Yasuo Nakazato is president of construction firm Nakazato Kogyo, which manages Shirotori Dacho Mura (White bird Ostrich Village) in Murayama, Yamagata Prefecture. He got interested in the world's largest living birds, which originate in Africa, five years ago when his company was in a slump amid a sudden drop inpublic works projects.
The Japan Ostrich Council, based in Tokyo, says ostriches are being raised in more than 450 locations across the country from Hokkaido to Okinawa. Nearly 70 percent of breeders are connected to the construction industry and are rearing the flightless birds as a side business.
Hiroaki Toyohara, secretary general of the council, said, "There are many instances of construction companies taking up the challenge of breeding ostriches to supplement their main business because of the reduction in public works projects due to the financial difficulties confronting the central and local governments."
He said construction companies find it easy to start breeding ostriches because they already have building materials such as metal pipes to set up cages.
....Nakazato started by raising 10 young birds through a process of trial and error, feeding them rice crackers and vegetables. He now has 35 ostriches.
"Ostriches are tame, hardy with regard to changes in climate and easy to raise," he said. "They hate to be alone and never try to run away."
More than 200 people visited the ostrich village on weekends last July and August. Ice cream made from ostrich eggs and salami made from ostrich meat are specialties of the village and are sold at events both within and outside of Yamagata Prefecture. Also on sale are billfolds made of ostrich leather.
The town of Asahi, Yamagata Prefecture, has offered to let a local construction company use the former site of a high school for grazing land free of charge. The town plans to pitch meat from ostriches fed on apples in the hope that it will help to revive the area.
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