THE PEARL LEGACY

Tomoaki Azuma

Movie Producer

Managing Director of Kicksmash 21 - Video Production Company in Ise Shima 

President of Shima Nature School: https://shima-nature-school.jp/en/

Tomoaki Azuma was born and grew up in Ise City, Mie Prefecture. After graduating from the University in Nagoya, he joined the local cable TV company and learned the need for local media. He became independent at the age of 28 and started his own video production company. Currently, as a Japanese who is living a balanced life with nature, he is doing a wide range of activities such as video production, movie producer, nature school, agriculture, retailing business of Ise Shima signature product – Japanese Knife, eco-tour, town development etc.

Dr. Cynthia Wong

Marine Ecologist

Dr. Cynthia has more than 10 years of experience in education and research, specializing in environmental science, ecology, and aquaculture. Apart from course delivery in academic institutes, she has also facilitated eco-tours and outreach workshops, and spoke as invited guest speaker in seminars both in and out of Singapore. She inspires, empowers, and connects people to the nature and its elements through immersive experience. ‘Seeing is believing’ - a motto that keeps her eternal passion in science education, communication, and advancement.  

She holds a Doctor of Philosophy and a Bachelor of Science (2nd Upper Class) in Environmental Life Science. She is the 50th council member of The Singapore Institute of Biology (SIBiol), a member of the Asian Fisheries Society, a reviewer for the Journal of Animal Diversity and a consultant to aquaculture and education projects. In her personal life, she is a devoted mother of two human kids, three cats and one 2ft x 4ft marine fish tank. She loves exploring new places through travelling and learning about the history and culture through people and food.

Desmond John Chin Kong Thai

Senior Lecturer in NAFA

Desmond's family is in the jewellery business. He has a passion for metals, and his areas of specialization include sculpture and jewellery design, silversmithing and enamelling work. One of his sculptures 'A Place in Time' was commissioned by MGS as a historic site marking and unveiled by Mrs Lee Kuan Yew on 15 Aug 1998.

Desmond has been with the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts as a lecturer since 1999. Prior to that, he was with LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts for 14 years, where he had set up the Jewellery Department, became Head of Department, and subsequently, Head of 3D Fine Arts Department.

He believes in taking students through the process of designing and making jewellery - which encompasses basic techniques, repairs and finishes - with the aim of helping them develop their interests and skills.  Students are encouraged to master special techniques such as enamelling, repousse and casting, as well as to understand gems through gemological studies. In the course of their studies, students are also exposed to working with different media besides precious metals and gems. These mixed media include fabrics, resins and polymer clay.

His full-time and part-time students have shown great enthusiasm in exhibiting their pieces and they welcome feedback on their works. They are also greatly encouraged by the public’s interest in acquiring some of their works.

Desmond is a keen supporter of anyone who has an interest in jewellery design and who wishes to set up their own work studio, as this will allow him to collaborate on promoting and establishing a vibrant and creative jewellery artist community.

Tadashi Haga

Representative Director and CEO, PBADAO Co., Ltd

We, PBADAO Co., Ltd., have the mission to adapt web3 experiences to the real society and the real world by using blockchain technology.

We are creative organization to share and realize what life will be in the future.

In 2020, he founded COCO Gallery, an art gallery, while focusing on business development based on "art x ○○" and operating clinics and gallery buildings, the company began its blockchain business at the end of 2021.

He is actively using blockchain in various fields such as art, culture, and music to provide a web3 experience that is tailored to users.

Maiko Makito

Co-owner and Managing Director of Pearl FALCO

Born and raised in Ise Shima, Japan, the birthplace of cultured pearls and the origin of world-renowned  female pearl divers, Maiko Makito is the co-owner and heiress to the family's Japan-based pearl  jewellery empire that was founded in 1985. A dynamic personality with a vision to disrupt the pearl  industry, Maiko’s many responsibilities include the overall management and growth of Pearl FALCO  Corp, based in Ise Shima and Japan's Mie prefecture, as well as its Singapore subsidiary. 

Maiko first took the helm of Pearl FALCO in 2016 and expanded the brand’s footprint into the Southeast  Asia region with the opening of a Singapore gallery in 2019. The company has since attracted a devoted  clientele and industry accolades from around the world, many of which acknowledge Maiko’s vision  to create timeless pieces which enhance the beauty in people. Her fervent passion is what pushed her to have a self-surpassing attitude that would continue to motivate Pearl FALCO today. 

Truly embodying her brand, Maiko’s vision for Pearl FALCO is to pass her knowledge of pearls to the  future generations, and to tell the tale of her hometown to the world. In 2018, her visionary leadership  saw the birth of the Grand Prix Akoya Pearl Jewellery in Ise Shima, a pearl jewellery competition. From its third year’s onward, every year the competition has been presented in an exhibition in Singapore too and a huge success with multiple entries from students, graduates and professionals from more  than 10 different countries. 

Upholding her father's legacy as a philanthropist, Maiko devotes herself to causes around the world  and giving back to the society. In 2018, she launched a charity fund, Pearl of Hope, as part of her efforts to  grant educational scholarships to underserved children all over Asia. 

Prior to Pearl FALCO, Maiko majored in Economics at Keio University in Japan. In 1999, she kicked off  her career in the sales and marketing department at NEC Corporation in Japan where she quickly rose  through the ranks in various management positions before becoming the Business Manager of IT  Telephony System of NEC Asia Pacific in Singapore. 

Today, she continues to celebrate intricately designed pearl pieces that complement the strength and  beauty of the women who wear them.