elephants in japan

What elephants in japan does

Elephants in Japan is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity (EIN 85-3493327), founded on World Elephant Day (August 12, 2017) and registered in California, USA, that campaigns for improved welfare of solitary captive elephants in Japanese zoos. The organization is the formal continuation of the grassroots movement sparked by the story of Hanako, dubbed "the world's loneliest elephant," and documents and advocates for approximately 14 solitary elephants currently held in Japanese zoological facilities. Its flagship intellectual asset is the 115-page "Solitary Elephants in Japan" report authored by elephant biologist Dr. Keith Lindsay, which assesses each elephant's living conditions, physical and psychological state, and recommends management options; a 2021 Update supplements this report.

The organization's "products" are advocacy outputs rather than commercial goods: petition campaigns for individual elephants (Miyako, Sunny, Fuko, Himeko, etc.) hosted on Care2, the EIJ Action Network newsletter, educational mascot materials (Bocchi), bilingual (English/Japanese) website content, and direct outreach to zoos, the Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA), and Japanese government officials. Core operating partners are Zoocheck (since founding) and Global Sanctuary for Elephants (since May 2024), with pro bono PR support from Blanc & Otus (Hill + Knowlton Strategies / WPP).

The revenue model is entirely donation-based: one-time and recurring contributions collected via PayPal, GoFundMe campaigns, and Zoocheck's donation system. There is no pricing, no commercial offering, and no disclosed financial figures. The team is small and distributed — founder Ulara Nakagawa (Japanese-Canadian media professional), campaign administrator and social media specialist Nadia Marzorati (Germany), and communications coordinator Moeka Matsumoto (Japan) — operating alongside expert advisors including Dr. Keith Lindsay and Zoocheck executive director Rob Laidlaw. Distribution is global but the operational focus is exclusively on Japan, with cumulative petition signatures exceeding 1.5 million and earned media across CNN, the Washington Post, the New York Times, National Geographic, and Asahi Shimbun.

Name

elephants in japan

Legal name

Elephants in Japan

Website

https://elephantsinjapan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Elephants in Japan is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that campaigns to improve welfare and end the solitary captivity of elephants in Japanese zoos, mobilizing global donors, petitioners, and media to pressure zoos, JAZA, and Japanese policymakers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Advocacy

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Cruelty Prevention, Investigation & Humane Law Enforcement (BPAGAIAG), Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC)

Keywords

• Animal welfare advocacy
• Captive elephant welfare
• Zoo reform advocacy
• Nonprofit charity campaigns
• Elephant conservation

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity (EIN 85-3493327) and generates revenue entirely through donations from individuals, supporters, and partners. Donations are collected via PayPal, GoFundMe campaigns, and can be directed through Zoocheck's donation system with 'Elephants in Japan' selected from a dropdown menu.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Elephants in Japan is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization that campaigns for improved welfare of solitary captive elephants in Japanese zoos. It produces expert research reports, runs individual petition campaigns per elephant, mobilizes public supporters through newsletters and social media, and pressures zoo management and policymakers (notably JAZA) to improve elephant welfare standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Solitary Elephants in Japan Report A 115-page comprehensive report examining 14 solitary elephants in Japanese zoos, authored by Dr. Keith Lindsay, with detailed assessments of living conditions, physical and psychological states, photographs, charts, and recommendations for treatment and future management. Available in English and Japanese.
• 2021 Update An update highlighting key developments and impact of Elephants in Japan, providing a current overview of solitary captive elephants in Japan, continuing challenges, and future plans.
• Petition Campaigns Individual petition campaigns for each solitary elephant covered by the organization, including petitions for Miyako, Sunny, Fuko, Himeko, and others, designed to demand improvements in living conditions or closure of elephant exhibits. Hosted on the Care2 platform.
• EIJ Action Network Newsletter Email newsletter subscription service to keep supporters informed about Japan's solitary elephants, campaign developments, and calls to action.
• Bocchi Mascot Educational Materials Campaign mascot 'Bocchi Zō' with educational materials including 'Bocchi Takes A Bath' and 'Bocchi Has Lunch' resources designed to educate the public about elephant welfare in Japan and elsewhere.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1.5 million petition signatures gathered for various solitary elephants
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Global Sanctuary for Elephants (GSE)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Elephants in Japan has partnered with Global Sanctuary for Elephants (GSE), the organization behind Elephant Sanctuary Brazil (ESB). The partnership aims to bring hope and change for Japan's captive elephants by providing sanctuary expertise, elephant welfare knowledge, and a stronger collective voice for advocacy. GSE helps strengthen EIJ's efforts by sharing insights on elephant health, behavior, and happiness from their caring experts.
• ZoocheckcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 August 2017Elephants in Japan works in partnership with Zoocheck, an international wildlife protection organization established in 1984 to promote and protect the interests and well-being of wild animals. Zoocheck provides strategic guidance, expertise in captive wildlife advocacy, and operational support for the campaign. The partnership focuses on ending the keeping of solitary elephants in Japan and working toward broader reforms in Japanese elephant keeping practices.
• Blanc & Otus (Hill + Knowlton Strategies)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBlanc & Otus, based in San Francisco and part of Hill + Knowlton Strategies (subsidiary of WPP, NASDAQ: WPPGY), provides pro bono public relations and communications support to Elephants in Japan.
• Rob Laidlaw (Zoocheck Executive Director)coreOthersRob Laidlaw, Executive Director of Zoocheck, serves as a key advisor and expert resource for Elephants in Japan's advocacy campaigns. He conducted a conference call addressing commonly asked questions about captive elephant advocacy in Japan and provides strategic guidance on elephant relocation, zoo engagement, and policy advocacy.
• Dr. Keith Lindsay (Elephant Biologist)flagshipOthersDr. Keith Lindsay is a biologist best known for his long-term study of elephants since 1977 in Kenya's Amboseli National Park. He authored the comprehensive 'Solitary Elephants in Japan' 115-page report and serves as the organization's primary scientific expert, providing assessments of elephant welfare conditions and recommendations for improvements.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Zoocheck: Zoocheck is an international wildlife protection organization established in 1984 focused on captive wildlife advocacy - the exact space Elephants in Japan operates in. It is a strategic partner of EIJ and provides operational and strategic guidance for the Japan campaign.
• ElephantVoices: ElephantVoives is a scientific advocacy organization focused on elephant welfare and conservation, co-founded by Dr. Joyce Poole. Dr. Poole publicly endorsed the EIJ Lindsay report, indicating direct alignment in mission on captive elephant welfare advocacy.
• In Defense of Animals: In Defense of Animals is a nonprofit that campaigns against wild animal captivity, including elephants in zoos, using petitions, celebrity campaigns, and grassroots activism - closely mirroring Elephants in Japan's signature-driven advocacy model.
• The Elephant Sanctuary: The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee is a U.S. refuge for captive elephants that combines direct sanctuary operations with public advocacy against captivity - comparable function to Global Sanctuary for Elephants as a relocation destination for EIJ's campaign subjects.
• Global Sanctuary for Elephants: Global Sanctuary for Elephants operates Elephant Sanctuary Brazil and is a Flagship EIJ partner. It runs a captive-elephant sanctuary plus advocacy and provides the relocation pathway EIJ's campaigns increasingly lean on.
• Born Free Foundation: Born Free is an international wildlife charity that campaigns against keeping wild animals in captivity and runs sanctuaries. It operates the same advocacy-plus-sanctuary combination on captive wildlife that EIJ aspires to replicate in Japan.

Broad incumbents

• World Animal Protection: World Animal Protection is a large international NGO that campaigns against wildlife cruelty and the use of wild animals in entertainment, including captive elephants in zoos globally. It is a broader incumbent operating across many species and geographies.
• Four Paws International: Vier Pfoten / Four Paws is an international animal welfare organization with active campaigns on captive wild animals, including elephants in Asian zoos. It is a broader incumbent but operates highly comparable advocacy and sanctuary initiatives.
• Save the Elephants: Save the Elephants is a Kenya-based elephant conservation and research organization. While focused more on wild populations than captive welfare, its name recognition and elephant-centric brand overlap with EIJ's mission.

Emerging players

• Animal Equality: Animal Equality is a transnational NGO that uses investigations, corporate campaigns, and grassroots mobilization to improve animal welfare. Its digital-first, signature-driven advocacy model on a specific animal-use issue closely parallels EIJ's campaign mechanics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/japanelephants
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdKIpbuOMWx2_G60QlGLWHg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ElephantsinJapan
• Instagraminstagram.com/elephantsinjapan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elephants-in-japan-in-memory-of-hanako

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about elephants in japan