“Why are they here?” The “goats” at Yotsuya Station that soothe commuters and students, and JR East’s “wonderful reason” for bringing them in (Shukan Josei PRIME)

Two grass-eating goats have been introduced to vacant lots around Yotsuya Station, an area bustling with commuters and students, as an eco-friendly weed-control method that uses neither pesticides nor machinery. The initiative has also attracted attention because arrangements are in place to appropriately manage the goats' range of movement during future operations.

The deciding factors were an overall assessment of environmental suitability and safety. The area was judged suitable for weed control because it contains a grass-covered site of sufficient size outside the station, while station staff have established a care system designed to ensure the safe operation of trains. A certain level of weed-control effectiveness was confirmed during the approximately 10 days after the start of the initiative.

Station users and local residents have responded with comments such as “cute” and “interesting,” and the initiative has generated a strong response on social media. Elementary school students have also been seen talking to the goats, making the initiative a way to build ties with the local community in addition to controlling weeds.

The current operation is scheduled to run from October through December 2026 and will end once the grass is gone. The next session is planned for March through May 2027, with the effectiveness of weed control and management procedures to be assessed through the operation.