Cows and goats take residence in Tokyo high-rise to promote dairy jobs

A goat, a cow and a pig walk into a Tokyo high-rise.

It may sound like the start of a joke, but about 60 such animals have found a new home on the 13th floor of a building near Tokyo Station in the Otemachi district.

Personnel dispatch company Pasona Group Inc. unveiled the urban farm at its headquarters on Wednesday. The firms hopes to use the project to promote employment in the dairy industry.

The first visitors, 20 children belonging to company employees, tried feeding the goats and making ice cream.

The 1,000 sq.-meter facility, called Otemachi Farm, will mainly be used for dairy industry seminars, but members of the public can make reservations to visit.

Four staff members will manage the farm, with maintenance handled by a firm based in Kyoto Prefecture.

Pasona Group has promoted the farming industry with other initiatives, including an art and agriculture facility on a Hyogo Prefecture island meant to give a boost to local tourism.

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