WORKSHOP
From Cocoon to a Small Cloth
Touching the handwork that continues after raising silkworms
The cocoons have formed.
What comes after that?
You raised silkworms at school.
You would like to try raising them at home.
But after they become cocoons, what can be done with them?
This workshop begins from that question.
We open cocoons and make mawata silk floss,
make thread from the mawata,
and carry that thread into a small cloth.
This is a gathering for tracing, with your own hands,
a small part of the work that exists between raising silkworms
and making cloth.
Bringing Silkworms a Little Closer
In the past, sericulture was a kind of work much closer to everyday life than it is today.
Growing mulberry, feeding leaves to silkworms, and carrying the cocoons they made into thread or mawata. Each of these steps once belonged to daily life.
Today, even when silkworms are raised at school or at home, the story often stops once the cocoons are formed.
By learning that handwork continues beyond the cocoon, we hope sericulture and silk may become a little closer again.
FROM COCOON TO CLOTH
Tracing What Comes After the Cocoon by Hand
Opening Cocoons
Looking at and touching cocoons,
and learning what is inside them.
From Mawata to Thread
Opening cocoons into mawata,
and making thread from the soft fibers.
Into a Small Cloth
Carrying the thread you have made,
together with silk threads, into a small cloth on a frame.
For Those Who Have Cocoons They Raised
If you have cocoons from silkworms raised at school or at home, you may bring them with you on the day of the workshop.
Connecting cocoons made by silkworms you have raised yourself to mawata and thread is an important experience for understanding sericulture.
If you plan to bring cocoons, please write “I plan to bring cocoons” in the notes section of the application form.
After Returning Home
You will take home the small cloth together with the frame made from natural materials.
Even if you do not finish weaving during the workshop, you can continue the work at home.
You might try weaving again with thread you have nearby.
You might try raising silkworms again.
We hope this day becomes a small doorway to wanting to know a little more about sericulture, cocoons, and what comes after them.
In Two Places
The basic flow is the same,
but the way we work with cocoons differs slightly between Yamanashi and Hachioji.
HACHIOJI
Hachioji
We open cocoons that have been simmered in advance, remove the pupae, and make mawata silk floss. After that, we move into thread-making and small weaving.
YAMANASHI
Yamanashi
You will see the process of simmering cocoons. From there, we remove the pupae, make mawata silk floss, and carry the material into thread and a small cloth.
SUMMER 2027
2027 Workshops
HACHIOJI
Saturday, July 24
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Hachioji Atelier
Adults: ¥8,800
Junior high school students and younger: ¥6,600
Includes basic materials, a small frame made from natural materials, and seasonal tea and sweets.
YAMANASHI
Sunday, August 1
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Yamamayu Studio
Adults: ¥8,800
Junior high school students and younger: ¥6,600
Includes basic materials, a small frame made from natural materials, and seasonal tea and sweets.
Capacity is up to 6 participants, around 3 groups, per session.
Minimum number of participants: 2.
Applications open｜Monday, March 1, 2027
For Schools and Groups
If you would like to use cocoons raised at school, or if you would like to learn what comes after silkworms as part of a class or activity, please contact us to discuss possible dates.
We also welcome inquiries from families and small groups.
After hearing about the content, number of participants, and condition of the cocoons, we will consider a suitable form together.
INFORMATION
Participation Information
Participation
This workshop is open to anyone, not only parents and children. Children and adults, grandparents and grandchildren, families, friends, teachers, and school staff are all welcome.
There is no fixed minimum age. If elementary school students would like to join without an accompanying adult, please contact us in advance.
We do not offer observation-only attendance. Everyone entering the venue should apply as a participant.
What to Bring
Please bring writing materials and, if needed, something to drink.
If you are bringing cocoons you have raised, please bring them dry in a bag or box.
For the Yamanashi venue, clothing that may get dirty or an apron is recommended.
Access
Hachioji
About a 15-minute walk from JR Hachioji Station and Keio Hachioji Station.
The detailed location will be shared after your participation is confirmed.
Yamanashi
The nearest station is Ichikawa-Daimon Station on the JR Minobu Line.
For those coming by train,
we can pick you up from the station to the studio.
Parking is available for those coming by car.
How to Apply
Applications open｜Monday, March 1, 2027
The application deadline is three days before each workshop. Applications may close earlier if the workshop reaches capacity.
Please apply through the common application form. After checking your application and seat availability, yamamayu will send you a confirmation email.
Your reservation is not confirmed when you submit the form.
Your place is confirmed when you receive a confirmation email from yamamayu.
Please pay the participation fee in cash at the venue on the day of the workshop.
For cancellations, date changes, and substitute participants, please see our Workshop Cancellation Policy .
Raising silkworms, and seeing cocoons form.
The story does not end there.
Beyond the cocoon, many kinds of handwork still continue.
Wanting to raise silkworms again.
Wanting to keep the cocoons carefully.
Wanting to try making thread.
We hope each person will take home a small continuation of this time into their own daily life.