What is Tosa Coral?

Kochi is very famous for the processing of coral. We introduce accessories with coral (Netsuke, strap) and other goods made from coral.

1.Origin of coral

The coral we know is actually the aggregate of the house. In the individual house, a very small warm (polyp) lives. This warm secretes the substance, the main ingredient of which is calcium carbonate (CaCO3). The secretion piles up slowly and the coral grows very very gradually.

The coral is divided into several groups. The coral used as jewel or accessory belongs to Octocorallia group. This group lives in deep place (from a few hundred meters to a few thousand meters). Therefore, picking of this coral is not easy. The traditional method is the gathering by dragging a seinea using the ship. Recently, small robot submarine has been used.

Coral-growing areas are the sea off west Japan, the Mediterranean Sea, the Philippines and Midway. The processing ratio of Kochi prefecture in Japan is about 80%. The main ingredient of coral is CaCO3 (crystal name is aragonite). As CaCO3 is not so hard (Mohs hardness is 3), therefore, we should be careful of handling it.

Raw lumber

2.About jewel coral

The coral for jewel (jewel coral) has been processed in Japan, Italy and Taiwan.
The processing quantity of Japan is the largest in these countries. Then Kochi prefecture occupies greater part of the processing quantity in Japan.
The above fact seems to be unknown to the foreign countries. The reason why be unknown is thought to be due to the lack of the advertisement toward foreign countries.

Furthermore the quality of jewel coral made in Kochi is very excellent. Because only Japan do not accept the coloration of coral, and only Japan do not accept the filling up with resin into the crack of coral.

My wish is to spread the coral made in Kochi of Japan into the foreign countries.

Opened since 2007 October