Japan
Bear parks
“Bear parks” are establishments where these animals are confined in an unnatural environment, forced to beg for food and to perform shows to entertain visitors. According to those responsible, these concrete parks were created to rescue orphaned cubs, but even if this had been true at the time, it is clearly no longer the case today, as evidenced by the fact that these animals are bred and forced to live in small and overcrowded spaces. The recent fatal accidents that involved the workers of the center are further proofs of the risks related to this type of tourist attractions.
Dog fights
Japan is the only country where dog fights are still legal. This barbaric and cruel practice forces dogs to fight against one another usually until death. Tourists should know that locals often refer to this type of events as “Token”.
Whale meat
In some Japanese restaurants you can find whale meat. Tourists who do not want to eat the meat of these animals should avoid dishes that include the word 'unesu' (meat of the whale's belly) and dishes with the word 'onomi', which contain the whale´s tail. Whaling is notoriously cruel and dangerous for conservation, as well as harmful to people since this type of meat usually contains high levels of toxic substances such as mercury. For more information click here.
Sea turtle nests
The southern Yakushima Island is one of the main sea turtle nesting areas in Japan, and the only one in the Northern Pacific. Unfortunately, tourism has become a problem due to the increasing number of visitors in the island after it was declared a World Heritage Site. As a result, the number of people who want to see the turtles has increased as well, affecting their nesting, since cars, noise and human shadows scare the turtles which may decide to get back into the sea without laying their eggs. The capture of sea turtles and the collection of their eggs are activities that are governed by laws, but there are currently no restrictions on the observation of sea turtles.
Cafes with animals
Cafes with animals are very popular in Japan and in addition to cats and rabbits, there are also bars where customers can interact with owls and exotic snakes.
In the case of owls, most of these animals live permanently inside the premises where, although they have been bred in captivity, it is evident that they cannot develop their natural behaviours, or even fly.
Although customers have to follow certain rules when interacting with them (such as not using flash or touching them in ways that could hurt them) and not all animals present in the bars are used for public contact, several experts express their concern about this new form of exploitation.
In the same way, bars are not the most suitable habitat for exotic snakes. The establishments that exhibit them as an attraction can encourage the traffic of these species and the belief that pythons and other snakes can be turned into domestic animals.
Many of these reptiles are extremely dangerous and it is suspected that in order for them to interact with people, they are subjected to some kind of mutilation such as sealing their mouths or taking away their fangs. More information.
Zao Fox Village
The so-called fox “sanctuary” Zao Fox Village (in Miyagi) is actually more of a petting zoo, where these animals are semi-domesticated so that visitors can feed them. Some of the foxes can be seen in small cages deprived of environmental enrichment and it is suspected that the center may be involved in trading the skins of these animals. In their facilities there are other species, such as horses and rabbits, used as a tourist attraction and confined in small enclosures or cages.
Travelers concerned with animal protection should avoid visiting this center. More information on the topic.
Kobe beef
Kobe beef is considered one of the most delicious and emblematic meats of Japan and, according to tradition, the animals raised for this type of meat are cared for and treated so well that they even receive massages and are given beer. The reality is unfortunately very different, and these cattle remain constantly immobilized in their own feces until the moment they die. They are force fed and beer is supplied to "restart" their digestive system that does not work properly due to immobility. After an average of three years in these conditions it is normal for animals to no longer move and to be able to relocate them before slaughter it is necessary to give them “massages”.
It is very important that tourists do not be fooled and avoid trying this type of meat. More information about cruel traditional dishes.
Zoos
The zoos of Japan are sadly known internationally for the poor conditions in which their animals are kept, who live in tiny spaces without environmental enrichment and often show serious stereotyped behaviours.
In most zoos in the country, the monkeys are usually captured from the wild and "excess" animals are sent to universities and laboratories for experimentation. For more information read here and here.
Taiji dolphin hunt
The annual dolphin massacre in Taiji, Japan, takes place every year between September and April. Only in the year 2013, 1450 dolphins were captured in this place: 834 of them were killed for meat which is sold around all Japan (which imposes various risks for humans due to containing high amounts of mercury) and 158 of them (the best looking ones) were sold to different amusement park around all the world which keep cetaceans in captivity. As tourists, we can help these animals by not visiting dolphinariums or other facilities that organize dolphin shows or offer the possibility of interacting with these animals near Taiji or anywhere else in the world, as this encourages the massacre (the hunters sell each dolphin for about 150,000$). We can also get informed and inform our families and friends by watching, for example, the multi-award-winning documentary “The Cove” or even taking an example of this family which traveled to Japan and decided to do something more specific. More information about cetaceans in captivity.
Dolphinaria
In this country you can also find centers which keep cetaceans (dolphins, orcas or beluga whales) in captivity. Science has shown that these intelligent animals suffer enormously in the limiting conditions of dolphinaria and their stress and mortality levels are highly elevated.
The training of these animals for circus shows where they perform totally unnatural behaviours, which can physically harm them, is achieved by keeping the animals in a permanent state of hunger so that they act in exchange for a piece of dead fish.
Condemned by their facial structure, which resembles a human smile, these highly social animals, which would swim long distances and dive into great depths in the wild, are used to perform stunts in small concrete tanks. Many of these individuals are taken from the wild. More information at SOS Delfines.
Here is a list of local NGOs that can be contacted in case you want to make a donation, a complaint or find an animal that needs help in Japan:
