Society

Akie and Melania bond over pearls and tea while their husbands hit the links

Nov 06 (Japan Times) - While Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump engaged in golf diplomacy, their wives spent time Sunday learning about Japanese pearl cultivation in Tokyoâ€™s top luxury shopping district.

Akie Abe and Melania Trump visited the flagship Ginza store of accessories firm Mikimoto, which has long been an official jeweler to the Imperial family.

Kokichi Mikimoto, the brand's founder, created the world's first cultured pearl in 1893. The company now harvests the pearls offshore from an island in Mie Prefecture.

The pair warmly greeted each other at the store before speaking with two ama, traditionally trained female divers who collect pearl oysters and seafood without the use of scuba gear.

Trump posted on her official Twitter account that she and Akie had a "wonderful visit," enjoying "conversation over tea (and) the cultural presentation on the history of pearls."

Source: ANNnewsCH

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