Three Stores Pledge Forever Cage-Free Future

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…

TANTAN NOODLE RAKU, A Locally POPULAR RAMEN RESTAURANT, goes CAGE-FREE!

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…

STARTING FROM CAGE-FREE; CAFE KOBOREBI’S SOCIAL CHANGE

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…

Subsidies for In-Ovo Sexing Methods Increased to 500 Million Yen

Under the SBIR (Small/Startup Business Innovation Research) Phase 3 fund program by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), the ministry has decided to subsidize companies engaged in genome editing for the project titled “Chicken industry innovation: effective resource utilization and animal welfare transformation through chicken egg sexing using genome editing.” The amount totals 539,161,000 yen. In fiscal 2021, Kyoto University was granted 25.87 million yen in subsidies for a challenging research project on the “development of a non-destructive measurement method that overcomes light scattering to determine the sex of chicken eggs in early incubation.” The 25 million grant is very small while Germany, for instance, has procured…

Aiming for a Future of 100% Cage-Free: Two Sustainable Confectioneries

We would like to introduce two stores that aim for 100% cage-free eggs. In Kyoto City, the confectionery store Ikeda makes dorayaki using cage-free eggs. They use eggs from Wabisuke, a reputable cage-free egg producer, and hope to achieve 100% cage-free status by 2030 if Wabisuke can keep up with the supply. ‘The price gap between cage and free-range eggs is gradually narrowing,’ says the store manager, and indeed it is. However, even if more confectioners start using cage-free eggs, the taste of Ikeda, with 20 years of craftsmanship, remains unparalleled. At events, Ikeda also sells plant-based dorayaki using beet sugar. Yokoi Farm in Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture, manufactures and…

Ninjin CLUB home delivery is earth-friendly and cage-free!

Ninjin (Carrot) Club, a membership-based home delivery service in Aichi, Gifu, and Mie prefectures, offers organically grown (partially pesticide-free/low pesticide-free) fruits and vegetables, food products made without additives from raw materials, and other carefully selected household goods. They are selling only cage-free chicken eggs, and have recently made a cage-free promise that they will continue to sell only cage-free chicken eggs in the future.Ninjin Club’s philosophy is to care for the earth, health, life, and food. Give prior to animals’ behavior when raising them Ninjin Club’s website states, ‘We respect the ecologically appropriate care of animals based on the concept of animal welfare, in which all animals live happily and…

Aoioto in Ibaraki Prefecture will make the transition to cage-free by 2025

Aoioto Co., Ltd., which operates “French Cafe in the Forest Aoioto” and “Cutlet Cafe Aoioto” in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, and the sweets brand “amaioto” which was launched in July of this year, has decided to aim for a cage-free by 2025. The initiative for animal welfare began with the launch of the sweets brand “amaioto” in July 2023, with the concept of “the ultimate treat, the ultimate bite.” In the search for eggs to use in “amaioto,” they visited Obata Livestock, also located in Ibaraki Prefecture. After tasting the eggs and witnessing Obata Livestock employees gently interacting with the laying hens, they decided to use eggs from this farm.…

Supermarket “Nagomi Marche Kikuya” made cage-free promise toward future

The supermarket named “Nagomi Marche Kikuya” (Kikuya Ltd.) in Tamana District, Kumamoto Prefecture has made a cage-free promise toward the future. Kikuya is a locally loved supermarket with a lineup of carefully selected food. The selection is made by the president himself while meeting with producers in person. Mr. Higashi, the president of the company, selects food with great importance on how the animals are raised and how the producers think about their products. “It’s natural to offer cage-free eggs” True to the word, the store currently has three types of cage-free eggs. They deal with mayonnaise of cage-free eggs from all manufacturers, as well as egg-free one. Mr. Higashi…

The nature-oriented pension Evergreen in Nagano is cage-free.

The pension Evergreen, located in Suwa District, Nagano Prefecture, has endorsed the Cage-Free Commitment! Evergreen, which has been in business for 10 years, is a lodging facility where you can fully enjoy nature. It offers homemade bread using natural yeast, freshly roasted coffee, and vegetable-based lunches in an environment surrounded by nature. They are committed to pursuing natural ingredients, and their eggs are sourced from naturally raised laying hens. Using Cage -Free Egg from the Local Farm According to the owner, Evergreen has been mainly offering plant-based meals since its opening. The owner’s child happened to find out that his classmate’s family was running a cage-free chicken farm, so they…

Chiba Prefecture Children’s Center Starts Cage-Free School Meals!

The combined-type children’s center FLOWER CHILDREN, located in Sosa City, Chiba Prefecture, has decided to use only cage-free eggs for its meals. FLOWER CHILDREN operates three businesses: a small-scale nursery, care for sick and convalescent children, and an after-school children’s classroom. They provide home-like, small-group childcare and education. From October 2023, the meals provided at the facility have been transitioned to organic, and at the same time, they switched to cage-free eggs. Even the mayonnaise has been changed to use cage-free eggs. ‘If We’re Switching, Let’s Make Everything Better’ According to the director of the children’s center, the decision to go cage-free was made with the intention of switching to…

Percentage of Cage-Free Chickens in Japan Is 1.11% While Other 98.89% Are Cage Raised: 2023 Survey Results

There is no official data on the percentage of chickens raised cage free in Japan. This means that, while the overall number of the chickens kept is known, the government does not have accurate information on the raising methods used. In contrast, many European countries, the United States, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand keep such statistics. Just this past week, on October 11, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released data showing that as of June 2023, 38% of chickens in the country were not confined to cages. So what about Japan? The government uses the statistics released by the International Egg Commission that are based on the…

Mothers in Hokkaido,Announces Cage-Free Commitment

Mothers Co., Ltd., based in Shiraoi Town, Hokkaido, owns its own layer farms, and is popular for the sale of sweets made from eggs produced there. The Animal Rights Center has been urging the company, known for its understanding of animal welfare, to shift to cage-free farming for several years. Now, after reevaluating the relationship between chickens and humans through the COVID-19 pandemic and the avian influenza crisis, Mothers has decided to convert all of its farms to cage-free. Originally, one of the three buildings was cage-free, but preparations are now underway to convert the remaining two to cage-free (aviary systems). Soon, approximately 40,000 egg-laying hens will be housed in…

Traditional Department Store Embraces Animal Welfare Initiatives

Takashimaya Farm is a natural food store operated by the well-trusted, long-established department store ‘Takashimaya’, incorporating advanced agricultural and food practices. Recently, buyers from Takashimaya Farm and the Animal Rights Center Japan had an opportunity for dialogue and confirmed that all the shell eggs sold are from cage-free sources. Having cage-free products among the items selected by the discerning buyers of a traditional department store represents a significant and valuable initiative for animal welfare. It truly is a fusion of tradition and cutting-edge practices. What is Cage-Free? 99% of Japan’s egg-laying chickens are kept in cages, which are cramped and unhealthy enclosures. These farming practices are globally shifting towards cage-free…

Cafe Seaside Table Egg commits Cage-Free egg, Specializing in Menus Featuring Free-Range Eggs

The cafe Seaside Table Egg in Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture, known for its dishes and sweets primarily made with eggs, has committed to using only cage-free eggs. Opened in May 2023, Seaside Table Egg is operated by Oakrich Inc., a company that produces free-range eggs. The menu at the cafe exclusively uses free-range eggs from Oakrich Co., Ltd. Mr. Togashi, the representative of Oakrich, chose free-range poultry farming to create eggs that meet his standards, based on the belief that good eggs can only come from healthy birds. Mr. Togashi’s passionate commitment to his chickens and free-range farming is detailed on their website. All our efforts, including free-range farming and…

survey revealed animals in Japan are denied drinking water at 38% of cattle, and 72% of pig slaughterhouses

Animals deserve water, even in their final days. A 2023 survey conducted by the Animal Rights Center Japan revealed animals in Japan are denied drinking water at 38% of cattle, and 72% of pig slaughterhouses. Pigs and cattle in Japan are transported for hours, often up to a day, before arriving at a slaughterhouse. There, they might endure an entire day before their slaughter takes place, and during all that time might not receive drinking water, even in Japan’s intense hot summers. According to a survey conducted from May to July 2023 by the nonprofit Animal Rights Center Japan, 37.82% of cattle, and 71.64% of pig slaughterhouses in Japan lack…

Consumer-friendly supermarket Akidai begins selling cage-free eggs!

Akidai, which operates supermarkets and other stores mainly in Tokyo, has begun handling animal- and environment-friendly cage-free eggs after discussions with the Animal Rights Center. Famous for its president appearing in the media every day, Akidai’s appeal lies in its quality products, reasonable pricing, and friendly customer service, and the like. Akidai sources products with the theme of ‘Quality and Price Without Compromise, Products We Want to Eat Ourselves. On the same day as the discussion with the Animal Rights Center Japan, Akidai promptly contacted the egg supplier to check the availability of cage-free eggs and began considering procurement., and they immediately commenced sales in-store. Below is a comment from…

Cafe ‘Good Habit’ Commits to Cage-Free Eggs: Striving to Be an Entity That Does Not Oppress the Planet and Animals

The cafe GOOD HABIT in Saku City, Nagano Prefecture, known for its scones and tea, has committed to cage-free. A cage-free commitment means either switching the cage eggs to cage-free eggs (such as barn-laid or free-range), or for company that are already using only cage-free eggs, it is a promise to consumers that they will continue to avoid using cage eggs. When the Animal Rights Center Japan contacted GOOD HABIT, we were surprised by the owner, Mrs. Yashima’s, great understanding of the cage-free movement. This was because Ms. Yashima had attended the Ethical Concierge Course hosted by the Ethical Association several times, including lectures by the Animal Rights Center Japan,…

First-Ever Prosecution for Livestock Abuse: Dairy Cows Abuse in Shimane

An employee was prosecuted on July 13th after a video of him kicking a dairy cow went viral in social media on June 10th 2023. The Animal Rights Center pressed two charges per the Animal Protection Law; one is against this employee based on the Article 44 Clause 2 and the other is based on the Article 48 Clause 2 against Ohdahara Farm. Though the charge against the farm has been dropped, the Animal Rights Center considers the persecution was fair. This is because many abuse cases against livestock were almost always dismissed no matter how horrendous the cases had been. For instance, 35 pigs were starved to death in…

Violence Against a Dairy Cow in Shimane: Who’s Drinking Her Milk?

In June 2023, a video of an assault on a dairy cow at the Ohdahara farm in Shimane Prefecture was spread on social media, and investigated by the prefectural police. While media reports only a rough description of the assaults, the video clearly shows that the cows were subjected to repeated and severe beatings. In the 2 minute 40 second video, which consists of both Video 1 and Video 2, one employee (referred to as Employee A) commits the following violence: Some people claim that it is impossible for farmers to assault cows because it affects the quality of the milk, and that farmers treat their cows with love and…

Japanese Companies Align Their Stance Toward Gestation Stall-Free; Marudai Food Mentions Imported Goods

In 2013, the Animal Rights Center signed a petition calling for the abolition of gestation stalls at five major Japanese meat companies: Nippon Ham, Prima Meat Packers, Itoham Foods, Starzen, and Marudai Food, and submitted the signatures collected that year. Ten years have elapsed since then, and all five companies have clarified their stance on the abolition of gestation stalls. Prima Meat Packers was the first company to make its position clear, stating in 2020 that it would not construct any new piggeries using gestation stalls in the future. Then, in November 2021, Nippon Ham announced that it would transition all gestation stalls on its domestic farms to herd rearing by…