Welcome to ageing Japan, now second only to the US in pet pampering. Danielle Demetriou reports that "the number of pets long ... [have] eclipsed the number of children under the age of 15":

Today, [Japan]’s dogs can enjoy a leisurely life of yoga, aromatherapy massages and tap-dancing classes (yes really), in between stays in boutique dog hotels and attending dog fashion shows. Cats don’t have it any harder: from cat acupuncture to cat cafés (including separate menus – organic of course – for both cats and owners), there are few aspects of human life that are not available also for felines.

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