Founded in 1946 by Katsumi Yanagisawa in Tokyo, Japan, Pearl began as a music stand workshop before pivoting to marching drums and snare drums in 1950. The company officially adopted the name Pearl Musical Instrument Company in 1953. Under the direction of the founder’s son, Mitsuo Yanagisawa, a major factory opened in Chiba in 1957 to meet the global demand sparked by rock 'n' roll, leading to the launch of their first professional kit, the President Series, in 1966.

Pearl revolutionized manufacturing consistency with its patented SST (Superior Shell Technology), a process that uses scarf-jointed plies, proprietary glue, and 500 PSI of hydraulic pressure to make the wood behave as a single solid piece. In the 1970s, the brand also popularized the ultra-robust tubular tom arm system, which became an industry benchmark.

In 1983, the brand released the Pearl Export series. Made from a blend of Asian mahogany and poplar, it became the best-selling drum kit of all time. Pearl further solidified its high-end reputation with the Masters and Reference Series, using a scientific approach to blend different wood species (maple, birch, and African mahogany) depending on the shell size. Today, it stands as one of the largest and most reliable drum producers in the world.