Tokyo - In Japan, caring for pets goes beyond
the grave.
At Pet Rainbow Fiesta, a pet funeral expo, held in Tokyo on
Monday, visitors were given a host of options on performing
rites for dead pets, including cremation, constructing a
household altar and making offerings of incense.
The basic funeral service fee starts from 95 800 yen
(R11 000) for a one-kilogram hamster or bird and can go up to
114 800 yen (about R14 000) for a 20-kilogram dog, according to funeral services
company Kokolone. A flower altar can be added for 30 000 (about R3500) yen or
pet owners can hire the services of a violinist or pianist to
add sombre music.
The funeral rituals underscore a Japanese belief that
spirits need to be pacified - even if that comes at a tidy cost
for your pet.