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Animal Rights Center has been accusing the organizers of the Itoman Harley Duck Catching Competition of violating the Animal Welfare Act, but unfortunately, they were not prosecuted. However, the fact that they were not prosecuted does not mean that this act is not animal abuse. It clearly falls under the definition of animal abuse as defined by the Ministry of the Environment. Throwing ducks into the sea, where they have never swum before, and chasing them is inherently cruel. According to an article in the Ryukyu Shimpo, the Itoman History and Culture Research Institute’s Mr. Kinjyo states that duck catching competitions are not traditional or ritualistic. He mentions that before…
We have been informed that a case, which has been under investigation after a complaint was filed with the Okinawa Prefectural Police against the Itoman Harley festival’s duck catching competition that took place on June 23, 2023, for violation of Article 44, Paragraph 2 (cruelty to animals) of the Animal Protection and Control Law, was referred to the public prosecutor’s office today. We hope that the prosecutors will make a fair and lawful decision. We also hope that the Itoman Harley committee will shift to holding the event in a way that does not use animals and that does not cause suffering to the vulnerable beings.
The Ageuma festival held at Tado Shrine in Mie prefecture has been blasted over mistreatment of animals. On July 27th, Juridical Foundation Animal Environment & Welfare Association Eva and we, the Animal Rights Center, visited Mie Governor, Katsuyuki Ichimi, some prefectural staff, and a former ministry of health minister, Norihisa Tamura, to address this issue. The governor explained that the prefecture is aware and has demanded that improvements be made so the festival will be better suited for the current time. The governor well understands the Ageume festival is no longer acceptable per today’s standards. Mr. Tamura also pushed some changes and gave numerous successful examples in his own hometown.…
The Itoman Harley, held annually on the fourth day of the fifth lunar month (June 21) in Itoman City, Okinawa, is reported to be resumed this year after being suspended for four years due to a pandemic. The Harley itself is a very peaceful event in which a large number of people row boats and compete, and is also held in Naha and other cities. However, the one held in Itoman is interspersed with an inhumane pastime in which 50 ducks are tossed into the sea and chased around and captured. The Animal Rights Center has been calling for the event to be stopped since 2015, but it was held…
On Dec.10th, 2022, International Animal Rights Day, we conducted street outreach activities on 3 spots, i.e. Shibuya (Tokyo), Iwate and Shiga, to appeal promotion of animal welfare and protection of animal rights. In Shibuya, a seminar on “animal welfare and rights” was also given. Dec.10th falls on “Human Rights Day.” Every person has the right to live one’s own life as a human being. In the same way, animals have the right to live their own lives. We believe the issue of animal rights is also the issue of animal welfare, just as the issue of human rights is also the issue of human being’s welfare. In the seminar, Ms.…
Cockfighting is illegal. As soon as 2 male gamecocks are placed in a pen, it can be illegal. On 2022/4/28, Shizuka Terata questioned the illegality of cockfighting at the House of Councilors Environment Committee. “Regarding Article 44, Paragraph 2, whose penal provisions have been tightened by the recent amendment, I think that making gamecocks fight itself may fall under the item of making a protected animal perform an act that may cause physical injury unreasonably, and is subject to the penalties of the Act on Welfare and Protection of Animals. I would like to ask the opinion of the Ministry of the Environment.” In response to this, Director Okuda of…
In 2021, we, Animal Rights Center Japan, together with the animal protection group Cookhouse in Okinawa, identified the location of the cockfighting ground in Chiba Prefecture. There were approximately 60 gamecocks in wooden cages, and some of them had their entire heads injured, with no eyes, had stitch marks on their heads, and had beaks cut in abnormal ways. Dead bodies were left abandoned, and we also found some bones laying around in the cages. There was a place where 10-20 people could sit, and in the back room there was a circular ring, around which chairs with cushions were lined up, making it a cockfighting ground that could be…
Itoman Harley” is held every year on the fourth day of the fifth lunar month in Itoman City, Okinawa.The “Duck Catching Competition” is held during the race. Ducks are thrown into a fishing harbor, and the frightened ducks are caught and brought back as prizes. Entertainment and events that involve the suffering and pain of animals are not appropriate in this day and age of heightened awareness of animal welfare. Petition A petition has been set up to call for the abolition of the “Duck-Catching Competition.Please sign the petition if you agree with it.https://goo.gl/uQXwxe Send Opinion Please submit your opinion to Itoman City to abolish “Duck catching competition”!http://www.city.itoman.lg.jpEnter from “Opinions…
In 2018, it was unimaginable for a company to prioritize animal welfare in its procurement policies. No such policies existed at the time, and the idea of a company publicly acknowledging it as a key issue seemed far-fetched. Fast forward to today, and many major food-related companies have adopted some form of animal welfare procurement policy. When we engage with companies that have yet to make public statements on this issue, we often highlight that they are falling behind their peers in Japan. The significant progress we’ve witnessed is a testament to our efforts in collaborating with businesses, financial institutions, and government entities, as well as the growing advocacy from…
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