Origin(Himeko)

One of the Tanegashima race, it was univoltine white cocoon strain and had beautiful white body color, was called "Himeko". Himeko was brought into the Akita clan("Han" in Japanese) from Tajima( a part of Hyogo Prefecture at the present time) in the era of Bunka(1804-1818). It is thought that Himeko in the era of Meiji(1868-1912) is the same strain as mentiond above. It is also thought that the other races with no body marking have been called øHimekoÓ and have been spread. (Note: Common noun "himeko" in Japanese means "plain silkworm" which has no body marking.) The difference of origins between the former and latter is not evident. It is written about the Himeko of Meiji era in "Sangyo Daijisho" (The Sericultural Dictionary) as follows: "Himeko is a race of univoltine and for spring rearing. The Agricultural School of Miyazaki Prefecture checked on the quality. In consequence, Himeko has a strength of large healthiness easy to rear, but has a weakness of small shaped cocoon. øGotohimeÓ(a race of plain silkworms, himeko) reared widely now at Kodama-gun, Saitama Prefecture, is not only good in cocoon quality, but also is even in exuviation of molting larvae as compared with normal marked silkworm races." The Himeko reared from before the era of Meiji was widely used in Japan to the middle era of Taisho.
(Note: The era of Taisho; 1912-1926))
Production of Himeko in Japan(in the 1st year of Taisho(1912): 96,000 moths
(It is presumed that one moth will hatch 400 eggs.)
Wakabayashi Yusaku of Nagano Prefecture had produced good Himeko silkworm eggs.

References
1) Eikichi HIRATSUKA(1961) : History of Modern Silkworm Race Breeding, Dainippon Silk Foundation, Silk Science Research Institute, pp236
2) Eikichi HIRATSUKA(1969) : Genealogy of Japanese Silkworm Races for Practical Use, Dainippon Silk Foundation, Silk Science Research Institute, pp335