Suddenly, everyone around me has a dog. My sister, a cousin, friends, people at work, neighbours, my daughter's friends and even the shop owners near my house - all, it seems, have their lives dominated by their pets.
When I ask them out for lunch or on an overnight trip, their major concern is to ensure they can still walk their dog - or someone else will. I see dozens of dog walkers - teenagers, housewives and retirees - in a nearby park. They show off their dog's latest raincoat or luminous collar, exchange details on a new diet dog food or the best vets and trainers in the area. No doubt, it is an important social interaction for the owners, who perhaps have little else in common.
Today, Japan is in the midst of an unprecedented pet boom: there are nearly 11 million dogs and 8 million cats in the country, out of a total of 20 million pets. In 2003, the number of pets exceeded that of children under the age of 15 for the first time. And while the number of under 15s continues to fall, pet figures are still rising.
For the owners, pets are important life companions and family members. An increasing number are retirees whose children have fled the nest, or single people who live alone in big cities. They typically call their pets, uchi no ko (my child) and treat them as if they were indeed human. That is why Ichigaya Kameoka Hachimangu, a shrine in Tokyo, is so popular. It is one of few religious institutions to give blessings to pets, and owners can buy amulets against sickness (in a pawprint design, naturally).
My friend would do anything for her golden retriever, Momo. She happily paid 3,000 yen ($216) for a charm to ward off sickness, 2,500 yen for a 'lucky' bandana and 500 yen for a wooden plate. Of course, she also bought four extra sets for Momo's friends. She openly admits that Momo is her number-one priority, followed by her three-year-old granddaughter, then tennis lessons. (Her husband is a long way down the list).
The downside of this pet boom is that many large dogs are kept in tiny flats; they are overfed and some have diabetes. Certain breeds become extremely popular, then get abandoned - sometimes even in rubbish bins - as irresponsible owners move on to the latest 'fashion accessory' or find the constant care required a nuisance.