Empress Masako fed silkworms at the Imperial Palace on June 4.She gave mulberry leaves to the Japanese silkworm Koishimaru.

The number of the caterpillars increased by 20,000 compared to last year. There are now 50,000 of the national species.In addition to the Japanese Koishimaru silkworm, Empress Masako is raising White Cocoon and Yellow Cocoon.She also started raising the wild Japanese silkworm last year.

The traditional sericulture has been passed down from Japanese empresses since the Meiji Era.

On May 21, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako fed the silkworms together.