Miyagi farm secures first Certified Humane® status for cage free eggs

Maruyama Group Inc. has acquired the international animal welfare certification Certified Humane® for its Zao Kogen Farm Japan Z cage-free eggs, making it the first producer in Japan to achieve this standard.

Operating in Miyagi Prefecture, Maruyama and Zao Farm Agricultural Cooperative launched the poultry business in June 2026. The company initially developed the eggs to improve the batter for pork cutlets served at its hotel, applying health management techniques from its existing livestock operations. The certification process, overseen by Certified Humane® Asia on behalf of the US nonprofit Humane Farm Animal Care, fills the gap for Japanese food service businesses and hotels that have committed to sourcing cage-free eggs but lacked a domestically certified option.

The farm sits at an altitude of 580 metres within the Zao Kogen Prefectural Natural Park. Its single-tier barn system features floors raised 1.5 metres above the ground to naturally expel ammonia and carbon dioxide. Windowless poultry houses use computer controls to regulate temperature and humidity. The barns measure 8 metres wide and 70 metres long, omitting cages and providing 490 metres of perches. The floors use zeolite and sawdust to maintain hygiene and allow for natural dust-bathing.

The chickens receive a proprietary, antibiotic-free diet containing alfalfa and mugwort, alongside groundwater from the Zao mountain range. Production complies with the certification standards, which require adequate space for natural behaviours, nesting boxes, and a strictly monitored supply of nutrition.

Maruyama plans to increase its direct supply of the eggs to businesses and consumers pursuing ethical procurement. “The initiative is a model case that pioneers sustainable poultry farming and high-welfare breeding management in Japan,” said the managing director of Certified Humane® Asia.