Dr. Galate joins OISCA-sponsored Sericulture Training in Japan

To gain first-hand experience with advanced sericulture technologies and expand professional network, Dr. Regino L. Galate, International Affairs Coordinator for the College of Teacher Education at NVSU, participated in the Sericulture and Silk Industry Training in Japan, held from September 1 to 7, 2024.

Sponsored by the Organization of International, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA), the training aimed to deepen participants' understanding of best practices in sericulture farming, enhance technical expertise in silk processing, and promote cooperative networks with Japan’s globally renowned silk industry.

The training exposed participants to the advanced technical facilities that drive the silk industry in Japan, positioning them to apply innovative techniques in sericulture development in their respective countries.

Key areas of focus during the training included best practices in Sericulture Farming, advanced technical facilities in Silk Processing and Production and Japan's high-tech silk processing infrastructure, and the promotion of cooperative networks with Japan’s silk industry.

Throughout the week-long event, Dr. Galate, and other participants visited several key locations that served as the heart of Japan’s silk industry such as the Sericulture Science and Technology Research Institute in Ibaraki, where they met with Dr. Keiko Kadono-Okuda, Director General of the Institute of Sericulture and Silk Science under the Dainippon Silk Foundation.

Moreover, the visit included discussions on the latest research and innovations in silkworm rearing and silk production.

They visited the Tomioka Silk Mill in Gunma, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where participants learned about Japan’s historic role in the global silk trade; Okaya Silk Mill Museum in Nagano, which offered insights into Japan’s contributions to the modern silk industry; Komagane Silk Museum in Nagano, another center for silk education and heritage preservation; Miyazakawa Farm in Nagano, Matsumoto, owned by Mr. Miyazakawa, a 94-year-old sericulture expert who shared his decades of experience in silkworm management and sericulture rearing; Daio Wasabi Farm in Nagano, Japan, where participants explored how sericulture is integrated with other agricultural industries and Ashizawa Silkworm Farm in Yamanashi, which is known for its innovative approaches to silkworm farming.

In addition to site visits, participants were given the opportunity to meet key figures in Japan’s silk industry through a courtesy call to OISCA’s Tokyo Headquarters, where they held a meeting with OISCA President Ms. Etsuko Nakano and Secretary General Yasuaki Nagaishi.

This initiative is part of OISCA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the expertise and resources of its partners in the Philippines, contributing to the sustainable growth of the local sericulture sector.