This April, Informa Markets is bringing Japanese jewellery tradition and expertise to the forefront by organising an international jewellery trade fair in the world-renowned jewellery manufacturing hub, Yamanashi.

Located in the heart of Japan, Yamanashi Prefecture is home to a large number of jewellery manufacturers and related companies for gem sourcing, design and distribution, among others, making it a one-stop shop for high-quality jewellery production.

Unique sourcing experience

Yamanashi Jewellery Fair 2023 comes with twin benefits for visitors. As it is hosted in a jewellery production hub, business transactions and sourcing opportunities are not limited to the fairground. Since many exhibitors will have their production lines and samples at nearby locations, they can cater to a wide range of enquiries and requests while proffering recommendations and drawing up proposals to forge mutually beneficial deals.

Moreover, international visitors will get to experience the region’s charms and view its capabilities firsthand through a tour of Yamanashi’s production facilities during the fair period.

Aside from hosted accommodation and transfers to the fair venue, the programme includes a visit to the Yamanashi Jewellery Museum, which traces the prefecture’s evolution as a jewellery manufacturing centre, highlights the special features of Yamanashi jewellery and showcases production techniques to display the exquisite craftsmanship of the region’s jewellers. Visitors can fully experience Yamanashi’s jewellery tradition through demonstrations and immersive activities.

Adding further value to a Yamanashi visit are its picturesque scenery including World Heritage site Mt. Fuji, seasonal cuisine and acclaimed Koshu wine.

Jewellery hub

Yamanashi's jewellery roots go back some 1,100 years when high-quality rough crystal was first discovered in the mountainous areas of northern Yamanashi Prefecture. This is widely considered as the start of crystal processing.

The latter half of the 19th century saw the spread of crystal-polishing techniques that were handed down from craftsmen in Kyoto to Shinto priests at the Kanazakura Shrine in Yamanashi Prefecture’s Kofu City. These were combined with precious metal decorative techniques to create jewellery. Yamanashi Prefecture’s jewellery industry was thus born.

Over the years, Yamanashi developed into an integrated manufacturing area that produces the bulk of Japanese jewellery pieces, thanks to advancements in cutting technology, enhancements in jewellery-making techniques and the establishment of a mass production system.

Buttressed by tradition, Yamanashi also looks to the future to ensure its acclaimed techniques thrive in a modern world. The Yamanashi Prefectural Jewelry Art College keeps the region’s jewellery-making tradition alive, preserving these skills by training craftsmen and jewellers who will become the foundation of the industry. Meanwhile, the Yamanashi Industrial Technology Center, the Society of Gem & Precious Metal and the Yamanashi Jewelry Association drive further development of the region’s jewellery industry.

Much sought after in the international market, Yamanashi jewellery is recognised for its quality and innovation, thanks to its exceptional craftsmanship and creativity.

The Yamanashi Jewellery Fair provides opportunities for extremely beneficial business negotiations and expansive business matching with high-quality products to revitalise the jewellery industry, particularly in Asia, and create new leads. Visitors are in for new encounters and an exciting experience in the thriving jewellery hub of Yamanashi Prefecture.