission and was told, \u201cFestivals are a great place for communication in both cities and rural areas. Make it a big event.\u201d<\/dd>\n - Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I would never have thought to spread flowers in the street.<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- It was the first time to try it in Japan. We created a multicolor pattern with 200,000 tulips over a roughly 300 meter strip from Sotobori-dori to Chuo-dori. Thanks to the Flower Carpet Festival, Miyuki-dori\u2019s name became well known. The street had about 40,000 visitors each year. We closed the festival in its 25th year, but, strangely enough, we were very lucky that it never rained once on April 29th during those years.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_11_05.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFlower Carpet Flower Festival<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_11_06.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nI am not originally from Ginza, which may have made me even more strongly attached to the district.<\/h4>\n\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Has Ginza changed a lot since you first opened the shop here?<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- Yes, completely. At the time, Ginza was filled with young \u201cMiyuki-zoku\u201d (=Miyuki crowd, a subculture that took up Ivy League fashion). I thought it would be terrible if that became the image of Ginza, so I worked hard to prevent it (laughs). The shops have changed drastically, but you can still find old-fashioned shops in the back streets that are very charming. Customers have told me they feel at home when they come to Ginza, which makes me very happy.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- In your opinion, what type of district is Ginza?<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- Ginza is a district that everyone longs for. I want to make Miyuki-dori in Ginza a street that we can be proud of, so we have widened the pavement, planted flowerbeds and are working to maintain a beautiful landscape.
I am not originally from Ginza, which may have made me even more strongly attached to the district. I am sure Ginza will continue to change. It may look different, but some things will stay the same. That is the beauty of Ginza. There is no place you can relax and feel at ease more than Ginza.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_11_07.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThe next guest will be\u2026<\/h4>\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Could you tell us about the next guest?<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- It\u2019s Mr. Watanabe, the young president of Ichibankan, a venerable tailor in Ginza. His hobbies are stylish and sophisticated. I\u2019m sure you will hear many interesting stories about his business and his personal life.<\/dd>\n<\/div>\n\n
![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_11_08.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\nChisako Takashima<\/h4>\n
Violinist. Started playing the violin at age 6. After playing abroad, she moved her home base to Japan, and gives concerts all over the country. Although her current focus is on performing music, she also appears on TV and radio programs. Thanks to her much-loved personality, she is appearing in more and more venues.<\/p>\n
- \n
- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- How many years has the shop been open?<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- It\u2019s been about 100 years since we first opened the shop in 1915, and I\u2019m going on my 55th year as president. The shop moved to its current location in Ginza just before the Tokyo Olympics (in 1964).<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Were you a specialty jeweler from the very beginning?<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- Yes. At the time, precious stones could not be officially imported to Japan. We were finally allowed to officially import them at around the end of the Olympics, but most gem vendors were watch shops or glasses shops. It was extremely rare for a store to specialize only in gems from the start. We also began pearl aquaculture business in 1954, and it was even rarer for a shop to specialize in both gems and pearls.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- That\u2019s amazing. When I got married, I received an engagement ring. I heard that this custom was started in Japan by Miwa.<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- I thought it would be a good idea to try the custom of giving engagement rings, that was originally commonplace overseas, in Japan as well. Miwa was the first shop to introduce diamond engagement rings to Japan.<\/dd>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
I want people to love their gems and treasure them forever.<\/h4>\n
\n- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Did you experience any particularly memorable episodes when buying gems?<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- One of our VIP customers was extremely fond of precious stones, and I once had the opportunity to go with her to countries of origin as a connoisseur.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- No kidding! I would love to go.<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- Yes, but it was sometimes dangerous. I was told to fear for my life when I left the hotel to buy gems. I was also pick pocketed.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- It sounds like a tough trade. I get the feeling that most women want diamonds, but are there trends for precious stones as well?<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- Not at the moment. It is more that people are choosing gems that they have a personal liking for.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I understand the feeling. As a violinist, of course I pick violins with great sound, but I\u2019m also the type of person who strongly focuses on my first impression. When I was looking for an engagement ring, I was recommended a high-grade diamond, but it did not impress me at all. <\/dd>\n
- Gems seem to have mysterious connections.<\/dt>\n
- <\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- Yes, they certainly do. You can feel something is there in them. For example, legend has it that blue diamonds bring bad luck to those who get one. Or the opposite \u2014 some people say good things have happened to them by holding a precious stone. Perhaps it\u2019s all in the mind, but I think it\u2019s the mystery of the stones. I want people to love their gems and treasure them forever.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Exterior of the main branch of Jeweler Miwa in Ginza<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\nI want to make Miyuki-dori famous\u2026 Thoughts on the Flower Carpet Flower Festival<\/h4>\n
- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I understand you founded the Ginza Miyuki-dori Beautification Association and help develop Miyuki-dori. Could you tell us the origin of the name of this street?<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- It got its name from being the street that Emperor Meiji took to graduation ceremonies and other events at the Naval War College (now National Cancer Center) in the Meiji era.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I never knew that. This is a very historical street.
What types of activities are you doing with the Miyuki-dori Beautification Association?<\/dd>\n - Miwa<\/dt>\n
- I had an eye-opening experience a while back. When I took a taxi from Tokyo station and asked to be taken to Miyuki-dori, the driver responded with, \u201cWhere?\u201d I thought it was a famous street, but was shocked to learn that it is not well-known by the public. I felt I must do something to change that.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- That\u2019s hard to imagine today.<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- Yes, I know. As I already mentioned, Miyuki-dori has a strong connection to the Emperor, so I thought we should do something to celebrate Emperor Meiji\u2019s birthday that was on April 29 as a tribute. Similar to the Italian Infiorata (meaning flower carpet) festival, I thought it would be great to try making a bed of flower petals on the street. It just happened to be the tulip season. The heads of tulips must be removed to keep the bulbs strong, so I thought about using those heads.
I went right away to Toyama Prefecture to ask for tulip heads and received as many as 200,000. The event took up the road, so the police showed some reluctance, but I went directly to the then Commissioner to ask his permission and was told, \u201cFestivals are a great place for communication in both cities and rural areas. Make it a big event.\u201d<\/dd>\n - Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I would never have thought to spread flowers in the street.<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- It was the first time to try it in Japan. We created a multicolor pattern with 200,000 tulips over a roughly 300 meter strip from Sotobori-dori to Chuo-dori. Thanks to the Flower Carpet Festival, Miyuki-dori\u2019s name became well known. The street had about 40,000 visitors each year. We closed the festival in its 25th year, but, strangely enough, we were very lucky that it never rained once on April 29th during those years.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/p>\n
Flower Carpet Flower Festival<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nI am not originally from Ginza, which may have made me even more strongly attached to the district.<\/h4>\n
\n- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Has Ginza changed a lot since you first opened the shop here?<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- Yes, completely. At the time, Ginza was filled with young \u201cMiyuki-zoku\u201d (=Miyuki crowd, a subculture that took up Ivy League fashion). I thought it would be terrible if that became the image of Ginza, so I worked hard to prevent it (laughs). The shops have changed drastically, but you can still find old-fashioned shops in the back streets that are very charming. Customers have told me they feel at home when they come to Ginza, which makes me very happy.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- In your opinion, what type of district is Ginza?<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- Ginza is a district that everyone longs for. I want to make Miyuki-dori in Ginza a street that we can be proud of, so we have widened the pavement, planted flowerbeds and are working to maintain a beautiful landscape.
I am not originally from Ginza, which may have made me even more strongly attached to the district. I am sure Ginza will continue to change. It may look different, but some things will stay the same. That is the beauty of Ginza. There is no place you can relax and feel at ease more than Ginza.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThe next guest will be\u2026<\/h4>\n
- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Could you tell us about the next guest?<\/dd>\n
- Miwa<\/dt>\n
- It\u2019s Mr. Watanabe, the young president of Ichibankan, a venerable tailor in Ginza. His hobbies are stylish and sophisticated. I\u2019m sure you will hear many interesting stories about his business and his personal life.<\/dd>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/p>\n\n
Chisako Takashima<\/h4>\n
Violinist. Started playing the violin at age 6. After playing abroad, she moved her home base to Japan, and gives concerts all over the country. Although her current focus is on performing music, she also appears on TV and radio programs. Thanks to her much-loved personality, she is appearing in more and more venues.<\/p>\n