Goat Weeding Service “Kusakari Yagi-chan” Shares Last Year’s Results and Opens Recruitment for New Users

Mujo Inc., headquartered in Meguro, Tokyo and led by CEO Yota Maeda, has released last year’s performance results for its goat weeding service “Kusakari Yagi-chan” and has begun accepting applications from new users. The service offers two main formats: a tethered model, in which goats are connected by wire to stakes or fences, and a grazing model, in which goats move freely within a fenced area. In both cases, goats not only eat weeds but also slow plant growth through a “trampling effect” created by stepping on the ground. The grazing model generally delivers stronger weeding and trampling effects because goats can move more freely, but enclosing an entire site with fencing can raise cost and landscape concerns for some customers. Mujo says it supports both tethered and grazing formats, handling not only goat rentals but also tethering equipment installation, grazing fence construction, goat shed setup, goat transport, and health monitoring. The company introduced three tethered-use cases from last year: a circular type where a goat moves around a single stake, a rectangular type where a wire is stretched between two stakes, and a semicircular type using a fence post as the anchor. In the circular case, grass within the activity area was almost completely removed, with larger goats showing particularly strong trampling effects. In the rectangular case, even during midsummer, grass height was kept low enough not to cover a person’s knees. In the semicircular case, the area became almost weed-free in less than a week after tethering, and moving the tethering point sequentially can gradually expand the cleared area. Mujo also emphasizes benefits beyond weeding. Customers generally care for the goats during the rental period, though the company also offers regular patrol services by staff. Many customers are initially unsure about caring for goats, but by the end of the rental period, some find it difficult to say goodbye. Employees, visitors, school staff, students, and nearby residents often enjoy the goat-inhabited space, creating new conversations and interactions. “Kusakari Yagi-chan” is based on Mujo’s concept of “shukuju,” which asks how communities and lifestyles can remain fulfilling while accepting shrinkage in an era of population decline. The company says that as labor shortages grow, it will become harder to support everything through human effort alone. Having goats eat grass is not only a labor-saving approach to weeding, but also creates a relationship in which animals support daily life and people watch over living beings. According to Mujo, Japan reportedly had around 300,000 goats shortly after World War II, but the number has now fallen to about 20,000. Goats were once close to everyday life, but became less visible amid population growth, mechanization, and changing lifestyles. The company believes that in an era of population decline, relying again on animals may become a realistic option. “Kusakari Yagi-chan” is also positioned as a social experiment in living alongside goats. Going forward, Mujo plans to use “Kusakari Yagi-chan” to support labor-saving weed and green space management while bringing richer time and relationships created through human-animal interaction to communities and daily-life settings. Through this campaign, the company aims to expand new ways for schools, companies, welfare facilities, and other organizations to engage with animals.