Seed Beads from Japan - Toho© and Miyuki©

Miyuki (founded in 1949) seems to be one of the oldest Japanese seed beads manufacturers and was shortly afterwards followed by the establishment of the Toho Beads company (1951).

In terms of quality, there is little or no difference between the seed beads of both companies. Both manufactures produce first class beads.

Because Miyuki was the first company to export Japanese seed beads, its brand name has become somewhat synonymous with the product. As a consequence, it is also the brand that has the most copycats.

However Toho beads have the largest and the most uniform hole out of all seed bead manufacturers. The larger the bead, the more obvious it becomes. The larger hole translates itself in a lighter weight and in more beads per gram.

Size conversion Japanese seed beads: