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Gilbert Brockmann published an article in the German beekeeping magazine ADIZ (1) which describes a hive and beekeeping method in use in Japan. After studying the website of one of the beekeepers concerned, Syouichi Morimoto (http://www.h6.dion.ne.jp/~kansatu/index.html), contact was made to ask more about it. It emerged that the beekeeping system Syouichi Morimoto uses is a traditional one. It was used in Japan during the Edo period (A.D.1586 to A.D.1911). It is very similar to Warré's.
The bee that Syouichi Morimoto uses is Apis cerana japonica. Compared with Apis mellifera, it is less prone to disease, forms smaller colonies and gives correspondingly less honey per colony (4 to 14 kg). Syouichi Morimoto's hive is divisible/expandable, comprising boxes of internal dimensions 240 mm (footprint) by 150 mm high, i.e. 60 mm less on both dimensions compared with Warré boxes.
Syouichi Morimoto's hive (left) and detail of hive-body box containing spales to stabilise comb.
Above: Mesh floor unit with front opening to insert feeder
Apis cerana swarms readily. Here (above) a swarm is lured with a bait hive placed high up. The plant, Cymbidium floribundum (kinryouhen in Japanese), in the wire mesh cage below the hive is the swarm lure. The hive is also rubbed with beeswax round the entrance inside and out, as is a framework (or mesh) inside the top of the hive on which the bees start the comb.
The swarm has settled in and is drawing natural comb (view from below). This photo illustrates the function of the spales. In the Warré hive, top-bars take the place of spales by providing a fresh start to comb at the top of each hive-body box. New boxes are added at the bottom, as with the Warré hive. Likewise the honey is harvested by removing one or more boxes at the top. Syouichi Morimoto says that he harvests in spring and autumn.
Preparing for harvest by driving the bees down with drumming on the lid. Warré recommends smoking the bees down for harvesting from his hive.
Inserting a thin wedge to lift the honey box slightly.
Cutting through comb below the top box with piano wire. Pfarrer J. L. Christ also recommends harvesting this way, but Warré advises easing the top box free by slight twisting. This is possible in the Warré hive because the top-bars in it interrupt the comb and any bridges are easily sheared. Also, if in a Warré hive the brood nest is unexpectedly near the top, there is a risk of damaging the queen by using wire.
Natural comb filled with honey in the top box that has been removed.
Honeycomb with spales still embedded.
More pictures on Syouichi Morimoto's web site at http://www.h6.dion.ne.jp/~kansatu/index.html where he can be contacted.
Reference
(1) Brockmann, Gilbert (2007) Mit Bienen bei Freunden -- Begegnung mit einem Freizeitimker aus Japan. ADIZ/db/IF 6/2007, pp. 14-15.