In mid-May, I decided to attend the Kobe Jewelry Exhibition and take a short trip to Osaka. My mileage was about to expire, and I wanted to connect with suppliers from different countries.
Earlier this year, when discussing prototypes with professional artisans, I realized that many of the gold necklace styles available in Taiwan are imports, like those popular Italian gold chains. We didn't have many local manufacturers around. While the necklaces I found were beautiful, I wanted to explore more suppliers and check out various styles of gold accessories like necklaces and earrings.
Coincidentally, I stumbled upon the Kobe Jewelry Exhibition and quickly arranged to attend it using my expiring miles. I brought my mom along, and she loved the idea of exploring Osaka first and then checking out the exhibition – it was a hit!
We stayed near Umeda Station, and the hotel's breakfast spread was so thoughtful. Waking up to breakfast was truly soothing, especially with hot miso soup and freshly grilled salmon. Despite having limited time before the exhibition, we enthusiastically visited Osaka Castle, Dotonbori, and department stores. It was our first trip abroad after the pandemic, and our excitement knew no bounds.
What's amusing is that the supermarket was the highlight of our trip! Haha, once my mom entered, she was zooming around with the shopping cart. All sorts of delicious prepared foods, snacks, and fruits made us happy. (I'm particularly proud that I managed to get my hands on the famous Yakult 1000 – there were purchasing limits, but we were too tired each day to test its supposed sleep-inducing effects, we fell asleep the moment we lie on our beds)
On the second-to-last day, the nerves kicked in as we entered the exhibition. Bright and early, we left the hotel with our bags, caught a ride to Kobe, and lined up outside the venue to pick up our pre-arranged exhibition passes. Then we dove into the exhibits.
One of the reasons I was excited about the Kobe Jewelry Exhibition was pearls, especially Akoya pearls. I was hoping to see more beautiful lustrous and iridescent sea pearls in Japan, and I actually got to see these lovely little gems up close at the exhibition. I made the most of my time, visiting various booths, from gold necklaces, accessories, and finished pieces to colored gemstones and pearls. I meticulously jotted down details about different vendors and their products. A full day at the exhibition left me more tired than I expected, but I was thrilled to immerse myself in the world of gemstones and beautiful designs.
Finally, I found the necklace of my dreams from a Japanese vendor at the exhibition. It's become the main necklace I pair with most of my pendants. The necklace features small gold silicone beads that connect to a round clasp, allowing me to adjust the length by moving the gold beads. It fulfills my desire for customizable styles. (Plus, the vendor was incredibly responsive and helpful with any questions, even the more sensitive ones, which put my mind at ease.)
I've been quite busy lately and didn't get around to reflecting on my first exhibition experience until now. Finally, I've written it all down – a little note about my mid-May adventure!