A Delicate Task for Empress Michiko

Her Majesty Empress Michiko of Japan started the annual rearing of silkworms today at the Momijiyama Imperial Cocoonery within the Imperial Palace grounds, by placing silkworm eggs onto the branches of oak trees.  This delicate task forms part of one of the traditions incumbent upon the Empress to carry out.

It started back in 1871 by the consort of Emperor Meiji, Empress Dowager Shoken before being passed down to Empress Teimei, then Empress Kojun and subsequently to Empress Michiko.   The silk produced is said to be of a particularly fine and delicate type and is used to repair ancient textiles.  

Later in the month, Empress Michiko will feed the silkworms with mulberry leaves and eventually harvest the silk from the cocoons.

Filed under Japan
Tagged Empress Michiko of Japan.

2 Responses to A Delicate Task for Empress Michiko