At present, only 2 to 3 manufacturing plants which actively produce silk remain in Japan. The Usui Raw Silk Manufacturing Agricultural Cooperative Association is a silk manufacturing plant that boasts the largest production of raw silk in the country with approximately 70% of the cocoons of Japan being processed by the association into raw silk. The association from Annaka City has taken on the form of a union so that local residents can participate to help develop the silk farming industry that has continued to the current day. At the factory, the same machines that were used at the Tomioka Silk Mill are still in operation as the last bastion of silk manufacturing in Japan whose precious process can be observed (reserved tours are possible for groups of 5 visitors and over).