myoju 明珠 “shining pearl” artist residency

Based in Shiga, we run a jewelry brand using freshwater pearls from Lake Biwa while creating a space where art and people connect through experiences.

Myoju 明珠 — meaning “shining pearl” — is an artist residency rooted in the quiet richness of Shiga, shaped by the nature and deep history of Lake Biwa and the belief that each person carries a unique inner radiance.

Located in Omihachiman, a historic merchant town and home of the Biwako Biennale, about 35 minutes from Kyoto, the residency offers a setting where Western contemporary perspectives meet an Eastern historic landscape.

Alongside the residency, we operate a small gallery café that serves as a gentle meeting point between artists and the local community. Here, artists live, research, create, and engage with their surroundings in an ongoing exchange shaped by intention and meaningful relationships, forming a creative ecosystem where international and local perspectives naturally meet and grow.