10/07/2025
Lively LLC co-hosted its first joint event with IDEAS FOR GOOD on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. IDEAS FOR GOOD is an online media platform operated by Harch Inc. that introduces creative ideas and solutions from around the world. The event was held in collaboration with Professor Tsuyoshi Shimmura of the Graduate School of Agriculture at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. The program took place at Unshelled, an animal welfare model facility, and offered an experiential education program on animal welfare.
9 participants, including representatives from food manufacturers, retailers, and university students, explored four different types of egg-laying chicken housing systems. The program combined a foundational lecture on animal welfare, a blind taste test comparing free-range and caged eggs, and a role-play exercise simulating the perspectives of various stakeholders. Participants expressed high satisfaction, with many commenting that it was “a rare opportunity to experience animal welfare with all the senses.
For further details on the program, please see the links below.
[Program Registration] Experiential Animal Welfare Education Program for Corporations and Organizations at Unshelled
“Unshelled” – A Next-Generation Animal Welfare Model Facility for Laying Hens: A Business–Academia Collaboration for Experiential Animal Welfare Education
On June 27, 2025, the IDEAS FOR GOOD editorial team visited Unshelled and conducted on-site interviews, which were later published as a feature article. The article introduced Unshelled’s approach of respecting diverse perspectives and encouraging fair dialogue on animal welfare.
Inspired by this shared approach, Lively and IDEAS FOR GOOD collaborated to create an opportunity for more multi-perspective discussions on the topic.
Event Name: Choosing Your Eggs: Confronting “Questions Without Answers”, an Experiential Learning Program on Animal Welfare and Food Production
Date & Time: Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 16:00–18:00
Venue: Unshelled at the Fuchu Campus of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (3-8-1 Harumi-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8538, Japan)
Host Organizations: IDEAS FOR GOOD, Lively LLC
Facilitators: Motomi Soma (IDEAS FOR GOOD), Tomomi Miura (Lively LLC), Professor Tsuyoshi Shimmura (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology)
Because animal welfare does not have simple answers, the program began with “questions” as a starting point and explored the current state and future of animal welfare from multiple perspectives.
・Input Talk: Animal Welfare in the World and in Japan
Motomi Soma from IDEAS FOR GOOD explained recent global trends, the current situation in Japan, and how animal welfare certification systems work. Through dialogue with participants, the session examined why progress in animal welfare has been slow in Japan.
・Lecture: Animal Welfare Model Facility: Learning from Four Rearing Systems
Professor Tsuyoshi Shimmura provided a scientific and practical explanation through on-site observations of four rearing systems: conventional cages, enriched cages, multi-tier aviaries, and free-range / barn systems. The lecture explained the structure of the circular facility, animal emotions, and the relationship between animal welfare and productivity.
・Egg Tasting: Experiencing Differences Caused by Rearing Environments
Eggs produced under different rearing environments, including caged and cage-free conditions, were prepared and compared in a blind taste test. Participants experienced how differences in rearing environments can affect taste and nutritional characteristics.
・Role-Play: Becoming Egg Stakeholders!
Participants took on the roles of producers, food manufacturers, retailers, and consumers.
From each perspective, they discussed challenges and possible solutions for expanding the production and consumption of cage-free eggs.
Participants shared comments such as:
“By building on Professor Shimmura’s insights, observing real practices, engaging in discussions with other participants, and tasting the prepared egg dishes, I was able to learn and truly feel animal welfare through all five senses.”
“I was exploring what I could do individually regarding animal welfare, and it was wonderful to find like-minded participants.”
“As a student, I gained a lot from professionals’ perspectives—it was very meaningful.”
The post-event survey results further reflected this positive response, with 78% of participants rating the event as ‘very satisfied’ and 22% as ‘satisfied,’ indicating a high level of overall satisfaction among all participants.
One of Unshelled’s key concepts is being an ‘open space,’ where people with diverse perspectives can meet and learn together. Our experiential program incorporated dialogue to ensure participants not only gained knowledge but also connected with each other.
In particular, the role-play activity allowed participants to explore the realistic challenges of expanding cage-free egg production and consumption from multiple viewpoints. By creating intentionally extreme scenarios, participants considered who they could collaborate with and how to solve issues together. Many participants found this exercise helpful in making animal welfare feel personal and actionable.
We look forward to continuing this series with IDEAS FOR GOOD. Please refer to the link below for details on the next event, scheduled for Saturday, November 15, at Unshelled.
Reference: IDEAS FOR GOOD EVENT: Exploring the Future of Food for People and Animals through Embodied Knowledge × Science at Unshelled.