AOTS Journal 2017 AUTUMN No.11 （ENGLISH)

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7No. 11 AUTUMN 2017You two were directly involved in the training as experts. Could you tell us about the training and things you kept in mind when providing training?As the zaguri and oss silk production techniques involve manual processes, a type of traditional craftsmanship the mastery of which by Japanese people could require quite some time, the learning process is expected to consume considerable time. As such, our policy is to teach them things that they can do at the moment each time. Instructions are customized according to the individual levels of prociency.We are keeping in mind to make an easy explanation. For example, when teaching cocoon boiling techniques, specic setting of temperature and time is presented not only through written manuals but also illustrations. In consideration of the atmosphere of the workplace dominated by young females, praise is given before corrective instruction begins. We try to treat all employees on equal terms, refraining from telling them off in front of others or favoring some over the rest. We are also trying to speak the Karen language for casual greetings, hoping to improve our communication with them.We set up the factory from scratch in 2014. All we experi-enced in the rst year were a series of trial-and-error struggles. At rst, the specications for the thread were constantly being changed. After the specications were decided, however, goals for silk thread production were clearly set, increasing the moti-vation of employees.We now understand that your instruction was the driving force behind the take-off of the factory. What expectations do you have of the employees for the future?The quality of silk thread produced in the factory has already improved to a level where the thread can be used to produce kimono textiles in Japan. We began to market kimono textiles made from the locally produced zaguri silk last year. Since the factory is not large enough for mass production, we are now considering to employ more workers. As the number of employees grows, mid-level managers under the factory manager will be needed, requiring the creation of such a personnel system. Those currently employed will be assigned with an instructional function. We hope that they will take more pride in their work and be able to guide new employees on technical skills, as well as a “ready to work” mindset through demonstrating industriousness and professionalism.Alongside KINUOZAWA Co. Ltd., your company has been involved in this project from the very beginning. In fact, you have visited the factory in person many times. What do you think are the primary outcomes of the dispatch of experts?We provided employment for young females in their home land. Employee morale has improved through a sense of pride of doing something special, fostered by the experience of engaging in a task that requires special skills of producing silk, previously non-existent in the area, and of turning it into thread. Our initia-tive has received tremendous cooperation from many local administrative authorities, including Kayin State Chief Minister, and the NLD. We are very grateful to the people of Kayin State for their enthusiasm toward the rm establishment of sericulture and silk thread production industries in the state. At the same time, we have gained a lot from our experience of providing tech-nical assistance to Kayin State. The other result worthy on note is that our competiveness has improved through creating original products from the process of raw materials, an unattainable expe-rience in Japan. What are your future aspirations?Although sericulture has already been practiced in some areas in Myanmar, the quality of their cocoons is no match for those required in Japan. As such, the most important things are the transfer of the traditional sericulture method used in Japan to Kayin State, and the local initiatives in creating a system for marketing high value-added products, supported by production and branding of silk thread from high-quality cocoons. If this is possible in Kayin State, it should, of course, be possible in other states as well. It will be our utmost pleasure to contribute to further development of Myanmar in the areas of employment and transfer of technologies. Japan has excellent sericulture and silk-reeling techniques. Technical instruction by Japanese experts has become an invaluable opportunity that can help bring up the quality of local operations to a level comparable to that of Japan.Contributing to better employment of women in Kayin State Ms. Nobue Hiraishi (second from left) teaching the zaguri technique Mr. and Mrs. Hiraishi (Expatriate Experts) Daimatsu Co.,Ltd.