Creating a Society Where You Don't Have to Give Up Living with Pets Due to Changes in Age or Family Structure. This is ANIMANECT's Sincere Dream.
ANIMANECT's dream is to foster a society where individuals do not have to abandon pet ownership due to life changes like age or family structure. They aim to build systems that ensure people and pets can live together peacefully until the end, creating a virtuous cycle for welfare organizations and companion animals. The company is actively promoting this vision through initiatives like 'Neko Fes 2026'.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 18:10
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 09:36
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 16, 2026 at 19:10 (369h 34m after Collected)
We endorse April Dream, which aims to make April 1st a day to share dreams. This press release is the dream of ANIMANECT Inc. We are sharing our dream of aiming for a society where people and pets can continue to live with peace of mind until the end.
**The Dream That Began with the Words of a Senior Citizen: "Because I Will Die First"**
The origin of this dream lies in the words of a senior citizen that ANIMANECT's CEO, Hideyuki Iizuka, encountered during a walk with his dog. "I can't own a dog at this age anymore. Because I will die first." He said this while affectionately holding his dog, and that image remained with him. Even with the desire to live with a pet, there is indeed a reality where one must give up due to age or family circumstances.
With the declining birthrate and aging population, an increase in single-person households, nuclear families, and later marriages, the forms of mutual support within families and communities are changing, and anxieties about continuing to live with pets are growing. ANIMANECT aims for a society where people do not have to give up living with pets for such reasons.
**The Anxiety of "Not Being Able to Take Care of Them Until the End"**
In reality, for the senior generation, the fear of "not being able to take care of them until the end" is one of the reasons for not owning pets. Furthermore, materials from the Japan Veterinary Medical Association indicate that a decrease in companion animal ownership, against the backdrop of a declining birthrate and aging population, is a challenge.
[Source: Japan Veterinary Medical Association "Decrease in Companion Animal Ownership and its Challenges"]
[Source: Halmek Holdings "Survey on Awareness and Reality of Pet Ownership Among Senior Women"]
**Creating a "System" That Doesn't Burden Individuals, Rather Than Lightening Responsibility**
What ANIMANECT aims for is not to lighten the responsibility of owning a pet. It is to create a system that does not place the burden solely on individuals, so that those who wish to fulfill their responsibilities until the end do not have to give up their desire. By connecting families, communities, companies, and services, we will foster a system where people and pets can continue to live with peace of mind until the end.
**"Neko Fes 2026" Held at Saitama Super Arena**
One such venue for practical application is "Neko Fes 2026" (Cat Festival 2026), to be held on Saturday, August 1st, and Sunday, August 2nd, 2026, at the Saitama Super Arena. Neko Fes 2026, held with the support of Saitama Prefecture, is a festival of learning and experience under the banner "To enrich the lives of cats and people." ANIMANECT is involved in its planning and operation, with Representative Director Hideyuki Iizuka serving as Vice Chairman and Head of the Secretariat. We will not only disseminate our philosophy but also advance social implementation through community and corporate collaboration and the creation of actual events.
[Source: 2nd Neko Fes 2026]
[Source: 2nd Neko Fes 2026 Decision to Hold | August 1 (Sat) & 2 (Sun) Saitama Super Arena Exhibition Hall]
This dream is not confined to Neko Fes 2026 alone. ANIMANECT will continue to foster a system where coexistence between people and pets becomes rooted in daily life through various practical venues. As a first step, we declare this dream to society through April Dream.
ANIMANECT is a company that aims to reduce the number of people who give up living with pets due to changes in age or family structure, and to cultivate a system where people and pets can continue to live with peace of mind until the end. Beyond that, we aim to create a virtuous cycle for animal welfare organizations and companion animals.
**The Dream That Began with the Words of a Senior Citizen: "Because I Will Die First"**
The origin of this dream lies in the words of a senior citizen that ANIMANECT's CEO, Hideyuki Iizuka, encountered during a walk with his dog. "I can't own a dog at this age anymore. Because I will die first." He said this while affectionately holding his dog, and that image remained with him. Even with the desire to live with a pet, there is indeed a reality where one must give up due to age or family circumstances.
With the declining birthrate and aging population, an increase in single-person households, nuclear families, and later marriages, the forms of mutual support within families and communities are changing, and anxieties about continuing to live with pets are growing. ANIMANECT aims for a society where people do not have to give up living with pets for such reasons.
**The Anxiety of "Not Being Able to Take Care of Them Until the End"**
In reality, for the senior generation, the fear of "not being able to take care of them until the end" is one of the reasons for not owning pets. Furthermore, materials from the Japan Veterinary Medical Association indicate that a decrease in companion animal ownership, against the backdrop of a declining birthrate and aging population, is a challenge.
[Source: Japan Veterinary Medical Association "Decrease in Companion Animal Ownership and its Challenges"]
[Source: Halmek Holdings "Survey on Awareness and Reality of Pet Ownership Among Senior Women"]
**Creating a "System" That Doesn't Burden Individuals, Rather Than Lightening Responsibility**
What ANIMANECT aims for is not to lighten the responsibility of owning a pet. It is to create a system that does not place the burden solely on individuals, so that those who wish to fulfill their responsibilities until the end do not have to give up their desire. By connecting families, communities, companies, and services, we will foster a system where people and pets can continue to live with peace of mind until the end.
**"Neko Fes 2026" Held at Saitama Super Arena**
One such venue for practical application is "Neko Fes 2026" (Cat Festival 2026), to be held on Saturday, August 1st, and Sunday, August 2nd, 2026, at the Saitama Super Arena. Neko Fes 2026, held with the support of Saitama Prefecture, is a festival of learning and experience under the banner "To enrich the lives of cats and people." ANIMANECT is involved in its planning and operation, with Representative Director Hideyuki Iizuka serving as Vice Chairman and Head of the Secretariat. We will not only disseminate our philosophy but also advance social implementation through community and corporate collaboration and the creation of actual events.
[Source: 2nd Neko Fes 2026]
[Source: 2nd Neko Fes 2026 Decision to Hold | August 1 (Sat) & 2 (Sun) Saitama Super Arena Exhibition Hall]
This dream is not confined to Neko Fes 2026 alone. ANIMANECT will continue to foster a system where coexistence between people and pets becomes rooted in daily life through various practical venues. As a first step, we declare this dream to society through April Dream.
ANIMANECT is a company that aims to reduce the number of people who give up living with pets due to changes in age or family structure, and to cultivate a system where people and pets can continue to live with peace of mind until the end. Beyond that, we aim to create a virtuous cycle for animal welfare organizations and companion animals.