Animal Babies
Japundit noted that the number of dogs in Japan now exceeds the number of children under 10. During my last visit to Japan, I really noticed how many fewer children are out and about; they aren’t there like they used to be. At the same time, during Golden Weekend, I kept seeing dogs shepherded through the train stations in little doggie perambulators like the one above.
One writer for the Japan Times even went so far as to say:
The tininess and cuteness of the dogs, the care lavished on them, and the correspondence of their numerical growth with the decline in the number of babies suggest a kind of substitution at work. Are little dogs the babies of the 21st century?
At the same time that the birth rate in Japan is decreasing, and the number of pets are increasing, news reports cite the eerie trend that child abuse is rising. (Ditto for the US, some say). Let me be clear that I am not suggesting a causal relationship—at most, there would be a correlation. And obviously, one always wonders with these things if child abuse and other crimes are being reported differently than in the past, or if there is a true, statistically proven rise. Most people I spoke to in Japan this time felt strongly that the news really had become “worse” and more “bad things” were happening, but, as we’ve all noted, anecdotal evidence doesn’t rule the day.
On a somewhat related note, earlier this year I started hearing about “Dog Cafes,” eating establishments where dogs are welcome, and so set out to find a few. I was curious about the way in which animals are being integrated even further into everyday life in Japan.
A lot of these cafes seem to have little boutique dog shops attached. Snobbish Babies (a dog cafe in Nakameguro) sold dog-patterned toilet paper.
Inside was a wall of fame of photos of dog clients.
This Harajuku Dog Cafe included tasty treats in shapes meant to appeal to dogs–and their owners.
Next door you can shop for this year’s dog yukata patterns.
Not to be outdone, the cats are getting their own cafes too. (Note: I found out about cat cafes from a magazine and ran out of time to try to track the actual establishments down).
At this cafe, you can order a special set of food set to appeal to your pet. The rice even comes in a little cat-shaped face.
I share, along with JP, a love of animals (okay, I, too have a cat). However, I can’t help but wonder if some of these pet trends aren’t taking matters a little bit too far—-if the animals aren’t turning into expensive accessories akin to the Louis Vuitton bag of yore. I mean, is this kimono wearing dog aware that he is sitting in the audience of the theater, watching a play while his mistress wears Louis Vuitton monogrammed jeans?
This dog—-the photo is not so great, I know—-is dressed up as Mickey Mouse, except the ears fell of his head and slid back to rest on his neck, just above his collar. I wonder if this is some kind of souvenir from a trip to Disneyland.
The author of the Japan Times article who suggest that pets have become a replacement for babies in Japan, has also sought out a specific reason for the pet boom.
It boils down, theorizes Chuo University literature professor Masahiro Yamada, to the human longing to be needed, a longing ironically undermined by society’s greatest triumphs — freedom and independence. Independence breeds indifference, which is contagious. Only our pets need and love us unconditionally.
What do you think, oh Japundits, of the subject of pets in Japan and the decreasing population? Is it all related, and a reflection of what it means to be relatively well off, compared to non-developed nations, yet spiritually starving? I’m curious, as always, to hear your thoughts and experiences on the matter.
(I should point out here that the notion that a developed country has 1: a lower fertility rate and 2: a love of animals, isn’t a new observation and isn’t limited to Japan alone. These seem to be part and parcel of economic advancement.)
Having just finished “Dogs and Demons,” the notion of an immature and undeveloped society is salient for me in this regard. When your entire pop culture is perverted with the relentless demand for “cute” and childishness is praised in all forms (Hello Kitty for men, for fuck’s sake), it makes sense that people are emotionally unprepared for maturity.
May 16th, 2008 at 12:24 pmCan you imagine a nine year old girl wanting to have a baby? Dolls yes, but babies? Maybe not so much, especially if they were to recognize more viscerally exactly what such a venture pertained. I suspect that the reason the birth rate is so much lower than in other places here has something to do with young Japanese women and men being too weak and selfish to appreciate the benefits of having a child over having a poodle.
Not that I’d ever want to raise a child in this country myself, but oh well.
There was a NY Times article a while back about Japanese dog factories and the mass production of tiny dogs. The desire for pets as fashion accessories is a worrisome trend as I doubt the pets will receive proper care and attention for their animal needs, especially as ownership in this case is more about making the owner the center of attention. What happens when the fashion trend changes? Unlike a ridiculously expensive handbag or watch, you can’t just put it in the closet.
Having a pet is much less labor and money intensive than having a kid. Given the changing working conditions (freeters, NEETs and fewer stable jobs available with good pay), it seems inevitable that they’ll be less able and likely to choose parenthood.
I think rising child abuse is simply that it gets reported these days. It used to be seen as an internal family matter and wasn’t commented on or reported (even when brought to the authorities). It’s only been the last decade or so that people have started to forcefully argue that physical abuse within a family was a public concern and problem.
Tranzic, most first world countries are experiencing declining birthrates. It has little to do with being “weak and selfish”. Generally speaking, as women have more opportunities outside of traditional marriage, the birth rate declines. Places with limited space (i.e., large urban areas) also tend to have lower birthrates. Would you want to raise multiple kids in a small 2DK apartment? For example, in my experience, rural Japanese families tend to have more kids than those in Tokyo, etc., but rural Japan is emptying out.
May 16th, 2008 at 11:31 pmI’ve had this idea for a few years about a short story where pets are given expiration dates (as in, they expire), but never managed to flesh it out enough to turn it into a complete piece of fiction. It didn’t seem so completely far fetched to me.
Agree that there seem to be more rural kids in Japan–again only an observation. It’s out in the country that I see kids being raised the way I remember from childhood (numerous family members around, attention to nature, and even small things, like how the children are held). But that’s not a surprise. I really like the inaka.
I heard a story while I was in Aichi prefecture about a grandmother who is now traveling to Tokyo every other week to care for her grandchildren so her daughter in law can go back to work. The grandmother isn’t a city person at all, but she wants to be there for the grandchildren. It’s a long trip for her to make.
May 17th, 2008 at 12:49 amPets DO have expiration dates. They die.
May 17th, 2008 at 8:09 amI live in Kyoto city. There are babies everywhere. Same goes for Osaka’s port town, as well as the Iwate countryside (Oshu city, for example). I have noticed an increase in dogs lately, though. Seems a lot of older people are filling a gap left by the departure of their kids with dogs.
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:50 pm