"As with humans, the vitamins contained in tomatoes and lettuce are indispensable in the fight against aging for dogs," said an organizer of wanbino, a class that teaches participants how to cook food for their dogs.
While listening to the lecture by Yukie Mizuno, 49, participants who had brought their dogs along carefully placed food on a plate.
In the summer of 2016, Mizuno opened a studio in Taito Ward, Tokyo, where she introduces dishes for dogs that anyone can easily prepare using familiar ingredients.
She also emphasizes creating dishes that are visually pleasing to encourage participants to continue wanting to prepare the food every day.
Her cooking lessons have been well-received by participants, who get easy-to-understand explanations and can attend the lessons with their dogs. The lessons fill up fast, she said.
"The cooking is surprisingly easy. I'm glad the food is good for dogs," longtime participant Miki Hosoya, 48, a homemaker from Nakano Ward, Tokyo, said while holding her 5-year-old miniature schnauzer.
There is also a restaurant that allows customers to dine with their dogs.
Beginning about five years ago, a cook-it-yourself monjayaki pancake restaurant called Kappa Matsuri has had a table set aside for customers who dine with their dogs.
The menu includes okonomiyaki savory pancakes for dogs, allowing customers to better enjoy their dining experience as they can cook food for themselves and their dogs on the same iron plate. The same ingredients are used in the menu items for both dogs and humans, the restaurant said.
In addition to regular operating hours at night, it recently has allowed customers to rent out the entire restaurant during the day.
As 2018 is the Year of the Dog, "dog dishes" are expected to gain a greater following as many canine lovers want their pets to eat tasty and healthy food.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
