The Story of Fafuri
It all started in 2022, with the dilemma of choosing a shawl to match my daughter's furisode kimono for her coming-of-age ceremony.
Fox, marabou (feathers), fake fur...there were several options to choose from and I agonized over which one to buy, but in the end I decided to buy a fox shawl.
This is because I believe that the shawl is not just a cold weather garment, but an essential part of the accessories for a furisode, just like the obi fastener, obi clasp, and hair ornament.
However, whenever I thought about the animals' lives being sacrificed, I was always filled with regret.
On the day of her coming-of-age ceremony, she talked to a mom friend who had also bought a fox shawl about her concerns.
"I had the same problem...I wish I had a good eco-fur shawl," my friend said, and I realized she had the same problem.
At that time, an acquaintance told him about the brutal way foxes are skinned for their fur.
That was a very shocking story.
To find out more about the situation, I visited a university professor with my daughter who is knowledgeable about animal welfare.
"Of course there's the issue of cruel fur, but there's also the problem of Japan's backwardness when it comes to animal welfare," he tells us.
When I bought the fox shawl, I told my daughter, "You have been given a life, so take good care of it and pass it on to your children."
However, when I hear about animal welfare, I realize that it is not just a matter of "lives sacrificed for a shawl."
What is Animal Welfare?
For example, foxes destined for fur spend their entire lives in poor conditions in small cages, enduring pain and suffering, and ending their lives in fear.
The idea behind animal welfare is that even if livestock animals are sometimes sacrificed for humans, they should at least be allowed to live a life worthy of animals, without feeling pain, suffering, or fear while they are alive.
Japan is very behind in terms of animal welfare, and although food that took animal welfare into consideration was provided at the 2012 London Olympics, it seems that this was not possible at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics (for example, eggs and meat).
Promoting animal welfare in Japan's small geographical area involves many issues, but we believe that simply getting the younger generation who will lead Japan in the future to know the word and meaning of "animal welfare" will be a step towards protecting animals.
Just as our beloved cats and dogs have feelings, farm animals also have feelings and experience pain and suffering.
Fafuri shawls were created with the hope of "establishing animal welfare" so that farm animals who lose their lives for us can at least live a fulfilling life without pain or suffering while they are alive, and with the hope of "living a fur-free lifestyle" where animals are not sacrificed for the sake of fashion.