How to Find Free-Range Eggs in Japan

Foreigners may need help finding free-range eggs in Japan because Japanese consumers do not prioritize the free-range nature of eggs like Western consumers do. But, if you learn two words for finding free-range eggs, you can find free-range eggs everywhere, including supermarkets.

Two words to distinguish free-range eggs

Packages can be distinguished as containing free-range eggs or not through two different words, 平飼い and 放し飼い. In Japan, these two terms are often confused and used interchangeably. Both methods are usually intended to promote chickens growing in a natural environment and reduce chicken stress.

平飼い /hɾagai/

平飼い /hɾagai/, which is a method of raising chickens on a poultry farm so that they can exercise in a large space.

放し飼い /hanaʃi gai/

放し飼い /hanaʃi gai/, which is a method for allowing chickens to roam outside of a chicken farm freely.

Why do Japanese eat raw eggs?

Talking about eggs, when my foreign friend asked me why Japanese people eat raw eggs, I was reminded that it is one of our national customs. I have been eating raw eggs without any hesitation since I was a child. At least, I have never got a stomach ache by eating raw eggs.

Japanese eggs are considered safe, because Japanese standards may be strict than the other countries. From the time they are little chickies, fed nutritious food to make sure they are getting all the good nutrients they need. When it’s time, the eggs get gathered up, washed, sorted, and put in fancy machines. These machines make sure the egg is all good to go by making sure the yolk doesn’t touch the shell, cleaning off any dirt or germs, and checking for any cracks or yucky stuff.

If an egg doesn’t pass the test, it won’t be sold or it will get a label saying it is not good for raw eating. And it’s not just quality control – in Japan, they even have standards for how the eggs get packaged. Each producer has to put a flavour expiration date on the carton, so you know when it’s best to eat it raw. But if you wait too long, better cook that egg up instead of chancing it.