Empress Completes 2025 Silkworm Ritual

Jul 29, 2025 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Empress Masako has completed her annual silkworm-rearing duties at the Imperial Palace, a tradition passed down through generations of empresses since the Meiji era.

On this occasion, she took part in the closing ritual known as the "Goyōsan-no-gi," in which silk threads produced from the harvested cocoons are ceremonially offered before the gods.

In 2025, the Empress raised four types of silkworms. As in 2024, silk from the domestically bred Koishimaru variety was prepared for presentation to the Ise Grand Shrine, ahead of its Shikinen Sengu rebuilding ritual scheduled for 2033.

According to palace officials, Emperor Naruhito and their daughter Aiko assisted in the process on July 26th. The Empress expressed her deep gratitude for the successful rearing and offered words of appreciation to the staff involved.

Source: FNN

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