Ranking Japan's Most Popular Pets: Dogs, Cats, and Small Animals

Nov 27, 2024 - 08:57
Nov 27, 2024 - 14:47
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Ranking Japan's Most Popular Pets: Dogs, Cats, and Small Animals
Image source: https://www.koneko-breeder.com/magazine/12097

In Japan, pet ownership is a cherished tradition, and each year, various companies conduct surveys to determine the most beloved pet breeds. 

The categories include "cat breeds," "dog breeds," and "small animals (excluding dogs and cats)." The rankings are based on these surveys, reflecting the preferences of Japanese pet owners.

November 22 is celebrated as "Pet Appreciation Day" in Japan, a day established by P2 & Associates, a pet business company. The date was chosen due to a playful word association: the sounds "Wang Wang" for dogs and "Nian Nian" for cats, which resemble the pronunciation of the numbers 11 and 22 in Japanese.

Pet Appreciation Day is dedicated to showing gratitude to pets, acknowledging the special bond between humans and animals, and promoting awareness of wildlife and natural environments.

To mark Pet Appreciation Day, a Japanese website has released the rankings for the most popular "cat breeds," "dog breeds," and "small animals" in Japan. The rankings are based on results from a survey conducted by SBI Prism Small Amount and Short-Term Insurance, covering the period from April 2023 to March 2024.

Top 5 Most Popular Dog Breeds in Japan:

  1. Toy Poodle
  2. Chihuahua
  3. Shiba Inu
  4. Miniature Dachshund
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

Top 5 Most Popular Cat Breeds in Japan:

  1. Scottish Fold
  2. American Shorthair
  3. Munchkin
  4. Bengal
  5. Minuet

Top 5 Most Popular Small Animals in Japan (Excluding Dogs and Cats):

  1. Rabbit
  2. Hamster
  3. Chinchilla
  4. Ferret
  5. Guinea Pig

These rankings highlight the diverse preferences of Japanese pet owners, from the charming Toy Poodle to the adorable Scottish Fold, and the cuddly rabbit. Each breed and species offers unique qualities that endear them to their human companions.

Injavi Staff InJavi is a website that provides information for foreigners to enjoy life and visit in Japan more smoothly. This website is easy to use even for first-timers to Japan and those who are not very good at Japanese, and supports multiple languages.