Photographs from a small group of islands
With this year’s crops now planted, it’s time for the mannequin head scarecrows to make another appearance. And once again they are doing what they do best.
Which is standing silently.
As well as staring.
Always staring.
Japan’s so-called pet boom has now been booming for so long that it’s probably fair to label the Japanese as a bona fide nation of animal lovers. Or if that’s not the case, at least small dog fans, as approximately 98.7% of all pets appear to be little canines. Exactly 99.2% of which never leave the house unless properly dressed, along with the odd one or two that even wear wigs.
But now and again it is possible to see other pets out in public. Quite improbably the odd pig, and arguably even rarer, a really rather wonderful reptile.
A glorious looking iguana that, despite being restrained by a silk leash of sorts, was still determined to indulge in its passion for ice cream and/or older ladies.
As our eyes met, he knew, that I knew, that we both knew, that a dog wearing a samurai-style chonmage wig is silly to say the least.
And so, as I took his photo, with him looking so foolish, I also knew that he’d never forgive me.
Cute little canines in all kinds of clothing are now commonplace in Tokyo — so much so, in fact, that a dachshund wearing spectacles isn’t actually much of a spectacle anymore.
However, a pet pig out for a meander with its master, most definitely is.
A well-behaved, if rather wilful beast.
That, in its own way, was also rather cute.
Although a cuddle would probably be best tackled with extreme caution.
In a land where cute is unquestionably king, it makes some sort of sense, I suppose, that motorcycle sidecars shouldn’t be exempt.
There’s possibly only one thing worse than standing around all day trying to hand out promotional material to people who don’t want it, and that’s standing around all day trying to hand out promotional material to people who don’t want it while wearing a panda suit.
And especially so when it’s one so positively perky looking.
