The Forbidden One

Sep 8, 2025

「EP.70」高知宝石珊瑚

KOCHI HOSEKI SANGO
Kochi Prefecture

「transcript」

In 1812, a fishermen off Kochi's (高知) coast accidentally hauled up pink coral in their nets. When the Tosa (土佐) Domain discovered this rare finding, rather than utilizing it, they immediately banned its collection, possession, and even mentioning of it: the penalty being death.

When the Meiji era lifted these prohibitions, Kochi became the world's coral capital. Italian buyers began calling the finest coral "Tosa," and today over 80% of Japan's coral artisans are based here.

The coral is known as houseki sango (宝石珊瑚), precious coral that grows in the deep sea 100 to 1,200 meters down. These coral build their calcium homes slowly, growing just 0.3 millimeters per year. A single necklace represents 150 years of growth. Colors range from white to rare blood-red variants, which can sell for enough to buy a fishing boat.

As each coral is shaped differently with impurities and natural holes, master carvers create each design based on the unique material using dentist tools for incredible precision. Through careful carving and polishing, what once grew silently in the deep ocean becomes a one-of-a-kind work of art.

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