Tasaki Pearls

Two years after being taken over by private equity firm MBK Partners, Tasaki Pearls is completing a full financial re-structuring and design makeover. Tasaki traditionally played a distant #2 from Mikimoto Pearls in Japan, and fell into financial disrepair. Following its takeover by MBK Partners, Tasaki shut down a number of retail outlets and more savvily has hired a number of outside designers to re-imagine the brand. One designer making a difference for Tasaki is Thakoon Panichgul, a favorite designer of Michelle Obama. The Japan Times also has a quick blurb on the makeover here. While the verdict on Tasaki's strategy and aesthetic is still out, perhaps the fear regarding the viability of Japan Inc. is overblown - perhaps Japan Inc. can re-invent itself for the 21st century.