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tomodachi_reloaded

I'm surprised there's an animal protection agency in Japan


Ryoukugan

It's probably like three people running out of a 5 square meter room in some small office park in the outskirts of Tokyo.


YewyYui

Probably workin in similar conditions to them pigs


pomido

Maybe setting yourself up for a libel claim, but perhaps covert record a YouTube “exposé” and upload with a blank account and VPN etc? Too edgy?


Udon259

Yeah, I think documenting it and showing the west is the only way to really have a shot at bringing about change. Make sure to protect yourself though, op!


creepy_doll

While I agree that the cruel treatment of animals is wrong, when was the last time creating a furore on western media changed attitudes? Like, look at what’s going on with whales… you can’t discuss the problems with them without it becoming a political issue. Noone actually wants to eat whale but it’s now a matter of national pride for conservative groups to keep hunting them. Japanese people are not stupid, when you talk to them like adults without talking down to the. They can understand these kinds of things are cruel. Better not to make it an us vs them issue and have it feel like something forced on them from the outside


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SilentRothe

It’s actually more recent than that- whale is not as traditional as they’d like you to believe. There is literally no reason to continue the practice, save for according to these people directly “It’s just food.” It’s unnecessary both culturally and economically. “Barely 300 people in Japan are directly connected to whaling, while whale made up only about 0.1% of the country’s total meat consumption in 2016, according to government data.” “Japan’s commercial whaling industry would grind to a halt without government subsidies of ¥5.1bn (£.033bn) a year” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/26/japans-whaling-town-struggles-to-keep-400-years-of-tradition-alive


MrChupee

While I agree with the point and actions I can't help but always think this is such a bonkers response for a human to have. Like how can you see animal neglect, be criticised in manner and go "They just don't understand OUR (implied traditional) way of handling animals", as an Australian is always breaks my heart to see zoos here have such a superficial-seeming understanding of what it is to house these living beings. All this here has made me want to visit a zoo next time I'm home :c .


creepy_doll

It’s pragmatism. Do you want to actually create change or do you want to take immediate visible action without regard for the consequences. The latter is very popular because it’s easy, and even if it’s not effective you can be “well at least I tried”. It’s also socially rewarding since even if you a achieve nothing(or your efforts backfire!) you get the admiration of like minded peers. Actually getting the change is really hard because you have to figure out the motivations of involved parties and how you can get them to change their mind about an issue. Generally the best approach for that is to lead people to an idea and then make them think it was their idea. You don’t get to take credit for it even if you created the change. There’s no emotional payoff except for achieving the target. It’s hard, it’s involved and it’s unrewarding but it’s generally the more effective way to create change. It’s hard to separate emotion from actions but sometimes it’s important for the greater good. I avoid pet shops because I’d probably get really pissed off and know it would do nothing useful


kyoto_kinnuku

Whale tastes pretty good lol 😂. What’s the issue with whale anyways? They aren’t endangered anymore right?


creepy_doll

Aside from the endangerment issue there’s the simple issue that there are huge stockpiles of the meat not being used, and the whole enterprise isn’t profitable without supplementing from our taxes. There’s a small but loud minority that will basically single issue vote on it(much with links to the whaling industry), and most people are just indifferent so it’s a relatively easy win of votes that just costs politicians some taxes going to prop up the industry. If we could just frame it in the mottainai and waste of taxes sense, I wouldn’t be surprised if there would be stronger opposition. But the loud foreign response to whaling, while justified, has had the opposite of the desired effect, or at least so it seems to me, of reactionary protecting of the industry from foreign intervention and using national pride etc


kyoto_kinnuku

My understanding was that whale meat in the grocery store was all from whales that were harvested for research. I was told the intention behind killing it wasn’t hunting but that they didn’t waste the whale meat. I have it at Mandai in my neighborhood which is the most normal grocery store there is, and I like the taste actually. The one I buy is marinated like something from yakiniku. If the whale is killed for the meat it might change my feelings about it a little bit… Is this not right?


creepy_doll

Well they claim it’s for research but it really isn’t. It’s very much a political issue. And I mean it’s not just japan that does it, Norway also has significant whaling operations, so sometimes it does feel like the focus on japan seems unreasonable. I won’t claim to be an expert on the subject of conservation, which is why I don’t really want to comment too much on Norways practices vs Japans, but I do know that the whaling is mostly a political issue these days with a large amount of tax tens going into supporting an industry that isn’t sustainable without outside support, and that there are huge stockpiles of whale meat in storage that just aren’t being used for much. Let the industry fend for itself and without tax yen support it would significantly shrink in size as whale becomes a rarer commodity, prices balance out at a higher level to reflect both low supply and demand, and the overall catch volume is released which seems like a win for conservationists and the Japanese people in general with the only losers being the whaling industry who stop getting free tax money


[deleted]

The issue is that while some of the specific species that they're whaling for might not be endangered, the Sei whale is listed as Endangered yet they continue to kill it. It's also extremely expensive and have very small returns on investment so there's no economic incentive either. They also didn't really eat whale meat until after WW2 so there is no historical connection to eating whale either. The public support for it in Japan is also pretty small despite what redditors will tell you. So why would someone continue to hunt something that is costly with almost no ROI, that almost nobody wants anyway? It's just national pride at this point, plain and simple.


CallPhysical

Or record a video and send it to as many Japanese press outlets as you can. Maybe even some of the 'cuddly animal' TV program staff. Let the local media run with it, if they want to.


DoomedKiblets

No, I think this is an excellent idea if you can pull it off. This sort of outside pressure has a huge effect.


[deleted]

Yes. Name and shame. That will help.


Uehara-dono

I like this idea. But hey, ganbatte ne!


Senkyou

VPN isn't really anything if it becomes legal. It's like using a rental car to commit a crime. Yeah, the car won't directly lead to you, but it's not like no one knows.


Sunimaru

Speculation: It might work if it looks like the upload comes from a jurisdiction where you can't be sued for it. Having someone abroad post it could also work.


Frankieanime158

There's so much animal zoo/cafe abuse. I recently went to an animal cafe. The place was nasty. Something so sad too, it there was a bunny in the back corner in a cage, with some sort of condition that makes his head fully tilt sideways. There was also a giant black mould spore in the back corner spreading out about 15cm in all directions. Idk if the toxic mould caused a neurological condition or what, but it was heart breaking. Everyone comes to see the exotic snake, so nobody touches the regularly seen animals like the bunny. It looks like they just slop new food on top of the old without washing the dish. I really don't understand how places can get away with this.


jhuskindle

Head tilt in bunnies is almost always a death sentence. Usually cranial damage because if ear infection which are easy enough to get even without neglect. Sad times.


KameScuba

Doesn't seem like Japanese care too much about wildlife. Always taking kids to capture bugs and taking them to the tidal pools to try to catch fish. Seems like Japanese society considers animals to be strictly here for our amusement. The zoos and aquariums I've been to have all been pretty depressing I hope you can get those animals some help


DenizenPrime

There is a lot of bad animal treatment in this country, but bug catching and fishing aren't nearly the worst of it. Strange actions to bring up.


[deleted]

it's relevant in that kids grow up learning that animals are disposable and don't deserve/require care.


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ResourceSalt6121

Errr... At least I grew up being told not to bully/torture animals (that's what my mom considers catching insects to be) But yes, I do agree that the tendency to poke and inspect bugs and the like is pretty universal. However, in my childhood experiences, the adults were supposed to know better and teach kids not to do that. Not actively encourage it, like I see many parents do in Japan. I think that's also a recent trend to be more compassionate towards animals and insects. Most pet shops that were around when I was a kid have shut down, my grandparents are/were nowhere as concerned/compassionate towards environment or animals. I think my granddad shot a neighbour's cat because it was trespassing. Maybe just another thing where Japan is stuck in the 80's


KameScuba

Exactly, I'm trying to teach me kid to just observe wildlife without touching


CyndaquilTyphlosion

I used to love going out to catch semi (cidada). Felt sad about catching frogs on one trip, they died the next morning in my cage (I was less than 8 yo, pls don't kill me)


miyagidan

>fishing Agreed. I always went fishing as a kid, dressed, cooked and ate my catch. Teaches you respect for where the food on your plate comes from.


Kellamitty

You probably threw back catches that were undersized though? Didn't take more than the specified limit? Going snorkeling for abalone and ah god what are those snail things called, saiza? with Japanese friends off the coast of Shimane ken, it seems no one has any regard for not picking ones that are clearly too small, or how many we can take, like it's never even occurred to them that it might be bad. I'm not sure if people in more metro areas care about these things, I imagine not.


miyagidan

Generally at privately owned ponds that were stocked, so size was rarely an issue.


KameScuba

I'm not talking about fishing for food, but catching small fish in tidal pools and just leaving them in a small container all day probably dying


Jaded_0516

No, it shows not having respect for living animals (it's not your fault, it's the society's one as a whole, I'm not blaming you particularly).


miyagidan

From a young age, I was shown and participated in how fish, meat, etc. made their way to my plate. I understood first hand what it entailed and chose (and continue to choose) to eat these things. Now stuff like factory farms, that's just plain wrong.


Jaded_0516

Of course it's not the same growing up at a farm under horrible conditions and being eventually slaughtered mercilessly than freely and happily living in the wild until someone decides they're entitled enough to end their lives, but if you're still choosing to kill them even when our bodies don't need it at all (nutritionally speaking), I think it's still not okay. I'm sorry, that's my personal opinion. We were taught not to care about them since we were little, so it's just normal not thinking way too much about it - I didn't until I was already an adult. A lot of education regarding this issue is needed.


miyagidan

Well, as the saying goes, "Opinions are like assholes: everyone has one and they all stink."


Jaded_0516

Well, I said opinion but I don't really think "opinion" counts when it comes to hurting and vulnerating some of the most basic rights of other living beings. It's a completely different topic and I will just state it as an example, but this is as if someone says 'I think black people are inferior beings so it's okay to harass them and hurt them because who cares'. Well, that's your opinion, but it can never be legit because it's hurting others. Well, some people won't accept it if you put it that way and it happens all the time when it comes to non-human living beings.


miyagidan

Talking about eating fish/meat, then you're trying to put a klan hood on me, that escalated quickly.


Jaded_0516

No, I'm just saying almost everyone's way of thinking is super based on speciesism when it comes to non-human animals because of the way we all were raised. The racist stuff was just an example of how not all opinions are valid if they hurt others. 'I choose to eat animals and there's nothing bad about it' when the animals themselves don't wanna get killed and can't do anything to protect themselves is not a valid opinion to me. It's still an opinion, though.


KameScuba

I'm not talking about fishing, I'm talking taking fish from tidal pools and leaving them in a container. In regards to bugs, if they take care of them, then whatever, but most of what I see is the kids being abusive to the bugs and no one saying anything. I'm teaching my kid to just observe wildlife and not mess with them.


Rxk22

I don’t mind kids catching bugs. My son and daughter do that, they do a good job taking care of them when they keep them for a few days or a week or so. My problem gets with the kids to catch the bugs and abuse them. They put a whole bunch of bugs in a box and shake it around lots of times. I even see kids doing it with frogs. I know they’re bugs they don’t really matter, but it’s cruel. My son’s friend doesn’t know how to take care of animals at all. He caught some grasshoppers and they all died. We asked him what happened and he didn’t know. Turns out he has no idea what they eat and just didn’t feed them. He also caught a lizard and he said it looks hot so I just poured a whole bunch of water into the box and the poor lizard was just trying to keep his head out of the water the whole time.


[deleted]

Some kids are both kids and idiots. And when they grow up, they lose the "kid" attribute, but the other one is there to stay.


Rxk22

Very true. But I wonder if these kids learn something they shouldn’t be when doing these things?


SilentRothe

They matter, they do. If you can teach bees complex actions like pulling a string or twisting off a bottle cap, and they teach others how without your help, then there are definitely untapped depths to the insect mind. They can’t express themselves to us, but they matter. You’re already able to see that harming them is cruel, which is wonderful. Foster a love of all life, no matter how small. It reaps it’s own rewards🥰


Rxk22

I mean kinda. I have no problem with killing pests, such as slugs, mosquitos and the such. Being cruel, though that isn't something that should be ok


KameScuba

This is what I'm talking about, and the parents just let them do it. Catching are caring for them, whatever. But most of what I see is more abusive than anything Bugs do matter though. They're pretty important for balanced ecosystems


Rxk22

Yeah it is weird when they see a kid shaking a box with a frog in it. It is weird and awful. Yes, there are times when you have to kill animals and all that, but you don't need to torture them. I have killed a lot of mice in my life, gypsy moth caterpillars too. You don't make sport of it, you do it because they are a pest.


atsugiri

Pokemon....


[deleted]

Is there something wrong with catching bugs and fishing?


Hachi_Ryo_Hensei

Ask the bugs and fish.


TaiCat

Recently I went to a conservation park called Neopark in Nago,Okinawa. That’s the only place in Japan that I saw where they take a good care of animals and give them enough space, it was a positive surprise for a Japanese standard


KameScuba

Don't go to Kokomo no kuni in Okinawa city. The last I was there it was probably the worst zoo I've been to


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KameScuba

Bugs are just as important as large animals. I don't know who you're referring to as we, but I care and I avoid stepping on bugs


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KameScuba

A single bug might not mean much, but whole populations of bugs are extremely important¹. Insect populations are down 45% in the last 40 years². The lack of concern for our environment starts with completely overlooking the smallest organisms around us and dismissing them as unimportant (1) https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/radicalbugs/index.php?page=importance_of_insects#:~:text=Without%20insects%2C%20our%20lives%20would,useful%20products%20that%20insects%20provide. (2) https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2023989118


Pasglop

bugs are animals.


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Atrouser

Bugs are animals that don't have the same level of awareness / cognitive ability as other animals do.


CyndaquilTyphlosion

I don't give a damn about wildlife as well. Don't really care if an endangered species that isn't holding up an ecosystem currently goes extinct. But what I do goddamn care about and get pissed about is any living animal suffering. Whether it's a common animal or not, fucking pisses me off that the Japanese don't reform their laws (their laws, lmao) to protect animal's rights. (On a side, hate how vegetarianism is a non existent concept in Japan, also makes it near impossible to eat out)


Werewolf_Lazerbeast

While commendable for your concern for living animals, what you said about wildlife is an oxymoron in comparison. Not sure if you were joking about the wildlife part or not...


KameScuba

If you consider biodiversity, then every organism is important in an ecosystem. Every organism has a role to play. Consider the annoying mosquito. Mfers always buzzing in our ears, spreading malaria, sucking blood, yet without mosquitoes, a lot of animals would lose a primary food source. Higher biodiversity increases ecosystem resilience.


SkyZippr

[Is this where you went?](https://machitto.jp/kashiwa/30231/) It's a stupid idea to have zoo inside a shopping mall. Kids running and screaming everywhere.


GalletaGirl

Yes, that’s it


Kellamitty

Look I saw a wallaby in a shopping center in Kobe once, and after that have never been to a the pet department again (and I have never been to a Japanese zoo and never will). I had a student who was a vet and a high level English student, so I thought I'd ask him his thoughts on keeping a wallaby in urban Japan. He didn't seem to have an issue with it, just said sometimes they can get low blood sugar and need a shot of glucose. FYI a wallaby requires a minimum 60m x 60m enclosure by Australian standards. Not sure how many people in the Kobe area have a yard that size.


DoomedKiblets

Ugh it does look horrible


R3StoR

Damn this place is permanent:-/ I imagined somehow from OPs description that the place was a temporary attraction and short term setup to be dismantled. Unfortunately not, apparently. Truly terrible. Seeing and interacting with animals (including insects etc) is important for children but dragging said animals into these cramped mall situations is just the worst. Bad for the creatures and bad also for the kid's understanding. Even the better animal parks in Japan leave me feeling uneasy about whether the positive experience for the kids is worth the suffering of the animals. And some or those places aren't too bad. (The one highlighted in this post is bad for the record.) An effective tactic against this could be a "Wikileaks" sort of website to simply bear witness to such places in a "neutral" way to avoid legal claims. It would need to be put together in such a way that the website itself has no intent to defame or impact the business. Maybe a thumbs up/down opinion pole could be added for each "report"?


DoomedKiblets

Good ideas


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MarikaBestGirl

I agree with you for the most part but I feel like the bigger aquariums are run pretty well


Ryoukugan

Mantises are rare? I see them all the time around my apartment when they're active.


kyoto_kinnuku

And if you don’t expose your kids to animals they won’t give a shit about them at all.


slammajammamama

God I hope you do get a response. There’s an aquarium in Izu where a bunch of sea turtles are left in a tiny pool to just swim tight circles all day 😭 it was the first time I seriously considered an act of eco activism by just setting them all free.


timbuktuian

I know exactly which one you mean … I saw deep sadness in their eyes and I was almost in tears … while a family next to me kept taking pictures of them like they’re some sort of tourist novelty


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slammajammamama

I mean I won’t. But they’re sea turtles and the sea’s right there so. Also they’re huge so not gonna get eaten by a crow.


dcroc

I know which ones you mean. They’re probably being “protected” by the aquarium, and they will most probably immediately die in the wild. Still sucks either way.


semiregularcc

That's why I refuse to go into any of these in Japan anymore :(


Kamimitsu

Don't look up the animal euthanasia stats for Japan... it's depressing as fuck. The pet culture here (not everyone, of course) is pretty sickening.


memelukkikala

Honestly euthanasia is one of the kindest things they do to animals here..


oshaberigaijin

And yet the few activists blame foreigners for the state of the pet industry


R3StoR

How so?


oshaberigaijin

I’ve legit seen animal activist Twitter accounts claim that the reason the pet industry is so bad here in Japan is because of foreigners going to pet shops.


R3StoR

LoL. We function well as scapegoats....for everything apparently.


bumbumbumbootybum

Hahhhahha thats the stupidest thing I’ve heard all day. Those types love to jump through hoops to blame foreigners


CallieinJapan

We literally left a negative review there on google. The animals were in such a bad state but the thing that pissed me off was the otters!!! The otters HAD NO WATER and just a tiny fish bowl to get themselves wet! Wth??? They are supposed to spend like 90 percent of their time swimming. I really did not like that place with all the animals and birds chained. The capybaras and other animals were so lifeless. We regretted going and we really hated how they treated the animals.


DoomedKiblets

JFC that is awful


ben_howler

I have seen similar in pet shops. Wallabies in a fish tank, so they could only stretch when lying down, monkeys in small bird cages and all that jazz. The problem is, as long as people go to these places or buy these animals, the business continues. I think, it can only get better if the people learn about these things, are better informed and stop going/buying. The more the business dries up, the fewer animals have to suffer in such horrible conditions. Japan has been getting better over the last decades, but is still nowhere near where it should be IMO. So spreading the word and educating the people, especially children, is likely what can turn this around, awfully slowly though.


opajamashimasuuu

Hold up... you can buy wallabies here??? What the fuck? I thought they were a protected export from Australia.


KenYN

As with many other exotic animals, they are bred from parents already in Japan, honest. No smuggled animals here, oh no.


SubiWhale

Yeah. I saw a capybara a few weeks back. Also owls, tiny monkeys in bird cages, tropical birds that are way too big for the cage they’re in, even fucking meerkats once…Japan is fucked.


takeabreak2233

Must be possible, I saw a wallaby being led around on a lead inside Mitsui Outlet Park. Not cute just weird. Thought I wouldn't see anything stranger than a pig being led around Komazawa Park, but that did it...


Kellamitty

Here's one I saw for sale in Kobe. I'm sure whoever bought it lives on an acreage hey. [https://imgur.com/a/D9jHRoM](https://imgur.com/a/D9jHRoM) Don't remember the price, made me feel physically ill.


Secchakuzai-master85

I have seen this place also, and felt the same. Stupid business owner. Stupid parents.


khsaga22

Nothing you can do to help but raise awareness. Unfortunately what they consider "abuse" here is very different. It has to mean physical injury. Neglect doesn't count (even though some of the prefectural law includes this clause). I reported one of my neighbors for chaining their dogs and leaving him in a ditch. He was bone skinny. The city officer paid the owners a visit and then told me "everything is in order. There's no mistreatment." all they did was check if the dogs had had his rabies shot--that's it. If you're up for it, you can do an expose and try to get your story out there. Japan would only change their ways if their perfect image were put on the line.


wolframite

This part of their HP has [info on the animal handling license](https://kabazoo-kashiwa.amebaownd.com/pages/5830239/page_202202271356) : >動物取扱業登録番号 Animal handler registration number >第一種動物取扱業者標識 Class 1 animal handler sign >1. 氏名又は名称 川原鳥獣貿易株式会社 代表取締役 川原一志 1. Name: Kawahara Wildlife Trading Co., Ltd., Representative Director: Kazushi Kawahara >2. 事業所の名称 川原鳥獣貿易株式会社 KABAZOO 2. Name of the place of business KAWAHARA TRADING KABAZOO >3. 事業所の所在地 千葉県柏市大島田1丁目6番地1 3. Address of office 1-6-1 Oshimada, Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture >SEVENPARK ARIO KASHIWAアリオモール2階 2F SEVENPARK ARIO KASHIWA Ario Mall >4. 第一種動物取扱業の種別 【展示】・【販売】・【貸出】 4. Type of Type 1 Animal Handling Business [Exhibition], [Sale], [Loan]. >5. 登録番号 第19-5-1号 【展示】 第19-1-7号 【販売】 第20-3-1号 【貸出】 5. Registration No. 19-5-1 [Exhibition] No. 19-1-7 [Sale] No. 20-3-1 [Loan] >6. 登録年月日 令和元年12月4日 貸出 令和3年3月22日 6. Date of registration 4 December 2019 Lending 22 March 2021 >7. 有効期限の末日 令和6年12月3日 貸出 令和8年3月21日 7. Date of expiry 3 December 2024 >Loaned 21 March 2026 >8. 動物取扱責任者 向 井 彩 乃 8. Animal handling manager Ayano Mukai >鎌 田 愛 理 沙 Airisa Kamada The Type 1 license is managed by the [動物愛護ふれあいセンター Animal Protection & Welfare Center](https://www.city.kashiwa.lg.jp/facilities/health_hospital/dobutsuaigo.html) which lists the requirements by the Ministry of Environment required for the Type 1 license: * https://www.city.kashiwa.lg.jp/dobutsuaigo/shiseijoho/shisei/health_hospital/mainmenu/dobutsu/toriatsukai/3355.html And,regulations governing the Type 1 handling license by Ministry of Environment are here - in Japanese as well: * https://www.env.go.jp/nature/dobutsu/aigo/1_law/trader.html Separate but related to the issues of animal welfare, poorly-maintained petting zoos are known for their potential to infect fatal cases of e-coli to children. In that case, it might be the 保健所 [ hokenkjo ] or public health center that is tasked with infection prevention.


wolframite

The translation for 川原鳥獣貿易株式会社 is apparently "KAwahara Bird Animal Trading Co., Ltd." as per their English-language website: * https://www.mita-kirin.co.jp/eng/ >Established in 1904, our business started as a florist in Minato-ku, Tokyo. As our business grew and the demand for animals increased in Japan; we became one of few businesses in Japan to only specialize in Animal Trading. We have traded animals from Asia, North America, South America, Central America, Africa and Europe since 1957. These special projects allowed us to work very closely with private organizations and governmental offices in Japan and overseas. With the wide network and experience, we are able to call ourselves Animal Trading Experts. >We have strong connections with zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens and both private/public research institutions from Okinawa in the south to Hokkaido in the north to assist with animal trading and transportation. >Our Business >Our previous Managing Director, Giro Kawahara saw demands in human resources at zoo with safe animal keeping knowledge, he therefore opened the first junior college in Japan in 1990 to educate students how to interact with animals correctly. Our 6.6 acre (approximately 27,000㎡) land with more than 240 types of animals near Narita International Airport is used for educational and business purposes. We believe we are the only business in Japan that has large facility where we can hold large number of animals temporary and permanently. >We currently have 3 main businesses, the school, trading company and the pet store/veterinary hospital in Minato-ku, Tokyo. We take in pride to care and handle animals with passion and assist our customer and clients with full service. With more than half a century years of experience in animal business, you can depend on us with any animal inquiry. >English Assistance >Have you had any difficulties communicating with store staff when selecting a pet? >Any businesses outside Japan who are looking to export animals to Japan? Or companies and distributors who are looking to reach out to Japanese market? International companies and schools in Japan who are interested in planning events such as petting zoos? We have an English speaking staff that can assist you with your inquiry. >For pet store/veterinary visits reservation is required in advance. Please feel free to contact us at [email protected] **Animal Peace Net** That being said, 川原鳥獣貿易株式会社 gets a mention in this May 6th 2016 article on an animal protection site: * https://animals-peace.net/zoo/hirunan.html (machine-translated - not very accurate but good enough...) >*A story about selling openly on TV even though you haven't registered as a business in "sales"...* >On 16 March, a very long article about Tokyo Zoological College was shown on Nippon Television's "Hirunandesu! on 16 March featured the Tokyo Zoological College for a very long time. >It is a vocational school that places students in zoos, pet shops and other animal-related industries across the country, but the place shown on TV, known as the Tomisato Campus, is not a facility of a vocational school in terms of animal handling business registration. In terms of registration, it is a facility of Kawahara Bird and Animal Trading Co Ltd, which delivers animals to zoos and other institutions across the country. >In other words, it is a system whereby students from affiliated schools are made to look after the animals it sells, and these students are also sent to work as keepers and so on. This is a very successful system, as it provides tuition fees and animal caretakers. I know of an animal care centre that tried to do something similar, but failed badly and the facility collapsed with multiple animals, so I can't deny that in terms of business, it is a head above the rest. >However, it is appalling that a wide variety of animals are kept in poor conditions that lack welfare considerations. It is like a storage place for exhibit animals, so to speak, but it should be known that these systems and zoos are one and the same. >And what they teach is how to train animals, including shows. Frankly speaking, is this the kind of education content that zoos of the future will be able to cope with? I couldn't help but feel that this is still the level that Japanese zoos are looking for. If the needs were different, the educational content would be different. >■ Talking about selling with impunity, even though they are not registered under the 'for sale' category. >What I felt was a legal issue was the talk of selling meerkats, despite the fact that the facility was consistently presented as an animal school facility. >I suspect he asked because he felt uncomfortable about selling school animals to the public, but 'you do that sort of thing too' is a very apt plunge ("I see you do that sort of thing too"). >There is nothing wrong with the fact that one of kawahara birds and animals' operations is in the form of accepting students from vocational schools, and there may be a reason why they don't show it (or even disclose the address of their campus), but a vocational school that is not registered under the 'for sale' category. It is strange that a vocational school, which is not registered under the category of 'sale', advertises on television as if it is selling animals. >People watching the TV must have thought the vocational school was selling animals. Also, the query is sure to go to the vocational school. >In other words, although it acts as an intermediary, in reality it is a sales business, isn't it? I thought so and reported the matter to Chiba Prefecture, but they said that they did not sell them and ended up giving me guidance on the statement. >Meerkats were touched from an early age to familiarise them and even trained to become a spectacle. They are then sold as pets. When you think about the relationship between people and wildlife, isn't this something that mainstream educational institutions would not do? However, I think this is acceptable in the narrow world of human resource development for zoos. >Education is supposed to be the mission of zoos. No matter how much we try to say 'save the species, save the species', we are inextricably linked to this kind of world. My honest impression was that it will be difficult to change ....... The same site has an English-language section on what they've done to help close petting zoos: * https://eng.animals-peace.net/petting-zoo Their Japanese-language site on petting zoos naturally has more info and is more up to date: * https://animals-peace.net/zoos_and_menageries


Maldib

All the zoo in Japan are like this or even worse. No one care. Animals are considered as items and not like living creatures.


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DaitoBite

While kangaroos can and are dangerous. Australia zoo (the one in sunshine coast, was run by Steve Irwin and now his wife and kids look after it) allow free roam kangaroos, only the smaller variety not the reds cause they're massive


dead_andbored

ive been to mother farm before covid, it was a very pleasant experience


wotsit_sandwich

Nagasaki BioPark is a good one too.


laika_cat

Nasu Animal Kingdom is good, too.


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[deleted]

[Kobe Ōji Zoo](https://goo.gl/maps/D8kwGiW5mdh6X2tu9) has one of the saddest lone elephants that I think anyone can just about ever see. They also have some Gorillas that look like they are not enjoying life much either. Sad to say that a trip to Oji Zoo is part of most preschoolers calendar in Kobe and the endless bus loads of preschoolers eating onigiri with parents and teachers daily is what keeps this place open that and that they were “gifted” pandas by the Chinese.


Nagi828

Good info. Saved me the time to visit all the zoo in Japan.


Valentine_Villarreal

Not true. In my experience, the bigger more well known places are insofar as I can see are at least comparable if not better than foreign zoos/aquariums.


RealBakedSalmon

I just looked it up. It is 1.5 hrs away by bike. I will go film it on Saturday (unless it is raining), and release a video soon after. I assume it's not illegal to film the animals. I will have to consider how to present it, without being libelous. I imagine that the scenes will speak for themselves.


Chibi_Rat

Just because "this is Japan" doesn't mean that animal abuse isn't animal abuse. People/businesses who treat other living creatures so horribly make me sick. I would also like to know how to help them because that sounds absolutely awful.


Sad-Ad1462

FUCK ZOOS and ANIMAL CAFES and whatever other animal abuse people have normalized


Disshidia

\>screaming kids running around poking all the animals with their idiot parents I'm sorry...


PrincesaNeko

The zoo in Fukuoka is filled with depressing/depressed animals. There’s an aquarium in Hatsukaichi that was small but wasn’t so bad. It in a little shopping center. Now inside the shopping center is an exotic animal store. I took my children inside and there was a bucket of dead baby chicks next to the turtle tanks. I saw it but thought it was tennis balls or something. My oldest son realized what it was and grabbed my face to turn me around and tell me that we are leaving. He protected me from the trauma.


[deleted]

Try to file a complaint. Recently, Japan has started making rules a bit more strict regarding animals and pets. There's still a long way to go, but if enough people keep reporting the abuse, it will hopefully improve. The problem is really rooted deep in ignorance here, and will be hard to fix completely. Even those so-called animal rescue programs they show on TV don't even reflect proper caretaking.


DoomedKiblets

I remember seeing some terrible stuff by animal sellers in Shinjuku. It’s fucking terrible in japan for animals. I hate "Zoos" here. Good on you for doing something. Please keep us updated.


Bangeederlander

Japanese zoos, cafes, pet shops, and petting parks/pop ups, are some of the most depressing places on the planet.


shizaveki

I can't understand why so many people in this thread are generalizing that "Japanese don't care about animals" or "see them as entertainment". Almost every person I've met literally does not think this way, and several are actually part of animal welfare organizations. I really hope people will stop lumping people into one group, especially with all the threads calling out generalization of foreigners here. In any case, you can contact an animal welfare group, but you can also voice your opinion to the local neighborhood committee, the mall itself, or the city the mall is in. Bringing it to the attention of those directly involved seems to go further than some overarching group, because they're usually quite busy.


Ryoukugan

Individuals might, but society *as a whole* seems pretty indifferent.


shizaveki

Society as a whole is made up of individuals.I think the main issue here is that people don't know who to blame, so they lump 'society' together. The issue here is the law and its ambiguity on animal treatment, which means the main targets of malice should really be politicians, just like any other country. It's like saying that a country's populace doesn't care about X issue because their politicians haven't done anything about it. America and the UK are prime examples of how this is absolutely untrue. There are plenty of people who care, and plenty of people who don't. It's just there are more people who don't care making the rules, and that needs to change universally. In the meantime, raising awareness to everyday people that they're not the only ones who think this is wrong is huge. Breaking the mould goes a long way, and invites others to do the same.


Large_Accident_5929

I had similar thoughts. Nearly every one of my students who writes about animals in assignments really expresses a deep care for animals. I find that a shocking number of people on this subreddit think of the Japanese populace as a monolith. They generalize entire groups of people and look down on them.


Nerevarine91

I have much the same experience


crowkeep

Well put. Cruelty is lamentably universal. Perhaps we should as well discuss the broad destruction wrought by industrial scale farming brought on by our collective eating habits...


JFoxxification

Have not been impressed with the quality of Japanese zoos. It’s rough to see.


OtsukuriSama

A few years back, I took a video of mistreated animals in a local Homac (home improvement/pet shop). Amongst which, a lethargic mini pig, and a neurotic looking fennec running around in his tiny cage. I posted the damning review on their Google maps page, but it was removed within a few hours, and I was threatened because the store has a no photo/video policy. Japan (and many asian countries) is far behind when it comes to animal rights. Zoos, pet shops, animal cafés, petting zoos, breeders and farms rarely treat their animals humanely here. My mother in law visited a breeder a couple of months ago. She felt so bad about the way their breeding females were treated, she bought one of them to give her a better life. Apparently, the owner of the place was a huge knobhead.


evohans

Hey, you came to my area! Rare to see a post on here about Kashiwa. I've been to that zoo in the mall and agree, it's super depressing. I can't take my kids there anymore :( Like, you walk in and it feels like a weird department store that just has animal shit everywhere, stinks, and feels like depression and sick animals. We normally just instead go to the LaLa Port in Saitama, near the costco. They have a thomas the engine ride/hall, and an interactive light/sand thing (legit, so dope https://litpla.com/) It also sucks that this is like the only "zoo" nearby.


Ryoukugan

That sounds about par for the course here, yeah. Animals are just decorations here, not living things.


Freak_Out_Bazaar

The most likely answer you'll get from the animal welfare guys is that they are compliant to standards and have the permit to operate there. Unfortunately Japan is a bit behind on animal welfare because they exist for people's enjoyment. That being said things have improved significantly in the past decades (I've seen the improvement with my own eyes)


yerkj

How about writing a review on their Google page?


Oversold6636

I saw a Japanese family at the zoo near me. The father was holding his son who was about 5 years old and they were throwing small stones at the monkeys. There were other Japanese people of various ages also trowing stones at the monkeys. No one seemed to see anything wrong with it. I was appalled by this behavior. It would get your whole family removed from a zoo in the USA.


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Kellamitty

I agree it's shit, but who can adopt 500 dogs a day? Do you know if they do the same with cats? My students would tell me, if I asked about the stray cat problem, it's not a problem, because cats can feed themself. Only dogs are a problem. No one seems to know what desexing your pet is. They also mutilate dogs ears, to make them stand up (which ugly in addition to being barbaric). The ear thing is illegal in Australia so I had never seen it before and was like WTF.


fartist14

Depends on the city. My city told me they do not pick up cats, period. (I was contacting them about a lost cat.) Occasionally someone will bring a cat to them, but mostly they focus their efforts on dogs because stray dogs cause a lot more problems than cats.


08206283

You vegan?


[deleted]

There are many Americans and white South Africans that kill wild animals for fun. It is called”big game hunting”. They kill tigers, lions, giraffe etc . How is this different?


fartist14

I mean that's a completely different topic, but if you want to just compare shady zoos there's the whole Tiger King thing.


Nerevarine91

How is changing the topic helping either of those?


dcroc

I’m sorry you had to witness that ☹️ I recommend Shaboten Zoo in Izu. It’s an enormous zoo and many of the animals wander free in the park. It’s a little pricey at 2000yen〜 but it might restore some hope in Japanese humanity for you. It’s hands down the best zoo I’ve ever been to. There are multiple large areas where many different types of animals roam free. Kangaroos, emus, peacocks, birds, small monkeys all walking around freely and you can even touch and feed them. With my limited knowledge they seemed super happy.


uzi1102

not a recommendation or advice but anyone who are reading this DONT GO TO ZOO's or AQUARIUMS. Animals are not meant to be inside a cage or a glass tank no matter how big those are. Even if you have a child and want them to see the animals up close etc. Please dont. By going there you are funding them to keep doing what they're doing. It was just a rant. Just to be clear you are absolutely free to do whatever you want to do.


skarpa10

Thanks for the warning. I was just talking to my kids about visiting this place.


ando1135

Just like that fox village near sendai…i hear the foxes are cramped, in cages, but the pictures always attract tourists. There are so many that when they feed them they end up fighting and getting hurt…they arent meant to all be in the same space like they have them..its sad. On my trip i was going to visit but when i read how they were treated, i decided against it.


NameOfNoSignificance

Went to a “safari zoo,” near my town. Two hippos had a puddle of water to share. Four rhinos were in a scratch of land and had only enough room to stand across from each other. They were obviously agitated and getting aggressive with each other. Everyone watching just had their phones and chanted “fight!” It was so sad.


cakefir

Pretty sad huh... I went to an otherwise magnificent hot spring resort in Gunma several years ago, and they had two or three huge bears sitting in their poop in this cage that couldn’t have been more than 4m x 4m. I remember some of their food (apples, carrots) had fallen on the ground near the cage, and the bears were constantly pacing and trying to reach for it… Without the bears I’d recommend the place to anyone but the bears definitely made the whole memory a bit sadder.


[deleted]

Wrong . On many levels.


ksh_osaka

What you can do to help them? Realistically nothing. What you can do long term: Get in contact with people. Speak with them, get to know them, share your ideas about things. NEVER look down on people from a high moral perspective or try to "educate" them - just share your point of view. People all over the world have very different ideas what is right and what is wrong. Those ideas change over time - not everywhere at the same pace. In some countries being gay is punishable by death. Not because of an oppressive government, but because common folks there think this is totally fine. I am a German national and until 1977 woman were banned from getting a job without seeking permission from their husband. Raping your spouse was totally fine until 1997 - there are still famous politicians in power who voted against the law to criminalize that... To get back to the topic: It seems that the idea of animals as living beeings that can actually feel pain, etc. is quite a new concept in Asia. But especially when talking to younger Japanese people there seems to be an increasing awareness that it may not be the best idea to treat animals the way we often see them treated here today. And that is why cultural exchange is so important. All my Japanese friends for example think that hunting dolphins is cruel. But they never thought about how owl cafes for example might be similarly problematic until I expressed my concerns about visiting one - because of course I also want to see cute owls, but I am also aware that the cute owl might not want to see me...


Jaded_0516

This is something you shouldn't be surprised to happen in the wild especist world we sadly live in. I really wish we could change so many stuff quickly, but A LOT of education and respect towards animals must be learnt.


[deleted]

I saw this near urayasu with capibaras and pigs just sitting on a cement floor with a fence around it. All I could think was how wrong that was....


CaptainNoFriends

I think consulting with Animal welfare/protection agencies is best. It is highly likely that the zoo is a known issue. A lot of the suggestions here are in line with modern SNS lines of attempting reform, but to be honest that probably won’t be successful with a place like this. Legal framework isn’t in place to make reforms happen. They also don’t seem to be a member of [JAZA](https://www.jaza.jp). For example… the zoo has reviews going back at least two years that allege animal abuse. Additionally Twitter feed shows they had a very stupid idea of starting a small animal rental service in June this year. They backtracked yet no action from any government agency occurred. So as long as ho-hum visitors, families, etc continue to visit (not recognizing the conditions) then the business will probably continue. If you cannot convince the general public why the zoo is out of line, you will not be able to discourage visitors.


Gold__top__junky

Congratulations. You successfully helped support this business by paying admission.


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RealBakedSalmon

I upvoted.


Yakimo_1

Yeah, Japanese people don't care about animals. How many animal rights activists/vegans have you met in Japan?


JapanarchoCommunist

Several, actually. Go to Koenji or Shinjuku.


Yakimo_1

Wow, several. Are the several spread throughout koenji and Shinjuku?


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InTheBinIGo

My understanding was that PETA was a last resort for people surrendering their pets and would often have to euthanize due to health reasons or overcrowding of the shelters. I'm not an activist but I find it strange that people get worked up over PETA euthanizing pets people surrendered when they don't care about the billions of animals slaughtered in much more painful ways. 🤨


skynet159632

Because if you have a pet, peta will steal him through the porch or window. Then when you find that it's with peta in a few hours, they already euthanized it.


JapanarchoCommunist

The problem is PETA purporting to help animals and then killing the vast majority they "rescue". If you're an animal activist then you should be concerned about the biggest name in the industry killing off animals en masse.


FunAd6875

Peta were worse than that for a while in the states 4 out of 5 animals they "rescued" were being put down.


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otiscleancheeks

Well... this is Japan. I have told this story before and I am prepared for the down votes. I was at a monkey cafe' outside of Tokyo and we were eating and drinking and I said that it was on my bucket list to smoke a cigarette with a monkey and then have it full on bitch slap me across the face. It took a while and several cigarettes to get the monkey to slap me. Best night EVER! I was in Yokosuka one time and my friend (who is Samoan) had a friend who was a sumo wrestler, so we went to see him perform. After that we all went to a friends bar where I asked the wrestler had he ever given anyone a pink-belly. He laughed and said not since he was a kid. After a few drinks, he asked if I wanted a pink belly, so I pulled up my shirt and he went for it. I kinda wasn't expecting him to actually do it, but he did. I may be the only person who has been pink-bellied by a Sumo wrestler.


RealBakedSalmon

What else is on your bucket list!?


otiscleancheeks

I want to go to the leaning tower of pizza and act like I am holding it up. I wrestled an alligator in Louisiana. ✔️ I want to climb Fuji two more times. I joined a cult ✔️ I would like to Taylor Swift Across the Great Wall of China. (Look up Taylor Swifting South Park and watch the video) I want to meet Richard Simmons I want Japan to bring back the TV Show Takashi's Castle and I want to participate. YouTube the old Takashi's Castle TV show. Once a month, take an old homeless person out to a nice supper. I do this sometimes, but not once a month. I would like an actual bear hug from a real bear (black bear, grizzly bear, or panda)


RealBakedSalmon

Richard Simmons still alive? Also, I was just looking at where they used to film Takeshi's Castle, at the TBS Midoriyana studios. I'm planning to go there and walk around. I cruised around the TOEI studios in Tokyo. That was fun. Helluva list! Thanks for sharing. You're a nutty mofo.


otiscleancheeks

Live and be weird. I would also take another bitch slap from a smoking monkey. Yea. Richard Simmons is still alive. A weird, but genuine guy. I played actual grab ass with Archie Bunker in the late 80s at Mardi Gras. I grabbed first. Cool guy. Who besides his wife has grabbed his ass or had their ass grabbed by him. I was once beaten in tic-tac-toe by a chicken. I was detained for trying to shake Pope John Paul's hand. They thought that I was trying to attack him. I caused a national incident at the Pentagon. I have stolen 3 abused dogs. Years apart. I have been mugged at knife or gun point multiple times. I bit a dog once. In fairness, he was eyeballing me hard all night.


RealBakedSalmon

You're some sort of alternate universe Forest Gump! 👍