 The
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| Issue 27, Vol. 3 | August 9, 2004 |
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Cats In The News: Nekobukuro |
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(United Press International via COMTEX) -- For Reiko Takebayashi, it's a dream come true. "I've always wanted to have a cat. But my apartment won't allow pets ... and I've never been able to have animals when I lived at home," the 26-year-old single officer worker sighed. Here at Nekobukuro, though, Takebayashi and other feline lovers can indulge their craving for furry company to their hearts' content. Located on the top floor of a Tokyo department store that specializes in selling knick-knacks from kitschy panda-patterned shower curtains to practical items such as rubber-gripped tin can openers, Nekobukuro is home to 20 cats. Located in Ikebukuro, on the west side of Tokyo, the de facto petting zoo is also open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week to those willing to pay about $5.50 (600 yen) per person. For that price, customers are allowed into a room where cats roam free and exist simply to be petted by strangers. Of course, cats being cats, most of them including a haughty-looking brown Bengal kitten named Mocha aren't too eager to go up to strangers just to be cooed fawned upon. But at 4:30 p.m. each day, Nekobukuro holds what they call a "snack hour" when patrons are given morsels of cat food effectively to coax and bribe the cats into submission. And it works for most of them, as most cats large and small zoom to the person with the food, gobble up the treat, then move on to the next stranger who still has food. After they've made certain they ate all the available tidbits, most cats go back to their favorite perch, far away from any strangers that could disturb their peace. In short, for those who have a dog or cat at home, the felines are Nekobukuro --"neko" meaning cat in Japanese, and "bukuro" being a pun on the location of Ikebukuro-- are too aloof and too jaded to be enthralling. But for those who are craving for animal companionship, it's a godsend. It's not a bad business to run, either. In a megapolis like Tokyo, where real estate is precious, renting a house or apartment that will allow pets is always a challenge. But even for those who live in a place where pets are allowed, long commutes and even longer days in the office make it almost impossible for most single people to look after a dog or cat on their own. So a few years ago, several companies started up the rental pet business, where clients can pick up a dog to take home for the day to feed and walk around the neighborhood with, and play dog owner for a few hours. Then, of course, there was Aibo, the robotic dog from electronics manufacturer Sony that became a runaway hit nearly a decade ago. But there was nothing on the market to cater to those who longed for the companionship of cats until pet company MK Suematsu came along. This family-run group had been in the pet food and product business for nearly three decades, until it decided to venture into the business of getting would-be pet owners to mingle with their furry objects of affection. In June 2002, Nekotama Cats Livin' was started up in the trendy bay area of Odaiba. A mock apartment was prepared to become a home for a few dozen cats, complete with a living room, balcony, and bathroom where the felines run free and people pay to try to pick them up and stroke them. For just over $3 (400 yen), fans can also take photos with their favorite kitty as well. But the company also caters to canine lovers, too. In May 2003, for instance, MK Suematsu launched Dog Forest, where guests pay about $15 to spend the day with dogs that don't belong to them. Located in the summer resort area of Izu-Kogen, about two hours south of Tokyo, Dog Forest is home to about 80 dogs that are available for petting to visitors. They can also take dogs out and about for walks along the trails within the park, and watch dogs play games as well. And if the visitor falls in love with one dog in particular, some puppies are for sale at the park, too. Not everyone is enamored by the concept of paying to have a few minutes with a cat or dog, and then walking away from the animals once they're bored. "I actually think it's bad for children," said Keiko Tanigaki, who was shopping in Ikebukuro with her four-year-old daughter, Manami, in tow. "I want my daughter to love animals. But I want her to respect them too, and to understand that they're not toys. ... I think this Nekobukuro thing is an unhealthy concept, and I feel very sorry for the cats inside," she added. . © 2004 by United Press International. |
Furnished to The Cat's Meow by Chelle Thompson |
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