(Dec. 13, 2016) The Act to Amend the Act on Special Measures for Prevention of Damage Related to Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Caused by Wildlife was promulgated on December 2, 2016. (Act No. 97 of 2016, KANPO, Extra No. 267 (Dec. 2, 2016) at 13 (in Japanese); Act on Special Measures for Prevention of Damage Related to Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Caused by Wildlife (Wildlife Damage Special Measures Act), Act No. 134 of 2007, E-GOV (in Japanese).) In recent years, damage caused by wild animals has increased, and control of certain wildlife, such as monkeys, deer and boars, is needed. (Rapidly Increasing Damage by Wildlife – Reality of Expansion (of Damage), NIHON HOSO KYOKAI (NHK) (May 15, 2014) (in Japanese).)
To control the number of wild animals, hunters are needed. However, Japan has very strict gun control laws. (Sayuri Umeda, Firearms-Control Legislation and Policy: Japan (Feb. 2013), LAW LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.) There are not many people who are licensed to own and use rifles for hunting. (Are Hunters Being Extinguished!? – “Hunting Culture” Is Reviewed Favorably, NHK (Feb. 14, 2013) (in Japanese).) Therefore, some municipalities have difficulty in finding licensed hunters to destroy wild animals that damage the agriculture, forestry, and fishing industries. (Exemption from Hunting Gun Seminars, 5 Year Extension – Legislation to Amend Special Measures Act on Damage by Wild Animals, Japan Agricultural Communications website (May 24, 2016) (in Japanese).) In order to enable more hunters to qualify for hunting privileges under the Wildlife Damage Special Measures Act, a 2014 amendment exempted hunters, temporarily, for two years, from taking the hunting gun seminars that are obligatory for hunting gun licensees. Before that 2014 amendment expired on December 3, 2016, the 2016 amendment act extended the exemption for five more years. (Wildlife Damage Special Measures Act, as amended by Act No. 97 of 2016, Supp. Provisions, art. 3.)
The Wildlife Damage Special Measures Act has encouraged prefectural governments to support municipalities when municipalities have made plans on the prevention of damage by wildlife. (Id. art. 5.) The 2016 amendment obligates municipalities to include a section in their plans on groups of hunters who are in charge of prevention of damage by wildlife. (Id. art. 4 ¶ 4.) The amendment also adds a provision that states that the national and prefectural governments are to support such groups through the municipalities. (Id. art. 9 ¶ 8.)
The amendment promotes processing wildlife meat for human consumption. National and prefectural governments must endeavor to provide information on the safety of wildlife meat and support the establishment of wildlife meat processing facilities. (Id. art. 7-3.) Wildlife dishes, particularly those using wild boar meat and venison, have gained popularity in Japan in recent years. (Ida Torres, Game Meat Dishes Gaining Popularity in Japanese Restaurants, JAPAN DAILY PRESS (Jan. 24, 2013).) The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare issued Guidelines on Wildlife Meat Sanitation Management in 2014. (Food Safety 1114, No. 1 (Nov. 14, 2014), Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website (in Japanese).)
The 2016 amendment also obligates the national and prefectural governments to endeavor to develop new traps and tools to catch wildlife. (Wildlife Damage Special Measures Act, as amended by Act No. 97 of 2016, art. 14.) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIAC) has been paying a subsidy since 2014 to municipalities that have created systems to prevent damage by wildlife. (Regarding Efforts to Spread and Develop Information and Communication Technologies to Develop Towns, MIAC website, at 7 (in Japanese) (last visited Dec. 6, 2016).) For example, a city made a system to alert hunters and city clerks by phone when something is caught in a trap, using a remote monitoring system with sensors. (Wildlife Damage Special Measures Act, at 11.)