Mini pigs are now the latest craze in Japan, with one Tokyo cafe offering customers the chance to pet them for a small cost.
Despite not spending any money on advertising, the cafe reportedly receives a steady stream of customers, who all heard about the establishment from social media.
What they offer: For 2,200 yen ($15), Mipig Cafe customers can spend time and mingle with the resident teacup pigs for 30 minutes. They can also buy one from the cafe for 200,000 yen ($1,360).
About the pigs: The miniature pigs, which are claimed to not get any bigger than a corgi dog, have been toilet-trained and socialized with humans. Like other pet animals, they are unique and have their own individual personalities, café executive Shiho Kitagawa told AP.
Concerns raised: Some animal rights activists have raised concerns on whether cafe animals themselves enjoy their interactions. Sachiko Azuma, head of Tokyo-based Put an End to Animal Cruelty and Exploitation, told AP that they “have become tools for a money-making business.” The group primarily opposes animal experiments and “petting zoos” but approves of cafes that try to find new homes for abandoned pets.
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