Ayumi Tanaka is crazy about pets. Ever since she was a child, she has pondered the problem of the thousands of stray dogs and cats that get put down every year and has wondered how she might help to save them.
Last spring, she purchased around 40 hectares of land in Takizawa, Iwate Prefecture, and set about building Pets Village, a complex that she hopes will become the world's largest pet protection center. The center is currently home to about 30 animals.
"I hope to change the way Japanese people think about the lives of animals," Tanaka said. "I'm thrilled with the opportunity to realize my dream, which I believe is worth giving everything I have for."