Some upright-eared Scottish Folds secretly carry the fold gene, a Japanese study finds. What this means for a painful cartilage disease and the global push to restrict fold-cat breeding.
Sony is ending Japan sales of its aibo robot dog (ERS-1000), then said it isn't quitting and teased a next-gen model. Here is the panic, the history of AIBO funerals, and Sony's physical-AI plan.
In Anicom's 2026 dog ranking, small mixed-breed 'MIX' dogs took first place for a second straight year with 30,061 entries, ahead of Toy Poodles and Chihuahuas. A look at the rise of small designer mixes, Japan's growing shelter-adoption culture, and why a pet insurer's annual dog census makes the news. What's the most popular dog where you live?
Electronics giant Panasonic hosted a Tokyo adoption event where 193 rescue dogs and cats met would-be families. A look at why a tech company backs animal welfare, and the company-NPO-newspaper model behind it.
At a major Japanese pet expo, a homegrown technology called Livnight grows a sparkling gem from a dog's ashes. It costs far less than an ash-diamond, actually out-sparkles one, and never leaves Japan. A clear look at why Livnight, plus the country's pet farewell culture.
On May 17, 2026, Empress Masako waved goodbye to a polar bear at Tobe Zoo in Ehime, telling her 'I hate to leave.' Meet Peace, the 26-year-old 'miracle bear' who became Japan's first successful hand-raised polar bear — and the keeper who took her home to live with his family.
Nlab Research polled 943 Japanese men on the 'coolest dog breed.' Akita took #1 with 9.5%, Doberman #2 with 8.8%. We unpack the male-specific trend, compare with women's results, and examine what Voicenote's panel composition tells us about who actually answered.
Asahi Kasei Homes is expanding its smart dog pod sharing service WanPod to 30 commercial facilities in Japan's Kanto region this summer. The climate-controlled private suites — equipped with smart locks, monitoring cameras, music players and privacy curtains — recorded 89% satisfaction and zero accidents in trials. Discover how a Japanese chemical-housing conglomerate is building a uniquely Japanese pet coexistence infrastructure.
PETOKOTO and three partner organizations launched the Pet Guardianship Lab to tackle Japan's emerging 'pet refugee' crisis. As single households hit 40% and the population ages rapidly, a uniquely Japanese law-insurance-NGO consortium is building a safety net for pets whose owners die, are hospitalized, or develop dementia.
A lawsuit in Ehime, Japan exposes the danger of approaching working guide dogs after an off-leash dog caused a visually impaired woman to fall. With only 768 guide dogs serving Japan and 70.6% of users asking 'please don't touch,' here are the 7 things you must never do.
Japan has reduced dog and cat euthanasia by 99% over 50 years, yet 6,830 animals are still put down annually. Tokyo-based Signal Talk has launched 'Paw Me,' a service that lets users feed shelter animals remotely via smartphone. A new model of social participation for those who cannot keep pets due to allergies, age, or living situation.
A 2-year-old Pomeranian named Haku joined Japan's Miyazaki Prefectural Police as their first Pomeranian K-9. After being surrendered by his original owner, he passed a tough scent test in his very first year. Discover his trainer's story, Japan's growing small-breed police dog trend, and what makes Haku special. What unusual working dogs exist in your country?
Gifu Prefecture's first Shiba Inu police dog, 2-year-old Tsubu, passed a rigorous scent test to join the K-9 force alongside German Shepherds. Explore her story, the rise of small-breed police dogs in Japan, Japanese dog breeds, and where to meet Shibas. What unconventional working dogs exist in your country?
WWF Japan reveals shocking data on pet-origin invasive species, while Amami Oshima achieves the world's largest mongoose eradication. A deep dive into 20 years of Japan's invasive species law.
Japan's iconic confectionery giant Morinaga has launched its first-ever pet-friendly products in 126 years of history — 7 snacks that both humans and dogs can enjoy together. From Moonlight cookies to Ice Box frozen treats, the company backed its concept with university research proving shared snacking strengthens the human-dog bond. A deep dive into Japan's booming $12.7 billion pet market.
Japan's cat-driven economy "Nekonomics" has reached approximately $19 billion in 2026, rivaling the Osaka World Expo. Explore the booming cat cafés, cat islands, feline health tech startups, and the unique cultural forces powering Japan's extraordinary cat business ecosystem.