Veganism Is Growing in Japan, But Followers Say It Isn’t Always Easy

RACHEL KRANTZ: ‘For a culture known for its precision, reliable statistics on the number of vegetarians in Japan are surprisingly hard to come by. According to a 2014 survey (of only 1,188 people), 4.7 percent of the Japanese population are vegetarian or vegan… While the number of vegan dining options is rising in Japan, so is the country’s meat intake, which set new records in 2016, increasing by 3.4 percent—the tenth consecutive year of gains. Interestingly, before the 18th century, the country was largely vegetarian; both the Buddhist and Shinto religions omitted meat and dairy for ethical reasons…

Meanwhile, the animal rights movement in the country—still small and decentralized—appears to be growing as well. Animal Rights Center Japan and Animal Advocacy Japan work on issues similar to those of US-based groups, and are currently pressuring large food corporations to source eggs that don’t come from caged hens, while Vege Project Japan has successfully established vegan menus at several university campuses and restaurants…

In many ways, Japan’s vegan and animal advocacy communities appear to be where those in the US were 20 years ago—full of grassroots energy and excitement, but still small and lacking in political and financial capital… Morally speaking, Japanese vegans and vegetarians tell me that many of their peers agree with the principle behind vegetarianism; they view adherence to it as a “noble action,” but far fewer are interested in being vegetarians themselves’. SOURCE…

RELATED VIDEO: