WSP Inc. WSP announces art contest winners

【WSP Co., Ltd.】 WSP Announces Art Contest Winners ​
WSP Inc. Press Release: October 27, 2025 WSP Announces Art Contest Winners Giving shape to the “joy of regeneration” – New value woven from Nature Pearl and silk floss WSP Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo / Our company (President and CEO: Makiko Yabuno, hereinafter referred to as “our company”) continues to support future creators through the production and presentation of artworks using “Nature Pearls”*, pearls that do not meet jewelry standards. We are pleased to announce a collaborative work with sculptor Yoji Yamaguchi (hereinafter referred to as “Yamaguchi”), which was selected from a large number of applications. In this work, Yamaguchi, who shares WSP’s philosophy, breathed new life into “materials waiting for new value”—nature pearls that had not been made into products and silk floss that had not been made into silk thread—to express the “joy of regeneration” through art. The work will be on display at the WSP Tokyo Ginza flagship store from Monday, October 27, 2025. “Rebirth Sphere” by Yoji Yamaguchi
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■ Creation Begins with Empathy Yamaguchi applied to this contest because he resonated with our company’s “Love Our Nature” philosophy, which is to breathe new life into pearls that would otherwise not be made into jewelry. Yamaguchi, who has always been fascinated by the beauty and luster of pearls, sees WSP’s commitment to “making the most of the material’s life until the very end” as a key part of his own creative endeavors. This work embodies the “joy of rebirth” in which “nature pearls” and “mawata” (cotton floss) that were selected by human standards and removed from circulation are given a new lease on life in art. Yamaguchi said the following: “Each Nature Pearl has its own unique character, and the motif of this piece, “Rebirth Sphere,” which is a collection of these pearls, is left to the viewer’s imagination. Some people associate the bluish pearls with the Earth, while others may imagine a completely different world. I hope you enjoy using your imagination freely.” ■ WSP’s initiatives centered on “regeneration” “Love Our Nature” is a sustainability initiative promoted by our company. Through collaborations with cardboard sculptor Taki Tamada and waste recycling specialist Seiya Kaji, we have repurposed pearls that would not be used for jewelry into art, fixtures, and other items, raising awareness of environmental issues and the potential of materials. Under the theme of regeneration, WSP and the artist came together to create works that combine nature pearls and silk floss, creating new value that reflects the Japanese aesthetic of “mottainai” (waste not, want not) in a modern context. ■Yoji Yamaguchi Profile
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/30601/157/30601-157-9d06af8d95f1b66795508aa7399359c8-900×1200.jpg Modeling artist Graduated from Kanazawa College of Art Joined TOPPAN and worked in art direction After leaving the company, began creative activities 2023 Ise-Shima Pearl Jewelry Grand Prix Jury Special Award 2025 JJA Jewelry Design Award Newcomer Category Selected *About Nature Pearl Pearls, Japan’s most iconic jewelry, captivate people around the world with their beauty and are highly regarded by global fashion brands. However, strict standards must be met for them to be used as jewelry. Pearls are classified as Grade 1 or Grade 2 at the time of bidding, with only about 10% being classified as Grade 1, suitable for high-grade jewelry. It is thanks to this system that Japanese pearl jewelry is widely recognized for its high quality. Low-quality pearls below grade 2 are not sold, but are used as a cosmetic ingredient (conchiolin), regenerated nuclei, etc. We have uniquely named these “Nature Pearls.” WSP Co., Ltd.’s Environmental Initiatives Our jewelry is born from a culture of pearl farming in harmony with the ocean. However, in recent years, climate change and environmental changes have had a major impact on the habitat of Akoya oysters. Protecting the oceans where pearls are born is an important initiative that supports the very foundation of our brand. Based on this philosophy, we are promoting various measures to reduce our environmental impact. We continually find new uses for pearls that would not otherwise be made into jewelry, create fixtures using recycled materials, and make donations to related organizations. About WSP Co., Ltd. Founded in Osaka in 1991 as a pearl wholesaler, the company has leveraged its extensive knowledge gained from pearl research to expand its business into the manufacture and sale of jewelry, as well as the development, manufacture, and sale of cosmetics and supplements derived from pearl extracts. In addition to its core products of formal pearls and fine jewelry, the company also handles brands such as MARLENA, Pearl for Life, madama hada cosmetics, and PEARLDAYS beauty products. In recent years, the company has also been addressing issues surrounding the marine environment where pearls are produced. Company Name: WSP Co., Ltd. (WSP Co., Ltd.) President and CEO: Makiko Yabuno Location: (Tokyo Office) 6th Floor, Ginza 3-chome Building, 3-14-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061 Established: 1991 (Established: December 1994) Business: Manufacturing and wholesale of jewelry, manufacturing and sales of cosmetics, development of pearl supplements URL:
https://www.wspcorp.jp/ For more information about this release