STOP! National BioResource Project “Japanese Macaques”
Change.org Petition: STOP! National BioResource Project to breed Japanese snow monkeys for animal experiments
We request the abolition of the breeding and providing monkeys for animal experiments by the National BioResource Project “Japanese Macaques”.
The National BioResource Project (NBRP) is a major project initiated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in 2002. The purpose of the project is to collect and stably provide bio-resources (biological and genetic resources) such as animals, plants and microorganisms, which are so-called experimental materials, for life science research. Various species of animals such as mice, rats, birds, fish, amphibians, insects and others as well as Japanese Macaques are being handled (as of January 2023).
The project for “Japanese Macaques” initially set a goal of collecting 1,500 to 2,400 macaques as a mother group and providing 300 macaques for experiments each year. And to make a mother group, overbred Japanese Macaques are collected from zoos and wild monkey parks, and the offspring monkeys continue to be provided for experiments.
https://www.change.org/stop-NBRPmonkey-en
[About organizations calling for the signature]This signature is a joint campaign by the following two organizations.
Japan Anti-Vivisection Association (JAVA) https://www.java-animal.org/
PEACE(Put an End to Animal Cruelty and Exploitation ) https://animals-peace.net/
Submission of Petition to MEXT demanding end to Macaques project
On July 31, 2025, JAVA and PEACE met with the director, the senior specialist for life sciences, and the chief of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s (MEXT) Life Science Division, which administers the National BioResource Project (NBRP). At that time, we submitted petitions with 22,730 signatures (both handwritten signatures and those submitted via Change.org) calling for the abolition of the NBRP’s “Japanese Macaques” project and a letter urging such a move.
In both the meeting and the letter, we strongly argued for the abolition of this project, highlighting the following four points:
1. The project’s monkey experiments are cruel and unacceptable.
2. Details of the project are unclear, with insufficient information being disclosed to the public, and officials continue to conceal the true nature of the project from the public.
3. The number of monkeys provided through the project has fallen far short of the initial target, and the participating institutions have ceased breeding and thus supply, leading to a shrinking project.
4. The project goes against the global trend of moving away from the use of animals in experiments.
We held a demonstration in front of MEXT to say “No to Animal Testing”
On the same day, the members of JAVA and PEACE stood in front of the MEXT building holding a banner and placards, chanting, “Abolish the National BioResource Project ‘Japanese Macaques’ ” and “No to animal testing!”
We are very grateful to everyone who helped with this campaign!
In order to widely disseminate the growing public opinion against the NBRP’s “Japanese Macaques” project, we will continue to collect signatures on chang.org.
To date, the NBRP’s “Japanese Macaques” project has provided approximately 1,200 baby monkeys to universities and research institutions across Japan. We ask that you continue to make your voice heard and protest against this project until it is abolished.
Make MEXT hear your voice!
https://form.jotform.com/250864153747463
On July 31, 2025, JAVA and PEACE met with the director, the …