Lawyer Kimiko Yoshie walks through a narrow aisle in court, led by a guide dog. Taking a seat on the defense side, she gently pats the dog's head and smiles at him as he stretches at her feet.
Being visually impaired, 45 year-old Yoshie from Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, is always with Kuru, her 7-year-old male Labrador retriever, including in court.
Other than helping Yoshie dodge obstacles, Kuru's laid-back attitude also helps calm defendants and other clients she meets for the first time, Yoshie said in an interview held prior to International Guide Dog Day on Wednesday.