[Charity Club Activity Report] 2025 Finalists and Alumnae Join an Animal Meet-and-Greet at Animal Welfare NPO “TWF no Kai”

On Sunday, March 30, nine 2025 finalists and alumnae of Mrs. Universe Japan took part in an animal meet-and-greet hosted by the animal welfare NPO “TWF no Kai” in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture. The visit was arranged through Sayaka Aoki, who kindly served as a judge at the Mrs. Universe Japan 2024 national final.

Besides spending time with the dogs and cats, we heard from the staff about their daily work and many stories about the animals, which gave us time to think about what we ourselves can do.

We were also blessed with good weather, and for lunch the staff served their special “Fujinomiya yakisoba,” filling our stomachs and our hearts with love!

After lunch, the participants shared their impressions with one another!

We also held a presentation ceremony for the donation raised from sales at the charity bazaar held in February.

On this Sunday during spring break, we spent a time full of learning with many people and were able to deepen our thoughts on how we can contribute to society. Thank you very much.

Here are the participants’ impressions▼▼

Yu Nanase

Hearing so many stories from the staff

made for a truly precious time.

I was very surprised to learn that the group is run solely on membership fees and individual donations.

I learned that it is sustained by people’s shared goodwill.

The staff also told us many stories about the amazing healing power of animals😳!!

For example, a person who recovered from brain death, and a boy who had been suffering from mental illness who began to sleep and no longer needed medication from the day he started spending time with a dog

🥹✨

I was moved, thinking that a place filled with the care of staff who treat animals with such deep love must be what gives rise to these miracles.

I am sincerely grateful

that I was able to visit such a place

and share this time with everyone.　

Maiko Koike

We heard so much: how the animal rescue activities began,

the dramatic stories of the rescued animals,

and the struggles in dealing with the city government. It made me realize that there is still much we can do, and much we must do.

The staff were truly wonderful, the animals were full of life, and I am really glad I had the chance to visit the wonderful TWF no Kai.

Thank you very much!

Hisae Toba

I have loved animals since I was a child. When I was in elementary school and told my parents I wanted a pet, they took me not to a pet shop but to an animal guidance center.

There were dogs and cats awaiting euthanasia, and I learned about the weight of life. On the way out, we passed someone bringing puppies crammed into a cardboard box to the facility, and that led to my first experience of taking in an animal—taking responsibility for a life.

Even though I sometimes watched videos and programs about rescue dogs and cats, as an adult I had never taken any action. This time, hoping to be of some help, I visited the facility as an MUJ finalist.

I was astonished to learn that the care of the dogs and cats depends on volunteers, and that there is little to spare—everyone makes time to help one another while managing their own lives. The operation was far more demanding than I had imagined. Visiting in person and spending time with the dogs and cats, I truly felt that many volunteers are needed before each animal can meet its new family. Seeing animals with disabilities, illnesses or old age still striving to live made my heart ache.

This experience gave me a chance to think seriously once again about what I can do. I learned that it is important not just to feel sorry for them, but to think about what I can do and act on it. Going forward, I want to actively take part in volunteer work, gather information, and, precisely because of my position as an MUJ finalist, play a role in spreading awareness of the situation of rescue dogs and cats.

I was taught how important it is to support life, and I hope that by building up small actions, I can one day come closer to making a big difference.

Thank you for such a valuable experience.

Sachiko Suzuki

Thank you for letting me visit an animal rescue facility for the first time in my life, and for giving me such a valuable experience as a member of the Charity Club❤️

Every dog and cat had a glossy coat, and the cages were clean.

I could feel the love of everyone at TWF no Kai.

Hearing directly what they lack to keep things running and what kind of support they need, I felt that the first thing we can do is to spread the word that facilities like this exist and let people know about them.

Ms. Takahashi taught me that there are many things we can do even if we can’t visit the facility in person. I learned a lot, and my world expanded.

Even if I can’t do anything big, I want to keep building up contributions to society that I can make from close to home, and someday be part of a larger contribution✨

Kanako Otsuji

It was my first time visiting an animal welfare organization, and I was surprised at how clean the facility was and how friendly both the cats and dogs were.

I could see that the staff give the animals a tremendous amount of love.

I spoke with a staff member who had moved from Aomori just to work with TWF no Kai. She loves the group’s work from the bottom of her heart and cares for the rescued animals every day so they can be adopted by wonderful owners.

I imagine raising donations must be very hard.

I want to help the group by spreading the word so that as many people as possible learn about the work of TWF no Kai.

Thank you for letting me take part; I learned a great deal.

Kishiko Kaku

Seventeen years ago, I found a newborn kitten at our front door. It was limp and near death, so I rushed it to the vet, kept it warm, fed it milk🍼 and helped it relieve itself, praying desperately that it would simply live!! Its life was in danger many times, but it miraculously pulled through and became healthy. For 13 years after that, we lived together as family, and it taught me that cats are such clever, cute and utterly lovable beings.

I thought I was the one helping, but instead I was healed so much and learned so much.

I had already been interested in animal welfare, hoping that no more animals born outdoors like our beloved cat would end up unhappy.

This time, visiting the TWF facility, spending time with the dogs and cats, and hearing the staff talk about their work was a truly wonderful experience.

I was moved by the staff, who pour all their love into dogs and cats that have carried many sad pasts.

It made me think again about what I can do from now on. I want to let as many people as possible know about this work and tell those around me, so that there will be no more unhappy dogs and cats.

I am grateful that this volunteer program was organized for us.

Thank you very much.

#AnimalWelfare #Volunteer #TWFnoKai #Charity #BellissimaCharityClub #SocialContribution

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