‎118 years ago this week, after years of hard work, Kokichi Mikimoto successfully created the world’s first cultured pearl. ‎"Long-held Hope'" by artist Masayoshi Ise. Produced to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the invention of cultured pearls. The oil painting of Kokichi Mikimoto and his wife, Ume, is currently held at Mikimoto Pearl Island.