• President, Daktari Japan Co., Ltd.
• Owner/General Director, Daktari Animal Hospital (founded in 1964)
• Founder/Representatives, Daktari Animal Hospital group (22 practices in total)
• Invited faculty member/Adjunct professor, College of Veterinary Medicine and Graduate School at Hokkaido University (since 2016)
• Ambassador, Hokkaido University whole campus (since 2018)
• Adjunct Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University (since 1986) /Ambassador (since 2011)
• Specially Appointed Clinical Professor, the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences at Osaka Prefecture University (since 2018)
• Advisor, First, Second, Tenth, and Eleventh President, Japanese Animal Hospital Association (JAHA) established in 1978 /Permanent Academic Advisor
• Past Vice President, IAHAIO (1995-2001)
• Founder and Chairman, the Board-General Incorporated Foundation J-HANBS (since 2000)
• Adjunct Professor, School of Veterinary Medicine at Beijing Agricultural General University (since 1994)
• Adjunct Professor, Chiba Institute of Science (2008-2017)

Gen Kato (General Director)

In 1964, Daktari Animal Hospital was established in Tokyo's Suginami Ward as Japan's first "animal welfare hospital" that treats all animals, from small birds to elephants, following the philosophy of "Human Animal Nature Bond" (HANB). Now, more than 50 years later, Daktari Animal Hospital consists of three hospitals: Tokyo Medical Center, Yoyogi Hospital, and Kugayama Hospital.

We aim to establish advanced medical care specializing in each department based on the world's most advanced American veterinary medicine. At the same time, we provide medical care for the happiness of both owners and their animals as important members of the family based on the philosophy of "Human Animal Nature Bond.

This is accomplished by not only treating diseases, but also providing advice to prevent them from affecting animals, suggesting regular checkups to ensure early detection, and keeping in mind the most important principle of medicine: "An ounce (28g) of prevention is better than a pound (450g) of cure".

In order to always provide the best veterinary care, all staff members are not only professionals in their respective fields of responsibility, but also strive to achieve higher goals.

We integrate the world's medical standards and the latest knowledge in partnership with " Angell Animal Medical Center," the center of veterinary medicine in the U.S. In addition, we are actively engaged in exchanges with various universities in the U.S., including Colorado Veterinary Medical College, one of the best universities in the U.S.

Furthermore, in order to treat animals that cannot speak, we believe that not only technical skills but also team medicine including family members is of utmost importance, and we are putting effort into improving our communication skills.

To realize these goals, Daktari Veterinary Hospital is challenging and implementing the development and introduction of various new systems that have never been seen before in veterinary medicine.

In other words, it is a hospital that offers the best learning environment for veterinarians who desire to become specialists as well as for veterinary technicians who wish to acquire advanced skills.

I was the first Japanese veterinarian and 13th in the world to receive the "Small Animal Health Care Award 2014" at the South Africa-Cape Town Congress of the WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association/Veterinary Medical Association), where one person is elected every year.

In July 2022, we also became the first hospital in Japan to be accredited by the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association). (Click here for details)

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the clients who have trusted Daktari Veterinary Hospital with their animals, and to the numerous staff members who have agreed with my philosophy and worked hard with me to make this happen.

We promise that the entire Daktari Veterinary Hospital will continue to protect the health of your precious family animals.

　Born in Kobe, Japan in 1932. After graduating from College of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University (‘56), he set off his lifelong veterinary career as a zoo veterinarian at Kobe Oji Zoo (’56 - ‘62) and opened up his own practice “Daktari Animal Hospital” in Suginami-ku, Tokyo, Japan in 1964. While he has been developing three practices, he has held a teaching post successively starting from Kansas State University (1973), to Colorado State University, California State University, Florida State University, and up until this day in Colorado State University where he is an affiliate faculty member.

　Honored the Excel Award in 1987 and the Waltham Award in 1994 from the American Animal Hospital Association as the first foreign veterinarian. In 2001, was presented the Most Prestigious Award, the First JAHA Award, from the Japanese Animal Hospital Association, which had been authorized by Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare, working on upgrading hospital standards and intensive continuing education in small animal veterinary medicine advocating importance of Human Animal Nature Bond for peace and sustainable growth of civilization since he established with founding members in 1978.

　In 1973, translated “Kirk-the Current Veterinary Therapy”, the bible of small animal practice, into Japanese and then published 44 American textbooks of all disciplines in small animal veterinary medicine, 4 books of veterinary technicians and 3 books of human animal bond including Leo Busted “Compassion-Our Last Great Hope”. Authored books such as “How to Take Care of Dogs”, “How to Take Care of Cats”, “Care for, with Animal-assisted Therapy, the Mind of the Elderly People”, and “Training Your Dogs by Praising”.
He has consistently dedicated himself in introducing the world most progressed small animal　veterinary medicine and education of the U.S.A., improving the standards of small animal veterinary practices and fostering specialty groups, promoting activities related to the human animal nature bond in Japan. He founded Japan Human Animal Nature Bond Society in 2000, and initiated the world first HANB education and its corresponding courses for training HANB instructors for children. In 2007, he was the first Asian recipient of the Pioneer Award at IAHAIO Tokyo and in July 2013 awarded in honor of Longstanding Service to IAHAIO at Triennial International Conference in collaboration with 150th annual convention of AVMA in Chicago. In 2008, he was appointed as an adjunct professor, Chiba Institute of Science due to launch the official and world first curriculum of “Science of Human Animal Nature Bond”. In September honored the Award of Lifetime Achievement of Human and Animal Welfare from the Japanese Ministry of the Environment.

　In June 2011 honorably appointed a College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVMBS) Ambassador to Japan since 2011. In 2012, newly reorganized NPO Japan Human Animal Nature Bond Society into General Incorporated Foundation J-HANBS and appointed as a President. He opened Daktari Animal Hospital Tokyo Medical Center in Minato, Tokyo. In April 2014 J-HANBS was approved as Full Member of IAHAIO and in September he was the first Japanese, internationally 13th recipient of the Excellence in Veterinary Healthcare Award at WSAVA in South Africa 2014. Also, he received the Honor Award from Japan Small Animal Veterinary Association in 2015. In 2016 appointed Invited Faculty/Visiting Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine & Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University. In October 2017 received the Ambassador of Hokkaido University and the Honor Roll Member 2018 of AVMA. Please follow my Twitter and Facebook.