The Japan Wildlife Conservation Society (JWCS), a certified NPO tackling issues in endangered wildlife trade, held an “Ivory-Free Koto Concert: An Evening with a View of Koto Music Horizon” on October 31, 2025. The performance using a newly developed ivory substitute material drew generous applause from the audience. Japanese Government Refuses to Close Domestic Ivory Market—But Japanese Consumers Don’t Need Ivory Major ivory-consuming countries worldwide have banned domestic ivory trade. However, Japan still allows ivory to be sold openly in stores, making it accessible to anyone. This has drawn criticism from elephant range states and others, who argue Japan should comply with CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species […]

First performance with koto plectrum made of a new material, and a concert to experience music connected to the world through collaboration of koto and African percussion instruments. Why ivory-free? Because the world is calling for Japan to ban the ivory trade. Ivory-Free Koto Concert: An Evening with a View of the Koto Music Horizon Organized by: Japan Wildlife Conservation Society (JWCS) Co-organized by: Japan Tiger and Elephant Conservation Fund (JTEF) ／Sera Creations Supported by: Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA)／ International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Japan Committee／Tears of the African Elephant Date and Time: Friday, October 31, 2025, 18:30 – 19:45 Venue: Tokyo Women’s Plaza Hall […]

World Wildlife Day (March 3rd) is a commemorative day established by the United Nations following the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife. The WWD2025 Theme is Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet. Thinking about the way we consume every day is an activity that allows each individual to contribute to wildlife conservation, and is an activity that leads to investing in people and the planet itself. This time, Wildlife College students* will research products (ethical consumption and direct use) related to the animal species kept and exhibited, and will hold lectures, guides, and poster exhibitions. Date: Sunday, March 2, 2025 Nonhoi Park(Zoo) […]

While pets of wild animals in Japan are prohibited by law, imported wild animals can be pets. Especially for CITES II animals, there is no law regulating their sale or keeping in Japan. In order to reduce the demand for wild animal pets, JWCS launched a social networking campaign, in WWD2024. Two volunteers, Ayu Nakagawa and Kanako Tanaka, helped with this campaign. Japanese laws on endangered species

On 20 December 2013, the 68th session of the UN General Assembly proclaimed 3 March – the day of signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973 – as UN World Wildlife Day. As part of the worldwide public awareness campaign for the protection of endangered species on this day, the JWCS is running an online campaign. – countdown from 25 February, one week before the date. We will be running a quiz on wildlife on Twitter and Facebook. The quiz was designed with Wildlife College students. Answers will be posted the following day. – On 3 March, we will […]

Hideo Obara, JWCS Honorary President who passed away in April this year, will talk about his work in wildlife conservation, and those who worked with him during his lifetime will share their footsteps. Online The policy study group for wildlife conservation Considering Future Wildlife Conservation Activities with the Late Honorary President Hideo Obara Sponsored by Japan Wildlife Conservation Society (JWCS), a certified non-profit organization Method Zoom Webinar Fee Free　Japanese Date & Time: Saturday, September 10, 13:00-15:00 　　　Participants can watch the recording for 2 weeks. Program 13:00-14:00 Opening remarks Speakers 10 minutes each 　1. Ms. Yumiko Obara “Hideo Obara and Wild Animals” 　2. Chiaki Nakamura, “Research and Conservation of African Elephants” […]

Some shark species are endangered but it is not known to people. In this symposium, we have invited two researchers of sharks from UAE and Hong Kong and will listen to what is happening to sharks because of human activities. And also we will listen to what is being disucussed for conservation of sharks at the international level, from Japanese researcher. Let’s think of what we can do to prevent extinction of sharks! General information of the symposium Date:          Friday, 13 September 2019 Venue:       Teikyo University of Science, Senju Campus No.3, B1 Organized by Japan Wildlife Conservation Society (JWCS) Supported by Nature Conservation Society of Japan(NACS-J) Sponsored by […]

March 3 is the UN World Wildlife Day. JWCS holds a celebration event that Professor Shinichi Hashiyama (Nippon Veterinary and Life science University) lectures about Re-introduction of endangered animals in Saitama Children’s Zoo.

■ Overview Date: October 2nd  13: 00-17: 30 Venue: United Nations University Elizabeth Rose International Conference Hall Capacity: 120 people Language: Japanese. English ■ Program 【Part 1】 “Legacy of IUCN” 13: 00-14: 30 【Part 2】 “Achieving nature-based SDGs” 15: 00-17: 00 See more at ■ Application here ■ Organized by the Japan Nature Conservation Union Japan Committee (IUCN – J), United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of SustainabilityS(UNU – IAS) ■ Co-organizer: Japan Wildlife Conservation Sciety, Japan Wild Bird Society, Ramsar Network Japan, National Institute for Environmental Studies,Japan, Japan Nature Conservation Society, Conservation International Japan,GEOC Cooperation: Ministry of the Environment Support: ESD Activity Support Center