Tokyo Dogs

A new craze is sweeping Japanese society: dogs. The Japanese bought over one and a half million of them in 2004 alone. And like all fads, this one is bringing with it a boom in canine commerce. Tokyo Dogs takes an inside look at how Japan's new-found affection for dogs is leading to some of the most surprising and unlikely enterprises. In Tokyo, caterers and bakeries specialize in pleasing the picky pooch, offering a dazzling array of gourmet treats, all exquisitely presented according to Japanese custom. Deluxe hotels and relaxation centers provide dogs with an endless array of choices: mixed Jacuzzi where master and dog can unwind together, massage salons, hot baths and Shiatsu massages. One even has a wedding chapel, complete with traditional (dog-sized) marriage costumes and Shinto priest. And they'll even take care of the wedding gifts to boot. From high-fashion dog grooming to GPS dog collars to special dogie funeral homes, the market for canines has taken Tokyo by storm. The land of the rising sun is quickly becoming the land of the pampered dog-where else can you see a dog in a kimono?