Japan's pet boom over the last decade has brought considerable benefits to the nation's economy. At the same time, however, it has led to problems involving both unscrupulous breeders and traders.
While consumer sales in general have remained stagnant through Japan's protracted economic downturn of the last two decades, the pet-related market has been expanding, according to data from market-research firm Fuji Keizai Co.
In fact, according to Shinpei Iwama, a researcher at the company's Osaka branch, the pet industry nationwide topped ¥1 trillion in turnover in 2006 and has now reached ¥1.2 trillion. In comparison, the market for health supplements is now estimated to stand at ¥1 trillion.