[Japan Spotlight] Animal Protection in Japan II

The 203rd Diet session (temporary session) was convened on 26th October 2020. The session will last for 41 days until 12th December 2020.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga delivered his first speech to promote “Suga Color”, a Japanese term symbolic of his political characteristics.

The session aims to strike a balance between COVID-19 containment and economy recovery. Major policies include cost reduction on mobile phones, establishment of the Digital Agency and fertility treatment insurance.

Minister of the Environment Shinjiro Koizumi will give a speech on animal protection policies in the Environmental Committee Meeting scheduled for next week. WDA holds high expectation that Mr. Koizumi will quote “animal welfare for morality”, our founder’s motto.

The current bill submitted by the Diet and the Ministry of the Environment is not related to animal protection. WDA will continue to promote legislation to ban dog and cat meat consumption, and put forward the International Agreement to Prohibit the Eating of Dogs and Cats in Japan.

WDA will continue to work with “Cross-Party Parliamentary Alliance for Animal Protection Aiming for Zero Killing of Dogs and Cats” to unite like-minded lawmakers in Japan to eliminate the dog and cat meat trade both nationwide and worldwide.

The term of the House of Representatives will end in October next year. A debate between the ruling and opposition parties will take place after the dissolution, and the general election will be conducted.

Photo / The National Diet of Japan