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,…

2020 Grant standards for “Comprehensive Subsidies for Developing Strong Agriculture & Leaders”: Just a small addition for animal welfare

There are various support systems for the livestock industry implemented by the country, and one of them is the Comprehensive Subsidies for Developing Strong Agriculture & Leaders. As previously reported in another article, from 2018, when using this grant to establish a local meat production center (slaughterhouse for pigs, cattle, etc.), “consideration for animal welfare” has become required, and it has become necessary to install drinking water at the slaughterhouse, which ARCJ had been asking for. The vague phrase “consideration for animal welfare” is not specific and limits executive power.  However, the addition of such item to the standards for the grant system is a step forward.  But animal welfare…

Effects of the Novel Coronavirus on World’s Animal Agriculture: Part 1

The world is panicking about the novel coronavirus, but what effects is it having on animal agriculture? In many places eateries have closed due to restrictions on going out, and food is being bought out at supermarkets.  A problem is, because agricultural products for eateries and for markets differ in forms like packaging, the system is not equipped to simply redirect what used to go to restaurants to supermarkets.  Not just eateries, but the situation is the same with cafeterias at schools and workplaces that are now closed. Milk: sold out at stores, but being dumped at dairy farms All agricultural products are affected, but the most perishable of livestock…

[Cage-Free Declaration] A path opened by one owner’s life

The vegetable garden Chiisanate, run by Mr. Yoshiki Takashiro, a unique owner who has studied technical agriculture, worked at a food company, and has the experience of joining the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), has made a cage-free declaration. The owner is a food and agriculture elite, but his life had been a constant struggle with deceptions about food and agriculture. When he first got a job at a food company, he was so shocked by the amount of additives used in products that he was overwhelmed by the negative impact on society and he couldn’t like his job. Then, wanting to work for people for the world…

FPD (Footpad Dermatitis) of Broiler Chickens

One of the animal welfare indicators of broiler chicken production is FPD (Footpad Dermatitis). The rate of the FPD incidence indicates the quality of bedding, if there’s overcrowding, or if the strain* of broiler is appropriate or not.**A high rate of FPD has been reported in Japan. According to a survey on occurrence of FPD in broiler chicken production***, “FPD was observed in all groups that were investigated. In some groups, every single individual was confirmed to have FPD.” The causes for FPD include poor floor conditions and environments where birds are crammed together in one place. When FPD gets severe, birds have a hard time walking due to the pain, and suffer from stress and fever. In…

Animal Welfare Award

Companies that contributed to expanding animal welfare Animal Welfare Award (AWA) is an award annually* selecting and giving thanks to companies that consider animals and work on animal welfare in Japan which is lagging behind the world in terms of animal welfare for livestock and aquaculture animals. In the view of Animal Rights Center Japan that works to protect livestock animals in Japan, efforts resulting in the biggest impacts have been recognized. * The first round covers efforts from 2019 through March 2020. The Results

Which will you choose? Cage-free? or Egg-smart?

Cage-free, Eggsmart, we want your company to make a change, and we are conducting a campaign. Please check the campaign site below.

Eggs are unhealthy: why we shouldn’t eat them even though they’re cheap

Cover photo from Wikimedia Chicken eggs, which sometimes only cost about 10 yen (~0.10 USD/EUR) each, are often said to be nutritious… but should we really be eating them? The average person in Japan consumes as many as 337 eggs per year — the 2nd highest in the world (as of 2018) *1.  Some may feel that we’re not eating nearly one egg a day, but eggs turn out to be in many products when you look at the ingredients list, like in baked goods and mayonnaise.   The ‘raw’ truth in Japan Salmonella contamination: 1 in every 400 eggs! Would you like some pesticides with your eggs? Cholesterol: Eggs…