Additive-free chiffon cake “Kimichiffon” is cage-free

In response to an inquiry from Animal Rights Center Japan, a chiffon cake shop, Kimichiffon in Shibetsu, Hokkaido, responded that all the eggs they use are already cage-free and that they would support the cage-free declaration. This was originally a cage-free egg farm called Farm Armu, and they also run an additive-free chiffon cake shop using the eggs. The owner says, We don’t think it makes sense to keep chickens unless we keep them cage-free.  First of all, if you keep the chickens trapped, they cannot exercise and they have no physical strength, so you’d have to use drugs from when they are chicks.  Instead, they can walk around and…

Spanish restaurant El Campo is cage-free

In response to an inquiry from Animal Rights Center Japan, a Spanish restaurant, El Campo in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, responded that all the eggs they use are already cage-free and that they would support the cage-free declaration. This is a Spanish restaurant that serves cage-free egg omelets. The reason why the restaurant uses cage-free eggs is to help its acquaintances on a cage-free egg farm and because safe feed is used and the chickens are healthy in cage-free rearing. 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,…

A ramen shop using free-ranged eggs, “Kakurenosato Araki“, is cage-free

In response to an inquiry from Animal Rights Center Japan, a ramen shop, Kakurenosato Araki in Aira City, Kagoshima Prefecture, responded that all the eggs they use are already cage-free and that they would support the cage-free declaration. This shop uses “Otafuku egg“, which are some of the few free ranged eggs in Japan. The owner says, The cost of each cage-free egg, which takes into consideration the chicken’s environment and food, is of course high, but to support young people’s town development and cage-free poultry, as long as I continue this ramen shop I would like to continue using these wonderful eggs that won an ethical award. In Japan,…

The “Ethical Time” shop full of ethical products declares cage free & tie-stall free

Upon entering this store to shop, the items were all ethical products that support various social issues.  In Sapporo, Hokkaido is a dream shop for “greedy” consumers who want to care for animals, human rights, and the environment. Ethical Time, a select shop that sells miscellaneous goods, food, clothing, etc., incorporates various perspectives such as fair trade, animal welfare, vegan, organic, and eco.  This store, which opened in April last year, runs a wonderful shop within Sapporo Factory in Sapporo. This shop has made a cage-free declaration that promises to use only cage-free eggs, and a tie-stall free declaration that promises that cattle will not be raised continuously tied! Cage…

Establishing confinement facilities such as sow stalls and battery cages with subsidies

The national grant programs that support the livestock industry of Japan range so widely, from the two possibly most known programs called “Strong Agriculture Grants” and “Livestock Cluster Business” to lesser known programs such as a compensation for farms when production costs exceed the selling price and a simple long-term and low interest-rate loan, that we can not list them all here. (See here for more detail.) With the novel coronavirus as well, various support for the livestock industry was established.  Let’s take a look at the support system for the livestock industry during the COVID-19 crisis, as a reference for how much the country regards the livestock industry as…

Wanohana, aiming for a recycling-based lifestyle, is cage-free

In response to an inquiry from Animal Rights Center Japan, Wanohana farm in Hitachi-Omiya of Ibaraki Prefecture that aims for a recycling-based lifestyle, responded that all the eggs they use are already cage-free and that they would support the cage-free declaration. They sell pudding made of cage-free eggs. Wanohana’s website says, Laying hens are usually abandoned at the age of one and a half to two years. This is because the eggs laid by aged chickens are often deformed or the egg production rate decreases. (although egg quality is fine) The actual lifespan of a chicken is said to be over 5 years, and from my wife’s desire to keep…

Nature training center and accommodation “Forest Nature School” is cage-free

The “Forest Nature School” in Hida Takayama is, as its name suggests, located in a nature-rich spot surrounded by forests. It has a solid wood accommodation, a training room, and a farming experience area, and offers various training such as furniture making, woodworking experience, lacquering experience, nature observation, food and agriculture experience, mountain maintenance, etc. And in one corner is a barn-raised poultry farm with about 150 chickens.  And, of course, the eggs used for meals during the stay are cage-free eggs.  It also supported Animal Rights Center’s cage-free declaration. The chickens, who exercise reasonably and stay in perches and are in stress-free conditions, are healthy, they tell the children. …

Purinyasan Hohoemi Kitchen, a specializing in barn-raised egg puddings, is cage-free

In response to an inquiry from Animal Rights Center Japan, a pudding shop Purinyasan Hohoemi Kitchen in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, that specializes in pudding using barn-raised eggs, responded that all the eggs they use are already cage-free and that they would support the cage-free declaration. The owner says, I know that most Japanese eggs are cage raised. I use cage-free eggs because I want the animals to be like those animals at least while they are alive. I wish cage-free eggs will become more commonly distributed. In addition, for ecological reason, you can get one stamp on the point card when you return the container and the lid to go,…

Decision 107 years after foundation: declares transition to cage-free. “No compromise in making real confectionery” – Wagashi Mizunoya

Decision of a long-established Japanese confectionery company Mizunoya, a long-established Japanese confectionery store that was founded in 1913 and operates three Japanese confectionery stores in Miyazaki Prefecture, has made a cage-free declaration. A new page of animal welfare has begun in the history of Mizunoya, which has been loved and inherited for over 100 years. Mizunoya, which runs a Japanese confectionery store in Miyazaki, where there are many poultry farms, was originally eager to choose good eggs.  By using eggs that enhance the taste of Mizunoya’s sweets without compromise, they have protected their flavors since the Taisho era.  However, Mr. Yusuke Mizuno, the 3rd president who would like to ease…

Natural Ramen Shi-Ann, caring about environmental issues, is cage-free

In response to an inquiry from Animal Rights Center Japan, a ramen shop, Natural Ramen Shi-Ann in Tsukubamirai, Ibaraki Prefecture, that cares about environmental issues, responded that all the eggs they use are already cage-free and that they would support the cage-free declaration. Natural Ramen Shi-Ann’s soup stock is of all vegetable origin. Eggs are used for toppings, but all are cage-free. There are also vegan-friendly menu items in consideration of environmental issues, which are also introduced on the vegan ethical website Hachidory. This is a ramen shop that is kind to the Earth as well as to chicken In Japan, over 90% of the farms uses battery cage rearing,…

Free-range rearing for 32 years, Tamagoya kitchen directly managed by Nodoka Farm

In response to an inquiry from Animal Rights Center Japan, a farm restaurant Tamagoya Kitchen directly managed by Nodoka Farm in Nagawa Town, Nagano Prefecture, rearing chickens free-range for 32 years, responded that all the eggs they use are already cage-free and that they would support the cage-free declaration. This farm uses a free-range rearing method, which is quite rare in Japan. The owner says, We have been practicing free-range rearing since 32 years ago when caged rearing was the norm. Free-range rearing was a result of thinking about how to create a healthy environment for chickens and how to make better eggs. A healthy environment for chickens is, of…

Miyagi Farm Co.,Ltd, selling cage-free eggs mayonnaise is cage-free

In response to an inquiry from Animal Rights Center Japan, Miyagi farm Co.,Ltd, in Nanjo city, Okinawa prefecture, who sells mayonnaise made of cage-free eggs, responded that all the eggs they use are already cage-free and that they would support the cage-free declaration. They want to produce eggs that are different from others, and they think that the best rearing method is one that suits the mode of life , so this poultry farm takes the form of cage-free rearing in the winter and free range rearing in the summer. Miyagi Farm’s website says, A chick that was dying from overmedication stood up. In 1980, I began poultry farming with…

Kokoron, a social welfare corporation that provides employment support for people with disabilities is cage-free

In response to an inquiry from Animal Rights Center Japan, Kokoron, a social welfare corporation based in Fukushima that develops various businesses such as employment support for people with disabilities and organic agriculture, responded that all the eggs they use are already cage-free and that they would support the cage-free declaration. The owner says, The reason for cage-free rearing is because of animal welfare. I think that a good environment for chickens should be good for the people who work there. At Kokoron poultry Farm, it is the role of the handicapped persons to feed and collect eggs, and it can be said that this is a company that makes…

As its name suggests, Sustainable kitchen rosy that respects sustainable choices is cage-free

In response to an inquiry from Animal Rights Center Japan, Sustainable Kitchen Rosy, an organic restaurant in Chiyoda ward, Tokyo, responded that all the eggs they use are already cage-free, and that they would support the cage-free declaration. This restaurant uses cage-free eggs in support of farmers and in hopes that everyone who visits the shop will be healthy. Sustainable Kitchen Rosy’s website says, Grow with the future Our mission is to grow the future together. Using cage-free natural eggs and using vegetables from contract farmers who don’t use pesticides or chemical fertilizers. We don’t use plastic containers or straws that affect the environment and the ecosystems of animals. And…

A Revision of the Act on Welfare and Management of Animals – livestock animals

How we leverage for the movement for livestock animals A revision of the Act on Welfare and Management of Animals came into effect on June 1st 2020. In cooperation with other groups, we had made several suggestions to make this revision more practical. So we’ll walk readers through what has been revised as well as the new obligations for some sectors to this act. However, we will skip the sections in regards to protection of cats and dogs in this article since animal  rights groups often cover this issue. We’ll focus on livestock animals.   So here is the Act: https://www.env.go.jp/nature/dobutsu/aigo/1_law/files/aigo_kanri_1973_105_en.pdf You can also refer to this article that explained the…

Halal slaughter in Japan:stunning possible in any export countries

Stunning may not be allowed in religious slaughter, such as with Islamic halal.  Animal Rights Center Japan has been addressing this issue in some cases where religious slaughter is performed in Japan without stunning.  Currently (May 2020), 6 companies are performing halal slaughter of cattle for export.  Halal beef export destinations are Malaysia, Indonesia, UAE, Bahrain and Qatar (one company has meat export certification for several countries).  Of these, stunning was already used for halal slaughter for Malaysia and Indonesia even before ARCJ started getting involved.  Of the remaining 5 companies exporting beef to UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar, 4 companies are currently using stunning. (However, some companies do not perform…

Paretaco Shokudo, who respects the ideal ways of animals, is cage-free

Spice curry Paretaco Shokudo is a curry restaurant that operates by appearing at events and holding cooking classes around Japan. The owner Takumi Seto is particular about the natural ways of animals and food, and all eggs used in the store are cage-free. Mr. Seto says, I would like to receive lives that grew up in their original natural forms. There are too many unnatural foods around me, so it’s difficult to continue eating naturally, but some produce products that are close to nature, so I’d like to support them, so I try to use cage-free eggs and wild meat. There is no way that eating animals who were raised…

Tamagokakegohan Tamanosuke set in the nature of Sasayama is cage-free

Tamagokakegohan Tamanosuke is a restaurant in Tamba Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture that specializes in raw eggs over rice. The owner already knew the term “cage-free declaration”, and agreed with this cage-free proposal without hesitation. In addition to the main eggs over rice dish, cage-free eggs are used for side dishes such as fried eggs and pudding. Tamagokakegohan Tamanosuke’s website says, 98% of the eggs sold in Japan are from caged rearing, and the remaining 2% are the rare cage-free eggs. Produced by the poultry method in which the chickens are free on the flat ground, these eggs come from healthy chickens who grow freely in an environment close to nature,…

Morinokazoku, a restaurant that makes delicious vegetables by organic farming, is cage-free

In response to an inquiry from Animal Rights Center Japan, Morinokazoku, an organic restaurant with the motto “delicious vegetables are good vegetables” with two locations in Kagoshima City and Aira City, responded that all the eggs they use are already cage-free, and that they would support the cage-free declaration. In addition to restaurants, this business also sells bento boxes and side dishes that use carefully selected organic vegetables. Many shops and restaurants that specialize in organic vegetables use eggs in cages, but here they choose cage-free in consideration of the chickens. In Japan, over 90% uses battery cage rearing, confining chickens in cages. It’s misleading to say that that’s healthy,…

A sustainable cafe that cares for the global environment, Gypsy’s mile cafe, is cage-free

This cafe is located in Takeda City, Oita Prefecture, Japan.  In response to an inquiry from Animal Rights Center Japan, they responded that all of the eggs they use are already cage-free, and that they would support the cage-free declaration.  It’s a cafe that is friendly and cares about the connection with people and nature.  The owner had lived in Australia before and knew that most of the eggs in supermarkets there are cage-free and that animal welfare in Japan is lagging behind. Gypsy’s mile Cafe’s website says, We live in a time when there is a lot of artificial flavors and tastes, but this can lead to various diseases,…