Meiwakai, a social welfare corporation, is cage-free

In response to an inquiry from Animal Rights Center Japan, Meiwakai, a social welfare corporation based in Shizuoka, responded that all the eggs they use are already cage-free and that they would support the cage-free declaration.

They operate employment support for the disabled, retirement home, and nursery schools, and at Meiwakai poultry Farm, it is the role of the handicapped persons who live in the Akiha dormitory to feed and collect the eggs.

Cage-free eggs are used for meals at each facility and at Tsubasa Mei-chan’s bakery within the same business.

The owner says,

I think in cage-free rearing they’re more energetic and lay better eggs. We mix in the left-over pieces of bread with their food, and have them lay good eggs again. They can be more relaxed in cage-free rearing, and caged rearing the eggs would be from stressed chickens, and I feel sorry for the chickens.

What is cage rearing?

In cage rearing, which is the common rearing method for eggs in Japan, chickens are placed in cages and are overcrowded in order to prioritize productivity.

As a result, chickens are susceptible to illness due to lack of exercise, and drugs are used to prevent the spread of illness.

In Japan, over 90% of the farms use battery cage rearing.

It’s misleading to say that that’s healthy, and it’s definitely not natural.

Caged chickens

On the other hand, there do exist a few cage-free egg farms, which allow chickens to roam.

Cage-free chickens   (not Meiwakai sources eggs from.  Another cage-free farm.)

Cage rearing is being abolished all over the world, but Japan’s animal welfare is currently far behind.

A simple thing we can do to reduce the number of hens who continue getting exploited in their cages and go through life immobilized is for the consumers to stop buying cage-reared eggs and eliminate your egg consumption.

People who become aware of the actual situations and make humane and ethical choices today are what will lead to a sustainable future.

Click here for a list of other cage-free companies and shops