Kimono-clad pets blessed at Japan festival lacking enough kids

The annual "Shichi-Go-San" festival, traditionally held in Japan to celebrate the growth of children at ages three, five and seven, saw a shift this year as more and more worshippers brought their beloved pets instead. The event, which took place at the Ichigaya Kamegaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Tokyo, involved chanting, swishing a wooden wand and a purification rite for pets dressed in colorful kimonos.

Shoko Kodama, a 46-year-old doctor, explained that she had spent two months crafting a red kimono for her five-year-old British shorthair cat, Amber. Kodama said, "This little one is like my child. Just having her around makes all the unpleasant things in life melt away."

The shrine's priest, Kenji Kaji, noted that the role of pets in people's lives has changed due to shifting family structures in Japan, which is facing an ageing population and a low birth rate. Kaji said that the shrine has been accepting around 400 families for the festival each year since the early 2000s, due to the increasing number of pet owners.

Miyu Shiro, a 23-year-old owner of two Yorkshire terriers, shared that marking the event with her dogs "feels perfectly natural" as they are part of their family. Japan's fertility rate has continued to decline, reaching a record low in June, highlighting the country's demographic crisis. With a median age of 49.9 years and the second-oldest population in the world, behind only Monaco, Japan's population is in decline.

Koichi Ohara, a 57-year-old attendee, expressed his gratitude for his three Chihuahuas, stating that they give him "unconditional love" and are more affectionate than human children.