Year of the Dog

2006 will be the Year of the Dog - not only according to the Chinese calendar but also Japanese consumer behavior, as the last few years have seen a huge boom in dogs as household pets that is bound to continue in 2006. Some facts and figures:

• The Japanese market for dog-related business is estimated to be about 1.2 trillion yen annually (Nomura Research Institute).
• Dogs have become fashion acessoires and therefore status symbols among urban females in their 20s and 30s , with rare and popular breeds selling for up to 1 million Yen.
• There are numerous dog-grooming salons all over Japan, and last year saw the opening of a hotel at Narita Airport where owners can check in their dogs while they are on holiday.
• Nintendo has released a very successful game for the DS in 2005, which allows users to raise, train and play with a virtual puppy from various popular breeds.

Click here for more information on the above artwork.