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On September 3rd, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Animal Welfare convened to discuss animal testing in cosmetics, including quasi-drugs, in Japan. Globally, many countries are enacting laws to ban animal testing for cosmetics. In contrast, Japan has left the decision to the voluntary efforts of companies, creating an uneven playing field and allowing businesses with low awareness to continue unnecessary animal sacrifices. Major cosmetic companies like Shiseido and Kao have already eliminated animal testing and are leading the industry, demonstrating that a legal ban would not hinder product development. To that end, the All-Party Parliamentary Group has begun discussions among parliament members about instituting a ban on animal testing for…
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…
The Osaka Kansai Expo Association has announced its recognition of the free-range egg certification from the Eco-Design Certification Center as an approved certification scheme. This means it has been recognized as meeting the association’s stringent procurement standards. However, in practice, the Expo’s procurement guidelines only require the same level of animal welfare as the Tokyo Olympics. As with the Tokyo Games, obtaining JGAP certification is considered sufficient, but the level of animal welfare mandated by JGAP remains relatively low. While the inclusion of free-range egg certification is a positive step, it’s unlikely that a significant portion of the Expo’s procurement will rely on free-range eggs. Nevertheless, the recognition that “free-range…
Globally, Japan’s livestock protection index is ranked at the lowest level. Japanese companies are rated at the lowest level in the BBFAW (Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare) for animal welfare, making investment in them high-risk. This lag is not just affecting livestock farmers but is also negatively impacting the Japanese food companies in the future. How can we catch up? Facing harsh realities In the summer of 2023, we investigated the proportion of laying hens raised in free-range systems. We discovered that only 1.11% (currently 1.12%) of them are free-range in Japan. At this rate, animals in Japan will continue to suffer for the next 10, 20, or 50…
On May 19th and 20th, we went to a pig farm that was closing down to rescue eight pigs who had been left behind and were scheduled for slaughter. We planned to picked up two pigs for long-distance transport on the night of the 19th and transport the remaining six pigs from early morning on the 20th to finish before it get hot. The destination for these pigs is split between three locations: two pigs will go to the “Ehime Sanctuary (tentative name),” four pigs will go to the “Future Cottage for Animals,” and the remaining two pigs will go to the “Future Home for Animals.” These three locations together…
MIHOPAN, a sincere bakery in Higashi-Osaka City that has consistently provided bread made with carefully selected ingredients, has recently pledged to only use cage-free eggs moving forward, showing their support for the cage-free movement. The owner, Miho, became increasingly aware of the poor treatment of animals in Japan, especially those used for ingredients in her bread, such as domestic butter, eggs, and meat. As she delved deeper into the issue, she realized she could no longer continue using these products under the same conditions. Since then, she has been committed to selecting ingredients that consider animal welfare. MIHOPAN has already transitioned to using only cage-free eggs. Additionally, the menu items…
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…
Two stores, “More Soup” in Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture, and “Mendoriya” in Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture, responded to inquiries from the Animal Rights Center, stating that they currently only use cage-free eggs and will never use caged eggs, thereby expressing their commitment to cage-free. 【More Soup】 More Soup is a café run by a farmer couple that offers dishes centered on organic vegetables. They serve pudding made with cage-free eggs. Koujizawa from More Soup is also the owner of KABA Farm and provides dishes made with their own proudly grown vegetables. 【Mendoriya】 Mendoriya is involved in cage-free poultry farming. They sell exquisite bread and sweets made with eggs from chickens…
The Animal Welfare Award, presented annually to companies that have made effective contributions to domestic animal welfare, has selected the winners for the poultry and fish categories. The Animal Welfare Award is organized by the certified NPO Animal Rights Center, which aims to improve the welfare of farmed and aquatic animals. This award recognizes companies that have had the most significant impact on animal welfare during the previous year (April 2023 to March 2024) Chicken Award：Laying Hen Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Since identifying animal welfare issues for farmed animals through the company’s ethical report card in 2016, Ajinomoto has taken significant steps to address these concerns. They held a roundtable with…
This project started in March 2024, and we are currently working at a fast pace to prepare. Although we haven’t been able to share all the details yet, we are working as quickly as possible to free the pigs from their concrete pens. We will be releasing more information on this site and our social media. Please follow us! SOS! Please donate for the pigs’ new lives! We will provide updates and detailed cost breakdowns in the latest information below. Background of the Project At a pig farm nearing closure, there was a case of multi-animal hoarding and neglect involving dogs and cats. There, 9 pigs had been left behind…
On March 22, 2024, Representative Genki Sudo questioned the progress on the practical application of in-ovo sexing during a session of the House of Councillors’ Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. In-ovo sexing is a technology aimed at resolving the issue of male chicks being culled on the first day of their life in the egg-laying poultry industry. In response, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries reported the following progress: Regarding in-ovo sexing, the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) is developing a technique to determine the sex of chicken eggs within seven days after incubation begins. This technology involves using AI to analyze in-egg images obtained through…
In response to inquiries from the Animal Rights Center Japan, three stores-“mojokado co.,ltd.” in Minamata City, Kumamoto Pref., “Organic Foods & Goods Shop poka poka” in Koshi City, Kumamoto Pref. and “Rice, natural food plus cafe Neko.” in Kurayoshi City, Totori Pref. -have pledged that all the eggs they currently handle are cage-free and have committed to never carrying cage eggs. [mojokado] Mojokado provides gift boxes full of organic vegetables made by the contracted farmers in Kumamoto Prefecture, representing its concept “organic from Minamata, organic as it’s Minamata” via an online store to nationwide. [Natural food and goods shop poka poka] This store handles pesticide-free and chemical fertilizer-free vegetables, as…
The following dedicated natural food stores have agreed to support the cage-free campaign in response to inquiries from the Animal Rights Center Japan; “TESHIGOTOYA, Yasai-no-Hiroba Ltd.” in Ikeda City, Osaka “Organic Shop NATURHYTHM” in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture “MUSUBIAN” in Tsukushino City, Fukuoka Prefecture They are currently selling only cage-free eggs and have committed to continuing this practice in the future. [TESHIGOTOYA, Yasai-no-Hiroba Ltd.] With a passion for delivering safe, tasty, and homemade food, this shop offers a range of organic and locally sourced fresh vegetables, along with additive-free products. They also host agricultural experiences and operate a volunteer-run children’s diner. [Organic Shop NATURHYTHM] The shop’s motto is “good healthy…
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.
There was a whistleblower to report repeated acts of violence, including attacking injured areas, at the Ibaraki Livestock Center. On February 19th, a joint complaint was filed with the Ibaraki Prefectural Police in the names of four organizations, Japan Anti-Vivisection Association (JAVA), PEACE (Put an End to Animal Cruelty and Exploitation), Certified NPO Citizens for Animal Protection Ibaraki Network (CAPIN), and Certified NPO Animal Rights Center Japan. Acts of violence, as shown in the video below, were carried out on a daily basis. At a first glance, it might appear as though they were just trying to move animals, but it’s clear that these acts of unnecessary violence were caused…
It is a well-known fact that male chicks from egg-laying hens are killed on the day of birth, but few people know that chickens raised for meat are similarly sorted on their first day, and “substandard” chicks are being killed on a daily basis. Chicks that are weak, have congenital shape anomalies such as too many legs, are too small, inflamed or dirty are considered “substandard.” Since about two out of every 100 chicks are killed, it is estimated that about 14 million birds (8 to 16 million birds) are killed immediately after birth in Japan each year. The most common way to kill chicks in the country is to…
TANTAN NOODLE Raku, a locally popular ramen restaurant in Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, places a strong emphasis on ethical choices through food, and proudly commits to using only cage-free eggs. In January 2024, in response to inquiries from the Animal Rights Center, they promised to never use caged eggs, and made a cage-free commitment. Their initiatives go beyond simply choosing ingredients for their menu; they provide an opportunity for the local community and consumers to think about food ethics. The secret to TANTAN NOODLE Raku’s popularity lies not only in its deliciousness of its food, but also in its ethical approach to the food it serves. The restaurant offers vegan…
In August 2023, a stylish cafe named Koborebi opened in the heart of the Kameari Station Shopping Street in Katsushika-ku, Tokyo. The owner is particularly meticulous about the cafe’s exterior and interior design, selecting items from DIY and antique shops to create a relaxing and cozy atmosphere. The cafe is committed to using organic ingredients and exclusively cage-free eggs. The owner has made a cage-free commitment, promising to avoid the use of caged eggs now and future. The menu highlights animal welfare, notably in the description of its pudding made from cage-free eggs. Aiming to Be a Game-Changing Cafe The owner launched Koborebi with the ambition of effecting societal change…
In the realm of investment and financing, there is a gradual shift towards a society that places great importance on animal welfare. This is because the commitment to animal welfare can significantly impact a company’s value in the long term. The Animal Rights Center Japan engaged with banks, credit unions, and institutional investors from 2022 to early 2023. An important revelation from this engagement was that many of them have a solid understanding of animal welfare, positively agree to integrate it into their business practices. After gaining an understanding of animal welfare through engagement, approximately 40% of the entities can effectively communicate the importance of animal welfare to their customers.…
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