Japan as Only 1

 I have three children. Each of them has a different personality, but one thing they have in common is their deep love for animals. When they were younger, we often visited zoos. Even when we travel, we still tend to visit local zoos. Recently, however, they prefer interactive experiences — not just watching animals, but feeding them, touching them, even holding them. Nowadays, many shopping malls have small animal cafés. We recently visited one that had a corner where children could interact with baby chicks. Even for someone like me, who doesn’t usually join those interactions, the tiny chicks were undeniably adorable. But as I watched them, I couldn’t help but wonder — they grow so quickly. What happens to these dozens of chicks afterward? I assumed they might be sent to farms for food production. So I asked one of the staff members. The answer surprised me. They become food for the owls kept in the same facility. The staff member seemed uncomfortable sharing that informa...