KEEPING DOGS AS PETS IN JAPAN TODAY
By Eggi Chromecek

Japan has a very long tradition of keeping dogs as pets. Sadly, though, it also has a long tradition of raising fighting dogs. Dog races bred for that purpose such as the Kai, Akita, and Tosa Inu have a long history. However, numerous little "lap dogs" have existed simultaneously, such as the Japanese Chin or Japanese Spitz. Many Japanese dog breeds, such as the Akita, have become beloved family dogs the world over. In this article I would like to describe the way the human/dog relationship manifests itself in Today's Japan.