Fewer dogs, more cats kept as pets in Japan

The number of dogs kept as pets in Japan has fallen 13% over five years, from almost 12 million in 2010 to just over 10 million in 2014. During the same period, the country’s human population has fallen too, but only by 0.8%. The number of cats kept as pets in Japan, however, rose nearly 4% to almost 10 million.
The survey, conducted by the Japan Pet Food Association, suggests that Japan’s housing options and quickly changing lifestyles are to blame for the decline in the number of dogs. Twenty-five percent of the survey’s respondents said they lived in a building where dogs were prohibited.
A study by the Nielsen Co. in June said Japan accounts for 6.6% of global pet food sales. Japan made up US$5.24 billion of overall retain sales in the Asia-Pacific pet care market in 2014.
In Japan, pet food made up the vast majority (72.3%) of the country’s 2014 pet care retail sales, bringing in US$3.79 billion, according to Euromonitor. Of that, US$2.05 billion (39.1% of all pet care sales) was dog food and US$1.56 billion (29.8%) was cat food. Pet products brought in another US$1.46 billion (27.9%).
Japan, in spite of claiming the largest Asia-Pacific pet care numbers, has seen stagnant and even negative pet food growth since 2009 as a mature market. Three of the four top Japan-based companies, as compiled in Petfood Industry’s Top Companies Database, each bring in more than US$100 million in revenue annually.

Japanese company stops sales of pet treats made from endangered whales

A Japanese company has stopped selling petfood made from endangered Icelandic fin whales after a campaign by conservation groups.
Michinoku Farm was previously advertising jerky-like treats for dogs made from the endangered whales imported from Iceland. However, the company removed the product from its website after protests from four groups, including UK-based Environmental Investigation Agency and US-based Animal Welfare Institute. 
Michinoku Farm president, Takuma Konno, said the company pulled the treats, despite being legal to sell in Japan. "Dogs are like family members for many people in Japan. We just wanted to sell a wide variety of food for dogs," he said. "Campaigners look at whales as important animals, but we consider dogs to be just as important. Maybe I was ignorant of the debate over whaling, but it's not worth selling the product if it risks angering some people."
Susan Milward, executive director of the Animal Welfare Institute, said, "We are extremely pleased to see Michinoku Farm respond in such a progressive, compassionate and prompt manner, and we would strongly urge all other businesses to follow suit and end such sales."

Icelandic whales exported to Japan for use in petfood

Meat from North Atlantic fin whales is being sold by Iceland to Japan to be used in petfood, according to a report. 
Iceland plans to resume commercial whaling in June, which is expected to result in catching of more than 180 whales over the next few months. 
However, the Environmental Investigation Agency is accusing the country's government of breaching a global moratorium on whale hunting, calling the inclusion of the whale species in specialty dog foods in Japan "grotesque." According to the agency's senior campaigner, Clare Perry, "almost 100 percent" of whale meat is being exported to Japan from Iceland.  
Fin whales are at a very high risk of extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, but Iceland says the fin whale population has increased enough that it can withstand sustainable hunting.

Second Interpets hosts 257 pet product exhibitors in Japan

Interpets – International Fair for a Better Life with Pets, held August 23-26 at Makuhari Messe in Japan, welcomed 257 exhibitors from 13 countries and 46,883 visitors, an increase of 20 percent, to this second pet industry show.
The fair aimed to provide ideas to enhance the lifestyle of pet owners and their pets as well as provide a platform for overseas manufacturers and retailers to exhibit new pet products.
In addition to having twice the number of overseas exhibitors as the previous year, the show also saw an increase in the number of participants from other business sectors such as automobile, IT, and interior and design.
Renault Japon Co. Ltd. in collaboration with Lager Corporation introduced a special edition of their “Renault Kangoo,” designed for pets and pet owners. Masato Komatsu, of Renault Japon Co Ltd., said: “To sum up our reason for participation, our goal is to propose a new lifestyle. Pet owner’s lifestyles tend to be confined indoors, which can be a challenge when you have animals that are very active like dogs. To change that, we created a special model so pet owners could enjoy outdoor trips and comfortable experience with their pets. This car model has solved the problems that pet owners often face during car trips and at the same time maintained its stylishness as we are a French car manufacturer."
The third edition of Interpets will be held August 22-25, 2013, at Makuhari Messe Hall 7 and 8.

Interpets 2012 draws record number of visitors, exhibitors

In 2012, the Japanese pet industry show Interpets drew more visitors than its first show in 2011, with 46,883 visitors in 2012 compared to 39,481 in 2011.
Among those who attended Interpets, which took place August 23-26, were 9,836 pet industry professionals.
The 2012 show also had 257 exhibitors, including 48 from abroad, exhibiting new products. This is higher than the 217 exhibitors the show drew in 2011, shortly after an earthquake in Fukushima.

Japan pet suppliers show Interpets planned for August

Interpets, the Japanese "pet event of the new era," will be held in Japan in August, open to pet food and pet supply industry suppliers as well as the public.  This pet suppliers trade show will be held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan, from August 23-26. The fair will feature new products for a better life with pets, including dogs, cats and small animals.
More information on registration and exhibitors is available online.

Japan's aging pets fuel market for elderly pet care products

Japanese pets are living longer than ever before thanks to advancements in pet food and veterinary care, which is fueling a need for elderly pet care. As pets' lifespans increase, a new market in the pet industry is emerging, with products ranging from animal diapers, to walking aids, to research into pet tissue-engineering, according to an AFP report. 
The Japanese have 22 million dogs and cats, according to the latest data from the Japan Pet Food Association, outnumbering children under age 15 in that country by about 30%. Japan's aging human population has been declining since 2007, with nearly one-quarter of the population now age 65 or older, according to the report.
But, many pet owners say they want to take care of their beloved pets until the very end, regardless of age, rather than opt for euthanasia. So to help animals live out their older years in comfort, companies have developed new product lines, including Osaka, Japan-based home builder, Yamahisa Co., which began making elderly pet products five years ago.
"We realized that there is demand for goods to take care of elderly dogs because they are considered members of the family," said Yuko Kushibe, a marketing official at Yamahisa.
To help older, larger pets that may be difficult to move, the company offers a cart, a sling, diapers and a mattress with handles to turn a dog's body and prevent bed sores, as well as hip supports that help a dog stand up and walk. Electronics maker Fujitsu Ltd. teamed up with Japanese veterinarians to provide around-the-clock medical care for pets, and recently began offering trial services at a Tokyo animal clinic.
Researchers at the Jikei University School of Medicine are trying to help solve kidney failure, a problem the researchers say leads to death in nearly 30% of elderly cats, by trying to grow new cat kidneys in pig embryos. Takashi Yokoo, a head of research, said he succeeded in cultivating tiny kidneys in pig embryos by injecting stem cells collected from bone marrow of cats. He said his team implanted the "neo-kidneys" into a fat membrane that hangs from the cat's stomach, where a crucial blood-forming hormone is produced. Yokoo said he is hopeful he will be able to apply the technique to pets within two years, a procedure that he said would cost about 50,000 yen (US$620).

Spectrum Labs will donate $1 to Japan rescue groups for new Twitter followers, Facebook 'Likes'

Spectrum Labs will spend the months of May and June raising money for Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support, a collaboration of three Japan-based no-kill animal rescue groups that are helping animals affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
During May and June, Spectrum Labs will donate US$1 for each new follower on its Twitter page, for each new “like” on its Facebook page, for each new veterinary clinic that chooses to receive its newsletter electronically instead of on paper, and to any attendee of the CVC East conference who swipes a card at Spectrum Labs' booth 211. In total, the company says it will donate up to US$4 to JEARS for each new person who connects with Spectrum.
“We hope that our community of veterinarians and pet-parents will help us support JEARS extensive efforts to help animals and veterinary hospitals as they recover from the horrific disaster in Japan. Pets play a significant role in Japanese families, which we can all relate to,” said Lyndee Kelver, domestic marketing manager at Spectrum. “Undoubtedly, there is a need for pets worldwide to receive the most effective allergy treatments possible. JEARS is a wonderful organization and we are honored to partner with them as they help aid animals that are victims of the massive earthquake devastation. We need the industry’s help to follow/like us on our social media sites and encourage others to do the same.”

Japanese Nisshin Petfood reports sales decline in fiscal 2011

The Japanese Nisshin Seifun Group reported its consolidated financial results for the first six months of the fiscal year, ending March 2011.
The company reported a 7.8% decrease in net sales over the same period in fiscal 2010, to ¥ 209.16 billion (US$2.54 billion). Sales by Nisshin Siefun's pet food business, Nisshin Petfood Inc., also decreased from the same period in the previous year, which the company attributed to the continuing harsh market environment and the poor performance of cat food products. The company said it will continue to expand its premium petfood business with a focus on safety, reliability and health, by leveraging its advantages as a domestic manufacturer.

Southern California dog club donates petfood to Japanese animals

Brandi and Stephen Terry of Desperate Paws Dog Club in Newport Beach, California, USA, donated 40,000 tons of petfood to pets affected by the March 2011 tsunami and earthquake in Japan.
In total, the Terrys collected the more than 7 tons of petfood and supplies donated by businesses and organizations in Southern California, USA. All items will be distributed to Japanese rescue groups that partner with World Vets International.
The Terrys decided to launch their pet food drive after watching video footage of animals affected by the deadly earthquake and tsunami.
"It has been a difficult process but World Vets has been on top of it all the way, and we are extremely grateful to their efforts as well as H2O Logistics," said Stephen Terry, co-founder of Desperate Paws. "The latest estimates from World Vets say that more than 20,000 animals in Japan are hurt or sick. Much of the problem now is the radiation and the difficulty of help groups to get to the animals."

Pestering fish in Japan made into petfood

Foreign species of fish that have been damaging the Lake Biwa ecosystem in Japan will now be turned into petfood, according to The Mainichi Daily News.
In the past, the 400 to 500 tons of fish retrieved from the lake were only used in livestock feed, but due to the presence of vitamin E and taurine in the fish, it was suggested by food analysis company Hiyoshi to also use the species in petfood.
A company on Lake Biwa's Okishima Island started developing a fish-based product with Hiyoshi in February.
The petfood consists of black bass and bluegill fish and can be used as dog or cat food.

Japanese pet population increases, petfood ads decrease

In 2009, the Japan pet population grew to 13.6 million dogs and 11.3 million cats, a 9 and 29% increase respectively from 2004, according to the Japan Pet Food Association. But while the number of Japanese pets continues to rise, ATL advertising has decreased in the country.
Last year, Master Foods Japan spent one-tenth of what it spent a decade earlier on advertising, according to in-house data from McCann Erickson Japan.
Ichiro Hata, group account director at McCann Erickson Osaka, told Haymarket Media Limited the reason for the drop.
“After the [March 2004 recall of Pedigree dog food], the consumer psychology changed,” said Hata. “Makers of mid-quality petfood … cut back on advertising. Sales of petfood shifted toward the premium and low ends.”