Special Report: Kibiso Silk - Following a New Thread in the Tradition For this "Special Report" segment, we visit silk producers in Yamagata who attempt to revive a trade that was once the pride of Japan. They came up with exciting new products to bring back the tradition of silk its former luster. Decades ago, silk products used to be the star performers of Japanese exports. However, the silk industry was hit hard by globalization and it is now on the decline. There are currently only two factories producing silk from silkworm cocoons in Japan. Even so, a new venture has begun to make new silk products, including bags, scarves, book covers and other small accessories. The product line is called "kibiso", a word that refers to the first threads that come out of the cocoon. These threads were once used in cosmetics when production levels of silk were higher. However, with production decreasing over the generations, they just became a waste byproduct. The inspiration for these new creations came when a textile designer looking at a bundle of "kibiso" lying in a corner of the factory decided that it shouldn't go to waste. And now, it is being recycled into secondary silk products with a casual feel and a lightness of weight that are a prefect fit for our times. On Site: Interior Lifestyle Living 2012 Interior Lifestyle Living is a trade show that is held twice a year: once in the spring and again in the fall. Mai Ishikawa reports "On Site" to give us the update on what's new in the world of interior design. Schedule: Oct 17-19, 2012 Location: Tokyo Big Sight The fall edition of the show features interior products from around the world, including tableware, furniture, lighting, textiles and designer appliances. Many of these products were the results of innovative ideas, such as flexible partitions made of wood, stylish aluminum vases for flower arrangement, door chimes with sweet and soothing sounds and Japanese traditional crafts combined with moder