Todd Jay Leonard, Blog
When I first came to Japan to live nearly 20 years ago, I remember being amazed at the lack of stray dogs wandering the streets. I did see the occasional stray cat, but rarely did I ever see a dog - and when I did, I am sure it had gotten loose from its owner accidentally and was not a stray.
In those days, a goodly number of Japanese people did keep dogs, almost exclusively as "outside" pets, which meant they were tied on a short rope or chain to a tiny doghouse or other makeshift cover ... and sometimes with no protection at all from the elements.
There was no chance for the dog to escape, run, play or do "dog" things, like exploring, digging, tracking and of course, sniffing anything and everything. This saddened me to see these pets relegated to a life of being tied up and left outside in all sorts of weather. Since most homes have no real yard to speak of, dogs were often kept in narrow passageways next to the house.
In those days, people didn't really walk their dogs nor have any real, meaningful interaction with them. The apartment I lived in when I first relocated to Japan was in a residential area. A neighbor had one of these "tied-up" dogs; the poor thing howled night and day from boredom and depression. Pets in those days, especially dogs, were basically regarded as possessions and not considered to be an extension of the family unit.
An American friend I know visited a family back in the early '90s and commented that the family dog seemed cold as it slept on the snow outside the front stoop. The owner replied that the dog "liked" sleeping on the snow-covered ground.
The owner's child, however, piped up and said that she remembered one winter when they let the dog inside the house and it seemed to like sleeping inside the warm, cozy home as well. Uh-huh. I am sure if given a real choice, we can guess which place the dog would choose to sleep.
Fast-forward 20 years to 2007, and I am happy to report that the situation has changed completely, with pet dogs being indulged by pet owners in an unprecedented manner. The "pet boom" of the past few years in Japan has turned owners here into doting masters resembling that of the United States, where pet ownership is taken very seriously.
Traditionally, many homes in Japan used "tatami" straw mats as floor coverings which were quite fragile and very high-maintenance. It was virtually unthinkable to allow pets inside where they could soil, scratch, claw and potentially destroy these very expensive and delicate coverings.
Today, many new homes tend to use more durable coverings like hardwood floors and linoleum. This has made it more practical to have "inside" pets that do become like family members.
I recently read a very interesting statistic - which also might explain the recent surge in pet ownership in Japan - which has encouraged masters to embrace their pets completely, treating them like small children. Japanese families now own over 23 million pet dogs and cats, a figure which now exceeds the number of Japanese children who are under the age of 15. This past year, the number of children under the age of 15 was under 18 million.
Since Japan has been suffering from a yearly decrease in population for several years, I think that childless couples and singles here are substituting the love and care they would normally give to a child to their pets. Animal companions are not only trendy, but fulfill an apparent emotional need for people who want to have some type of physical interaction with another living thing. Caring for a pet allows them to love the pet unconditionally, while receiving the same in return.
A good friend of mine stopped by with his wife recently; when he exited the car, I noticed he was sitting in the back seat. When I asked why he was being chauffeured he said, "Oh, Cookie gets the front seat, so I have to sit in the back." They have no children, so their dachshund is a surrogate child, of sorts, because his wife fawns over this dog as if it were a child.
Later that same day, we drove to a coffee shop that has an outside patio that allows pet owners the opportunity to bring their pets with them. Of course, my friend and I sat in the backseat, while Cookie sat shotgun in the front with his wife.
My friend's wife had a backpack filled with treats, water, a portable dish, food, toys and a little coat for Cookie. She prepared all of these things in anticipation of any need the little dog might have while on this little outing.
Perhaps she represents the modern or stereotypical pet owner in Japan. The majority of animal owners currently spend a lot of time and money on their pets, making the pet industry in Japan a very lucrative and ever-expanding business. It was reported that nearly 9 billion U.S. dollars was spent last year by Japanese animal lovers on pet-related items. Although it is a fourth of what Americans spend on pets every year, it represents nearly a 50 percent increase since the mid-1990s, when pets were basically left outside and ignored.
Another group of people who have embraced pet ownership in Japan are older or retired people. Couples who have grown children that live away find having animal companions to be good company, giving them a new purpose in life.
Also, since young couples are having fewer children, this means that older couples do not have as many grandchildren. In addition, in the past, the oldest child usually would live with the parents, giving them companionship and a purpose.
Today, more and more elderly couples are finding that their children are living separately, leaving them to live on their own. Owning a pet fills an emotional void that some older couples have - to feel needed or useful - while also allowing them to channel their energies of love and caring toward another living thing.
My next column will discuss the downside of the pet boom in Japan, which has given rise to puppy mills, inbreeding and overindulgence by owners, causing pet ailments like diabetes to become more widespread.
By TODD JAY LEONARD
Columnist
Pampered pooches
House pets have become very popular in Japan
Monday, January 29 , 2007
