Uzbekistan has thousands of years of history as a center of trade along the Silk Road. However, since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the country's silk farming industry has stagnated. In 2009, the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology began introducing high-quality Japanese silkworms to the region and promoting the development of silk products. We look at their efforts to revitalize the industry and empower local women with the skills to improve their own financial circumstances.