At the Tokyo pet fair, furry fashion trends and post-mortem services take center stage
(EFE) – Tokyo, 31 March – The latest pet-related gadgets and gizmos were on display at the Interpets convention in Tokyo on Thursday, where attendees could learn about cutting-edge nutritional food, the latest fashion trends for our four-legged pals, and post-mortem services.
The Interpets fair, which runs through April 3 and will bring together around 450 enterprises, is expected to draw up to 36,000 people, according to organizers.
This year's convention is the largest since it began in 2011, and while the first day's schedule is restricted to cooperate visitors, many attendees brought their dogs with them.
Tomomi Adachi, the owner of the Wanchika Chiba cafe, where customers can have a drink while being surrounded by dozens of dogs, was one of these people.
Princess Maria, a poodle, was also spotted walking around the convention hall in a Yumi Katsura designer costume.
According to the Yano Research Institute, Japan's pet market is currently worth 1.5 billion yen ($12.3 million) and is growing at a rate of 3% annually.
It was also one of the few industries that saw a positive impact from the Covid-19 outbreak. In 2020, 876,000 more Japanese people will adopt a cat or dog, increasing 17.74 percent from the previous year.
According to the national pet food organization, there were an anticipated 7.1 million dogs and 8.9 million cats in Japan by 2021.
Pet fairs such as Interpets, which used to focus on basic necessities like leashes, anti-parasite collars, and food, have expanded to include more high-tech items, indicating that the Japanese are increasingly considering their pets to be family members.
Langualess, an unique dog harness with a built-in heart monitor that can transfer data to the owner's mobile, is one of those cutting-edge products at Interpets.
But it's not just devices; new services have emerged in the business, ranging from specialized hotels that provide training and food courses to custom insurance plans.
From special funerals to taxidermy, there are services available for pet owners who want to prepare for their pet's most dreaded moment.
Shinjusou, a company based in Nagasaki's Goto Islands, claims to be able to transform pet bones into pearls.
We carefully place a small piece of bone in an Akoya pearl oyster, and after a year or a year and a half, they are ready to shine again, says the researcher. Yoshiki Matsushita, the entrepreneur's brainchild
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