日本的卡哇伊宠物和动物遗弃问题

Kawaii Pets and Animal Abandonment in Japan(Translated Article)

豢养宠物在日本城市里颇为流行,宠物服务是一门重要的市场生意。这种宠物热潮与当代日本的出生率下降带来的少子化、城市化带来的农村过疏化和日本流行的卡哇伊文化密切相关。但人与动物之间的这种亲密关系是虚幻的、流于表面的,日本的动物福利法缺乏且存在普遍的动物遗弃现象。穿戴时髦、理想化的、“被驯服”的宠物,体现了日本文化和媒体对“卡哇伊”(可爱)的执着,背后则是宠物商店、育种、繁殖等业务的畸形发展,最终导致大量动物被抛弃、被安乐死。

Kawaii,or cute,animals are everywhere in Japan,as cute mascots for corporations,as YouTube stars,as cat cafe playmates ready to alleviate loneliness,and,of course,as pets.The kawaii trend is prevalent,offering warmth,joy,and amusement in a society in which human-human relationships may be strained.The number of pets being brought into the home continues to rise as the human birth rate declines-primarily coming from pet shops advertising and selling the youngest,most kawaii living products legally allowable.This increase in pet-keeping is matched by a rise in abandoned companion animals,a problem exacerbated by the limited social safety net for homeless pets.As animal welfare concern and awareness gradually rise,animal rescue nonprofit organizations(NPOs)and supporters seek a solution to this social problem.This chapter illustrates the connections between kawaii culture and animal abandonment in Japan.