Tosa Coral refers to the precious coral harvested off the coast of Kochi Prefecture, as well as the jewelry and carvings made by polishing and carving it. Precious coral is a living organism that grows in deep waters more than 100 m below the surface, and its skeleton takes on a beautiful luster when polished. The three main types harvested in Japan are red coral (aka-sango), pale pink coral (momoiro-sango) and white coral (shiro-sango). Deep red coral in particular is called 'chiaka' (blood-red) coral, and its rarity value is said to have risen in recent years. The oldest record of coral being landed in the waters around Japan is of fishermen from Muroto in Tosa pulling up coral in 1812 (Bunka 9). Full-scale coral fishing began in the Meiji era, and Kochi is known as the birthplace of coral fishing in Japan. In places such as Kochi City and Sukumo City, coral is processed and sold, and is made into necklaces, earrings, netsuke (small carved toggles), juzu (prayer beads), mamori-honzon (guardian Buddhist deities) and more.
Origin
It was in the late Edo period that precious coral became known to be found in the waters around Japan. A record stating that a whaler from Muroto in Tosa pulled up a raw coral branch in 1812 (Bunka 9) is considered the oldest record of coral being landed in the waters around Japan. In 1838 (Tenpo 9), following austerity edicts issued by the shogunate, the Tosa domain banned the harvesting of coral. It is said that some fishermen, not wanting the trouble of reporting it, threw coral caught in their nets back into the sea.
History
With the start of the Meiji era the ban was lifted, and according to materials from Kochi University, precious coral fishing in Japan began in 1871 (Meiji 4). The fishing method of entangling coral on the seabed with nets spread from Muroto. Exports to Italy began in 1877, and Italian brokers based in Kobe are said to have bought up coral from all over Kochi. Coral fishing reached its peak in the late Meiji era, came to a halt in 1943, and resumed in 1955.
Features
Red coral, pink coral and white coral live in the waters around Tosa Bay. Because precious coral grows in the deep sea where no light reaches, it grows very slowly, and it is said that it can take several decades to grow just 1 cm. Trade is not limited to 'namaki' (living wood), the living colonies. 'Kareki' (dead wood), coral that remains on the seabed after it dies, can also be made into jewelry and accounts for most of the volume traded. Dating has shown that much of the dead coral off Ashizuri was alive before coral fishing began.
Techniques
Coral Carving
Making use of the shape and color of the raw coral, artisans carve animals, Buddhist images, flowers and more. Even small pieces receive fine carving, as with netsuke made in the ittobori style, carved out with a single knife. In Kochi City, pieces are also made in which the guardian Buddhist deities associated with each zodiac sign are carved from coral.
Bead Polishing and Jewelry Making
The raw coral is cut into pieces, shaped, and polished into beads and parts, which are then made into necklaces, earrings, bracelets, prayer beads and more. The skeleton of precious coral is a dense structure made of calcite, and polishing brings out its distinctive luster.
Materials Used
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Artisans & Workshops
株式会社ケンセン35
A precious coral company in Kochi City that belongs to 高知県珊瑚協同組合 (the Kochi Prefecture coral cooperative) and is said to handle everything from purchasing raw coral to processing and wholesale. It makes white coral netsuke finished by skilled artisans in the ittobori style, pink coral baby bracelets, coral prayer beads and more.
How to Buy
- さんごの清岡屋 (Harimaya-cho)
- A coral specialty shop in the Kyomachi shopping arcade, about a 1-minute walk from the Harimaya-bashi stop on the Tosaden tram (1-1-23 Harimaya-cho, Kochi City). A travel website lists coral phone straps from 200 yen. It is said to be open from 9:00 to 21:00 and closed on January 1. Details are subject to change.Where to buy →PR
- Furusato Nozei (Hometown Tax Donation) Gifts
- In the furusato nozei (hometown tax donation) programs of Kochi City and Sukumo City, items such as earrings and pendants made with red coral from off the coast of Tosa, and guardian Buddhist deities carved from coral, are featured as return gifts. Available items and donation amounts are subject to change.Where to buy →PR
Hands-on Experiences
日本サンゴセンター 宝石珊瑚資料館「35の杜」
高知県高知市種崎
A museum introducing works made with precious coral and the techniques used to process it. A bracelet-making experience using white coral is listed from 2,500 yen for adults, and an experience using pink coral from 3,000 yen. It is about 20 minutes by car from Kochi IC. Prices are subject to change.
View details →FAQ
Q. Is precious coral the same as the coral that forms coral reefs in southern seas?
A. They are different organisms. Unlike the reef-building corals that form coral reefs in shallow waters, precious coral grows in deep waters more than 100 m below the surface and has no zooxanthellae (symbiotic algae) living in its body. Its skeleton is a dense structure made of calcite, and when polished it becomes lustrous jewelry.
Q. How are precious coral resources protected?
A. In Kochi Prefecture, measures include shortening fishing seasons and operating hours, restricting new entrants, expanding no-fishing zones, and limiting the catch of living coral. In addition, transplantation efforts, in which branch tips of low commercial value are raised in tanks and returned to the seabed, are being carried out with the cooperation of Kochi University, the research institute 黒潮生物研究所 and others.
Q. How is landed coral traded?
A. It is traded at tender sales. According to a commentary by a Kochi University researcher published in 2005, tender sales were held twice a year in Kochi City, mainly for coral from the waters around Okinawa and Kagoshima. Tender sales of Kochi-harvested coral are also reported to have been held in Sukumo City. Bids are made by writing prices in a notebook called a 'nagecho.'