We moved from Chiba Prefecture to Fukushima Prefecture in 2006. At that time, my son was small, so I often took him to Shinhama Park. Lots of people walk their dogs in that park. One man had a dog named Nikko that was just gorgeous. She was a Borzoi.

Well, Nikko passed away last year. Yesterday I was on my way home from shopping and saw that man out again. He told me he had gotten a new Borzoi, a female named Marie. (“Like Marie Antoinette,” he said.)

She’s beautiful!

She’s still a puppy, he told me.

Like Nikko, Marie seemed a little skittish around me (a stranger.) She reminded me of a slightly highly-strung colt!!

Most people in Fukushima City have similar sorts of breeds of dogs—Miniature Dachshunds, Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Poodles, Shiba, mixed-breeds……..

I don’t notice a lot of large dogs. Some, but not a whole lot.

The most unusual breeds I’ve ever seen were this Borzoi and once a woman had two Afghan Hounds.

Dogs are really and truly treated like children where I live! 🙂