On September 19, 2025, Councilor Toshiyuki Ogawa (Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, Chiba Prefectural Assembly Members’ Association) asked a general question about animal welfare at the regular assembly of Chiba Prefecture. Councilor Ogawa explained that legislation on animal welfare is being developed overseas, and that the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, Yamanashi Prefecture, and some private companies are working on animal welfare in Japan as well.
After proposing that Chiba Prefecture be involved in animal welfare and create new value, I asked, “What is the prefectural government’s perception of animal welfare for livestock?” He asked.
In her response to this question, Teruko Takahashi, Director of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Department, stated
that the prefecture is conducting research on animal husbandry methods that take animal welfare into consideration, and by providing the results of that research and information from the government to producers, “We will continue to support livestock farmers who are committed to animal welfare.” and expressed his intention to make efforts.
Councilor Ogawa responded to Director Takahashi of the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Department by stating that animal welfare has not been introduced in the prefecture, and concluded, “I hope that the authorities will also conduct thorough research and make efforts to raise awareness.
On June 25, 2025, the Animal Rights Center visited the Chiba Prefectural Livestock Production Division and asked the official in charge for the prefecture’s commitment to animal welfare, including guidance on breeding, creation of regulations and certification marks, and establishment of subsidies.
The official mentioned that although we cannot spend an unlimited amount of money, land, and manpower, we would like to promote initiatives that can be realistically implemented, and mentioned the introduction of enrichment such as pig gnawing toys. While this in itself is welcome, we felt that it was backward-looking in terms of moving away from cage rearing and gestation stalls, which are the rearing practices that suffer the most.
Chiba Prefecture was the first place in Japan where livestock farming began and is still one of the largest livestock producers in Japan. We expect it to lead other prefectures in animal welfare as well.
Full text of the exchange at the plenary session on animal welfare
Question by Councilor Ogawa
Animal welfare is the concept of ensuring the physical and mental health of animals, and in recent years it has become a growing social concern. In countries such as the United Kingdom and New Zealand, animal welfare laws have been developed, requiring consideration in animal breeding methods and animal testing. In Japan, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) issued the “Basic Concept of Animal Husbandry and Management with Consideration for Animal Welfare” in 2009 and 2020 in order to widely promote and establish animal husbandry and management that takes animal welfare into account. In addition, we have been supporting the spread of livestock feeding and management methods for each livestock species based on the guidelines for livestock feeding and management corresponding to the concept of animal welfare prepared by the Association of Livestock Breeding Technology. In addition, Yamanashi Prefecture has introduced the Yamanashi Animal Welfare Certification System, the first such system in a municipality, and other advanced efforts are being made by private companies, such as Kewpie and Nippon Ham, to meet consumers’ growing needs for ethical consumption by procuring animals in an animal welfare manner. In addition, private companies, such as Kewpie and Nippon Ham, are also taking animal welfare into consideration.
As the birthplace of Japanese dairy farming and one of the leading livestock producers in the Tokyo metropolitan area, we expect that taking the lead in animal welfare will create new value.
Therefore, we would like to ask the prefectural government what it recognizes about animal welfare for livestock.
Answer by Mr. Takahashi, Director, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Dept.
Regarding your question about animal welfare for livestock, it is expected that livestock rearing methods that take animal welfare into consideration, such as allowing livestock to move freely and rest wherever they like, will reduce stress and disease and maintain the health of livestock. On the other hand, free movement of livestock can lead to an increase in fights and accidents between livestock, and an increase in injuries, which can lead to a decrease in productivity. The prefectural government is currently conducting research on methods of raising chickens and pigs that take animal welfare into consideration, and will continue to support livestock farmers who are committed to animal welfare by providing the results of this research and information from the government to producers.
Councilor Ogawa Opinion based on the answer
Regarding animal welfare, according to the Japan Research Institute, the total value added by animal welfare in Japan is estimated at 573.5 billion yen, and we believe that the benefits gained from improving animal welfare for livestock animals are significant. However, to be honest, it is still not well understood and has not yet been introduced in the prefecture. First of all, we would like the authorities to conduct thorough research to ensure that people have an accurate understanding of animal welfare, and to make efforts to raise awareness.
