Fashionable Pets in Japan

Fashionable Ninja Dog in Arashiyama / Japan

The dressed-up Ninja dog at the Mifune festival is not the first fashionable pet that we have noticed in Japan. But it is particularly eye-catching. Pets in Japan are generally well cared for. And pet owners in Japan are going to great lengths to make their dogs and cats stand out.

„Lucky charms for animals sell very well recently. More people think of their pets as family members,”

explains the Shinto priest at the Nogi Shrine
Pet dog in Himeji dressed up as a character from the Yaiba Manga

With his old-fashioned glasses and an unfavourable haircut, the priest looks rather like a middle-aged businessman. And in a way, he is. Shrines and temples in Japan need to earn money, and they do so in part by selling amulets and lucky charms. In some places, like the shrine at Miyajima with its famous floating torii, or the Great Buddha of Nara, tourists and pilgrims are good customers. Smaller shrines are trying to cater to niche markets to attract buyers. But pets in Japan are no longer a niche market.

Pet omamori  (lucky charms) at Tokyo Nogi shrine, Japan
Lucky charms for dogs

We have just noticed the orange and light blue small cloth packages for dogs and cats, with the written lucky charm inside, among the usual talismans against evil, or for safe journeys or easy childbirth. The Nogi Shrine is dedicated to an unusual god, the victorious General Mareisuke Nogi, who in 1912, together with his wife, committed seppuku, ritual suicide, out of loyalty when the Meiji emperor died.

Fashionable Poodle in Tokyo wearing jeans and knitwear shirt

A choice for young couples in Japan: pet dog or child?

The next day we eye the Japanese family sitting opposite us in the subway. He has very spiky hair and black-rimmed glasses, she is wearing a fancy petticoat, and both appear to be very young. Suddenly we realize that the small buggy holds a Yorkshire terrier rather than a toddler. By now we aremore alert to the status of pets. We notice the many cat cafes in Tokyo: Coffee Shops where customers can cuddle a sedated Angora cat while sipping a Cafe Latte. Ever more people are walking proudly through the city with their dressed up dogs. A hotel in Kaga Onsen advertises shared facilities for dog and owner – from the room to the hot spa.

Dress up! Latest fashion for pets in Japan

A pet dog in a small pet buggy in Tokyo, Japan

Curious, we venture into the dog accessory store in the Apia Shopping Mall. The display of dogs’ outfits has caught our eye. Current dog fashion has moved far beyond the holder’s worn out T-Shirts. The modern pet owner chooses from a wide selection of sweaters, jeans, sportswear and even leather jackets for his darling. For the she-dog there is lovely lingerie on sale. All this comes for a price, of course – about the same as that for children’s clothes.

Party with your pet dog!

Leaving the shop we pass a showcase filled with delectable cream tarts and fancy cakes. “These delicacies are low-sugar and low-fat, therefore safe to eat for pets. Why not enjoy a piece of cake together with your pet on children’s day?” a sign suggests.  The current trend of people treating their pets to cream pie, weekend outings and fancy clothes might be new, but of course people have always loved their pets.

At the shrine we learn that General Nogi loved his horses so much that he built them a modern stable first thing after buying the premises. Only then he started with a simple house for his family. In the end, however, he didn’t include his horses as far into the family to let them join the loyalty suicide.

Fashionable pet dog in  Kyoto (Japan) near Kiyomizu Temple

NB: We had no sponsoring for this travel blog article about fashionable pets in Japan. This post does not contain affiliate links. 

Never miss a new post! Get notifications about new posts straight into your inbox!

You can pin this post on Pinterest:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *