The number of pets exceeds the number of children, Japan's pet economy may be booming!

Japan's NHK TV station said that as of April 1, 2021, the number of pets in Japan has exceeded the number of children under the age of 15 in the country .

According to data from the Japan Pet Food Association , the number of new dogs and cats entering households in 2020 increased by more than 60,000 compared to 2019 .

In particular, from April to May 2020 , when Japan entered its first state of emergency, one seller who operates pet stores nationwide saw his sales double.

The Japan Pet Food Association conducted a survey in 2020 and found that dog and cat ownership increased by 15% compared to 2019 .

As of October 2020 , there are an estimated 8.49 million dogs and 9.64 million cats kept as pets in Japan.

Despite the increase in pet ownership, the number of cats fell compared to 2019, which the Tokyo association attributed to Japan's aging population and the fact that dogs are easier to care for than cats .

Separately, data from Anicom Holdings Inc., which provides pet health insurance , showed that new contracts between April and September last year increased 33.2% compared with the same period in 2019.

During this period, Japan was in a state of emergency for nearly two months. It can be seen that the epidemic also had a certain impact on the increase or decrease in the number of pets.

"I think as human interaction has been restricted, pets have become something people want to bring warmth to their lives to alleviate loneliness," said an Anicom Holdings spokesperson.

But some animal rights groups warn that a surge in pet populations could put many newly acquired pets in trouble once life returns to normal and people spend less time at home .

The data that " the number of pets in Japan exceeds the number of children " is also surprising, which means that many Japanese families will need more pet supplies.

In Japan, the pet economy may also usher in a big boom. In this case, peripheral products such as pet food packaging, pet care expenses, and pet food will also become popular.

According to data from the Japan Pet Food Association , cats and dogs are the most numerous among all types of pets. If sellers want to enter the Japanese pet market, they can also learn more about listing pet products related to cats and dogs.

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