Friends of Animals

What Friends of Animals does

Friends of Animals (フレンズ・オヴ・アニマルズ) is a Tokyo-based certified non-profit organization founded in 1993 that rescues, shelters, and rehomes abandoned cats and dogs while providing animal welfare education and community programs. The organization operates a single indoor shelter facility called "Wanko Nyanko House" (ワンコにゃんこハウス), distinguished from traditional cage-based shelters by allowing rescued animals to live freely before adoption. Over its 30+ year history, FOA has rescued more than 1,200 cats and dogs and facilitated over 1,400 successful adoptions, primarily serving the Tokyo metropolitan area.

The organization's core service is animal rescue and adoption transfer, supplemented by educational programs including life education lectures at high schools, student festivals, monthly community "Wanko Nyanko Cafe" events held on the third Sunday of each month, and original multimedia content (songs, dances, films). FOA operates no proprietary technology platform; its digital infrastructure consists of a Wix-hosted website, standard social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube, Instagram), and Amazon Japan wishlist integration. Technology adoption is limited to off-the-shelf crowdfunding platforms (ReadyFor, Congra) for fundraising.

FOA's revenue model is diversified across individual donations and structured membership tiers (Friends, Family, Fund members), merchandise sales (clear file sets at ¥1,500, animal candles, crocheted amigurumi), project-specific crowdfunding campaigns, bequest and legacy donations via READYFOR's consultation window, and in-kind contributions through its Amazon wishlist. As a Certified Specified NPO Corporation — a designation held by less than 4% of Japanese NPOs — FOA can issue tax-deductible donation receipts. The organization is led by founder and representative Tachida (舘田) and operates with a volunteer-heavy model relying on student involvement, community events, and grassroots outreach rather than paid marketing.

Name

Friends of Animals

Legal name

特定非耳鼻咽喉活動法人フレンズ・オヴ・アニマルズ

Website

https://foajp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Friends of Animals is a Tokyo-based certified non-profit founded in 1993 that rescues and rehomes abandoned cats and dogs through its indoor shelter "Wanko Nyanko House," serving individual adopters, elderly pet owners, and students via adoption services, community events, and animal welfare education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Rescue and Adoption Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC), Foster & Volunteer Network Programs (BPAGAIAF), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Animal rescue services
• Pet adoption services
• Animal welfare education
• Nonprofit shelter operations
• Charitable donation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Membership Fees: The organization accepts donations from individuals, with a structured support membership system (賛助会員) including Friends members, Family members, and Fund members who contribute on an annual recurring basis. Donors receive tax deduction receipts as a certified NPO.
2. Merchandise Sales: FOA sells merchandise including original clear file sets (A4×2 + A5×1) for ¥1,500 per set, animal-shaped candles, and crocheted cat/dog toys. Proceeds support daily food, medical treatment, and operational expenses for rescued animals.
3. Crowdfunding Campaigns: The organization runs multiple crowdfunding campaigns through platforms including ReadyFor and Congra to fund specific projects such as facility renovation, Ukraine animal emergency aid, senior pet support, and monthly supporter recruitment.
4. Bequest and Legacy Donations: FOA partners with READYFOR's bequest support window (遺贈寄付サポート窓口) to accept legacy donations and inherited property donations, providing free consultation services for potential donors.
5. Amazon Wishlist Support: Supporters purchase essential supplies (pet sheets, newspaper, towels, blankets, food, heating pads) from FOA's Amazon wishlist, which are donated directly to the shelter operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Friends of Animals operates an indoor animal shelter (Wanko Nyanko House) in Tokyo, rescuing abandoned cats and dogs and facilitating their adoption into permanent homes. The organization runs monthly adoption events, student festivals, and educational seminars on animal welfare and life education. Operations are funded through individual donations, membership programs (Friends, Family, Fund members), merchandise sales, and crowdfunding campaigns on platforms such as ReadyFor and Congra.

Product overview

Friends of Animals (フレンズ・オヴ・アニマルズ) is a certified NPO in Tokyo that operates primarily as an animal rescue and adoption organization. The core offering consists of shelter services, animal adoption/transfer activities, and educational programs. The organization also supports its operations through merchandise products (クリアファイル clear file folders, アニマルキャンドル animal candles, 犬ネコあみぐるみ amigurumi toys), a monthly donation program (マンスリーフレンズ), and community events such as the ワンコにゃんこカフェ dog and cat cafe. The shelter facility ワンコにゃんこハウス serves as the central hub for animal protection and adoption services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Animal Adoption and Transfer Services (里親会) Rescue and rehoming services for abandoned dogs and cats, including adoption consultations, shelter visits, and ongoing support for adoptive families. Adoption services are free; donations are encouraged. Targeted at individuals and families in the Tokyo metropolitan area seeking to adopt rescued animals rather than purchase from breeders.
• Wanko Nyanko House (ワンコにゃんこハウス) Indoor Shelter Indoor shelter facility for rescued dogs and cats in Tokyo, serving as both a protection facility and adoption center where prospective pet owners can visit and interact with animals in a low-stress, cage-free environment. Reservation-based visits form the primary adoption channel.
• Wanko Nyanko Cafe (みんなのワンコにゃんこカフェ) Monthly Community Event Monthly community event held on the 3rd Sunday where visitors can interact with rescued animals, learn about adoption, and participate in community-building activities. Held at the Wanko Nyanko House shelter.
• Monthly Friends Donation Program (マンスリーフレンズ) Monthly recurring donation program enabling ongoing financial support of rescued animals. Includes regular updates via the ReadyFor crowdfunding platform and qualifies for tax deduction receipts as a Certified NPO.
• Education and Awareness Activities (Student Festivals, Life Education Lectures, Seminars) Life education seminars, student festivals, movie screenings, and lectures in high schools about the value of life and animal welfare. Targeted at students and youth to promote animal welfare awareness and recruit young volunteers.
• Clear File Set (クリアファイル) Merchandise FOA original clear file folders featuring photos of rescued dogs and cats. Available in A set and B set, each containing 2 A4 clear files and 1 A5 clear file. Priced at ¥1,500 per set including shipping. Sales proceeds support animal food, medical treatment, and consumable expenses.
• Animal Candle (アニマルキャンドル) Merchandise Cat-shaped candles sold to support the organization's operations. Features gentle colors and soothing designs. Sales proceeds contribute to operational support of the shelter.
• Dog and Cat Amigurumi (犬ネコあみぐるみ) Merchandise Hand-crocheted amigurumi (crocheted stuffed toy) toys of dogs and cats created to support the organization through partial donation of sales proceeds.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,400 successful adoptions in the past 10+ years
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• READYFOR Corporation (レディーフォー株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFOA partners with READYFOR Corporation for bequest and legacy donation support services. READYFOR's dedicated bequest consultation window (遺贈寄付サポート窓口) provides free, unlimited consultation services to potential donors considering leaving donations through wills or inherited property. READYFOR has supported approximately 20,000 social activities, leveraging this experience to help donors deliver their intentions to FOA's cause.
• Sony Bank (ソニー銀行)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSony Bank sponsors FOA through the GIVING for SDGs project, a program connecting donors with NPO organizations addressing social issues. Sony Bank provides an official support message acknowledging FOA's mission to rescue abandoned animals and promote animal welfare education, contributing to SDGs goals 4, 11, 12, and 15.
• Dream Scene Co., Ltd. (株式会社夢現舎)minorOthersVideo production company that produced FOA's activity introduction video featuring original songs and dances. The company created multimedia content to support FOA's educational and awareness-raising activities.
• Amazon Japan (Amazon.co.jp)minorOthersAmazon Japan hosts FOA's wishlist for essential shelter supplies including pet sheets, newspaper, towels, blankets, cat food (dry and canned), and heating pads. Donors purchase items directly from the wishlist to support shelter operations, with FOA able to provide donation receipts based on Amazon purchase records.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): A leading U.S. animal welfare nonprofit providing shelter, adoption, veterinary, and advocacy services with a broad public-facing mission. Comparable in core rescue/adoption mission and certified nonprofit donation model, though vastly larger in scope and resources.
• Best Friends Animal Society: The largest no-kill animal welfare organization in the United States, operating sanctuaries, adoption centers, and nationwide advocacy programs. Comparable as an institutional nonprofit animal shelter/rescue operator with educational programming, but operates at significantly larger scale and in a different regulatory environment.
• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): The largest U.S. animal protection organization operating advocacy, direct animal care, and shelter support programs nationally. Comparable mission and nonprofit structure with focus on reducing euthanasia and promoting adoption, though operating at much greater scale.

Direct peers

• PEACE (Putnam Equine Animal Care Society Equivalent) / Japan Dog and Cat Rescue Network: A volunteer-driven Japanese animal rescue organization operating shelter and rehoming services for abandoned dogs and cats. Comparable as a grassroots rescue nonprofit relying on community engagement, adoption events, and online donations.
• SPCA Japan / Japan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: A Japanese animal welfare organization focused on cruelty prevention, shelter operations, and adoption. Directly comparable as a domestic Japanese nonprofit providing similar shelter and rehoming services in a comparable regulatory and cultural environment.
• Japan Animal Welfare Society: A national-scale Japanese nonprofit focused on reducing euthanasia of companion animals through advocacy, shelter support, and education. Directly comparable in mission, nonprofit structure, and educational community programming focus.
• ARK (Animal Refuge Kansai): ARK is a long-established Japan-based animal welfare nonprofit operating shelter and adoption services for abandoned dogs and cats. Directly comparable as a domestic Japanese shelter/rescue organization with similar mission, donation-driven model, and volunteer base, though based in the Kansai region rather than Tokyo.

Others

• READYFOR Corporation: Japan's leading crowdfunding platform for social causes and nonprofits. Comparable as the infrastructure partner enabling FOA's recurring donation, project-based, and bequest campaigns, but operates as a for-profit platform rather than a peer nonprofit.
• Sony Bank GIVING for SDGs / Corporate Foundation Partners: Sony Bank's GIVING for SDGs program partners with NPOs like FOA for corporate philanthropy matching. Relevant as a funding/awareness channel rather than a direct peer; comparable relationship includes similar corporate-NPO sponsorship models used by other Japanese nonprofits.

Regional players

• Second Chance Tokyo / Second Chance Animal Rescue Network: A volunteer-based rescue network in the greater Tokyo area focused on rescuing and rehoming abandoned dogs and cats. Comparable as a Tokyo-region grassroots rescue nonprofit, though operating without FOA's certified NPO tax-advantaged status.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/wonderfulnya3
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/friendsofanimalsjp
• Facebookfacebook.com/friendsofanimals.jp
• Instagraminstagram.com/foajp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Friends of Animals