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The first animal welfare organization, JAWS (Japan Animal Welfare Society) was started just after the War by the wife of the then British Ambassador, Lady Gascoigne. It attracted members and supporters from affluent foreigners based in Japan and Japanese socialites including members of the Royal Family. For this reason JAWS has always had strong links to the Government which has meant on one hand it could have been advantageous but on the other, meant it was restricted in active protest since it couldn't openly criticize the Government. Even today JAWS is used by the Government as a token 'official' animal welfare organization, which is why the New Animal Protection Law was stifled at birth. There are less than a handful of such registered organizations, all of which have offices in Tokyo but do very little in the field. None of them run shelters though JAWS did have a Rescue Centre in the Hanshin area, (now closed).
The most active organization for animal welfare is ALIVE, run by activist Fusako Nogami. ALIVE operates out of a Tokyo office and produces a lot of data plus photographic evidence and videos in many fields, including zoos, experimental animals, farm animals, wildlife as well as pet animals.
Other organizations are usually small groups operating on shoe-string budgets from their homes, trying their best to rescue animals and to find them new homes. Many of these groups do not want their addresses and telephone numbers publicized for fear that more animals will be dumped on their doorstep. Since Japanese work better in small groups and since many groups or individuals have clashes of opinion, it is very difficult to get everyone united and working together for the common cause.
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