End Itoman Harley’s Duck-Catcher Competition that Turns Fear of Animals into Entertainment.

The Itoman Harley, held annually on the fourth day of the fifth lunar month (June 21) in Itoman City, Okinawa, is reported to be resumed this year after being suspended for four years due to a pandemic. The Harley itself is a very peaceful event in which a large number of people row boats and compete, and is also held in Naha and other cities. However, the one held in Itoman is interspersed with an inhumane pastime in which 50 ducks are tossed into the sea and chased around and captured. The Animal Rights Center has been calling for the event to be stopped since 2015, but it was held…

Activity report of Animal Rights Day: Lecture and Outreach activities in 3 locations nationwide

On Dec.10th, 2022, International Animal Rights Day, we conducted street outreach activities on 3 spots, i.e. Shibuya (Tokyo), Iwate and Shiga, to appeal promotion of animal welfare and protection of animal rights. In Shibuya, a seminar on “animal welfare and rights” was also given. Dec.10th falls on “Human Rights Day.” Every person has the right to live one’s own life as a human being. In the same way, animals have the right to live their own lives. We believe the issue of animal rights is also the issue of animal welfare, just as the issue of human rights is also the issue of human being’s welfare.   In the seminar, Ms.…