Japan's digital pets put Rufus in the doghouse


By Yuko Akimoto

A pet shop would seem like the logical place to begin looking for a pet dog or cat, but in Japan, many people are going no further than their local toy store.
Thanks to the advancement of digital technology in the country, toy manufacturers have been able to produce mechanical animals that look almost the same as living ones -- some pet dogs are reportedly so lifelike that they can send real dogs howling.

Sony's robot dog Aibo was the digital center of attention when it made its debut about five years ago, but the world of artificial pets has come a long way since then. Consumers can now buy ducks and hamsters in addition the popular assortment of cats and dogs

"Yume Inu" (dream dog), which toy retailer Takara began marketing in September last year at 5,980 yen apiece, is one well-liked model. Versions of the product are made in the image of small dogs like Chihuahuas and papillons with large eyes and fluffy-looking coats of fur. Sensors imbedded in the pets make them bark when they are patted on the head and when their owners come near them they wag their tail and lean their head to one side.

"(These dogs) are popular among people who can't keep pets because of their residential status and elderly people whose children have left home," the company's public relations division says.

Tomy's "Micropets," which go for 1,280 yen each are small enough to fit in the palm of one's hand. Buyers can choose between dogs, cats, rabbits and hamsters, and the pets come in a variety of colors. When people call out to these pets they react and start walking or singing. A feature is that their personalities differ, and if their temper turns bad they sometimes don't respond.

Guinness World Records recognized these miniature pets as the smallest ones that are activated by sound. Since they were put on the market in July last year, 1.5 million of them have been sold in Japan, while global sales have climbed to 14 million.

The company has also come out with "Yubi no Pipi," a chick that retails for 680 yen. The firm began selling this in March last year, while it launched a duck version, "Yubi no Gaaga" in December.

"Since these pets are small, there are many female workers who put them on their desks at work. I suppose they want to be comforted both at home and at work," a company worker says.

Takanori Shibata, a researcher from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, says digital pets can help relieve people's stress, much like with real animals.

"Animals can cheer people up and help relieve their stress. Digital pets can have the same effect," he says.