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Pigs At This Cafe In Tokyo Are Called “Buta-San,” And They Trot Around Looking For Pets
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Pigs At This Cafe In Tokyo Are Called “Buta-San,” And They Trot Around Looking For Pets

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Oink oink, do you care for a pig-ture perfect cup of coffee while cozying up to an adorable piglet? Then, it’s time to smash your piggy bank and fly to Japan to visit this pig cafe.

For 2,200 yen ($15), customers get to spend at least 30 minutes in the company of cute little pigs at Tokyo’s Mipig Café. Due to its a-boar-able and popular nature, a reservation is required before showing up.

Brad Loomis, a software engineer from Pullman, Washington, visited the capital’s unique coffee place with his 21-year-old daughter, Paige. He told AP News: “It was wonderful. Very relaxing and enjoyable.”

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    For 2,200 yen ($15), customers get to spend at least 30 minutes in the company of cute little pigs at Tokyo’s Mipig Café

    Image credits: Mipig cafe

    Image credits: Mipig cafe

    They were among dozens of customers on a recent morning at the cafe, taking selfies and breaking into huge smiles. The pigs, a miniature breed, trotted about the room, looking for a cozy lap to cuddle up in.

    The pigs are surprisingly quiet, although they do snort now and then. They don’t like to be alone, making for great companionship. Unlike the stereotype, they’re very clean and don’t smell.

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    Pigs at the cafe are referred to as “buta-san.” “Buta” is the Japanese word for pig or swine. According to the Japanese Consulting Office, in Japanese business life, a surname is always followed by the honorific suffix “san” (meaning “dear” or actually “honorable Mr./Ms.”).

    Unlike the stereotype, the pigs are very clean and don’t smell

    Image credits: Mipig cafe

    Image credits: filmbykt

    @filmbyktPig cafe = new therapy♬ original sound – notYero

    Shiho Kitagawa, an executive at Mipig, said: “Each pig is unique. Each one has his or her own personality. 

    “You may notice one may be strong-headed, and another may be gentle.”

    Shiho has a point. According to the Humane Society of the United States, pigs are gentle creatures with surprising intelligence. Studies have found they’re smarter than dogs and even three-year-old children. In the wild, pigs form small groups that typically include a few sows (female pigs) and their piglets.

    “You may notice one may be strong-headed, and another may be gentle,” Shiho Kitagawa, an executive at Mipig, said

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    Image credits: haleyandzach_

    The Mipig Café is located in the fashionable street of Harajuku and is among 10 such pig cafes the operator has opened around Japan. The first one opened in Tokyo in 2019. 

    Pig lovers will be pleased to learn that two more pig cafes are in the works for later this year, AP News reported.

    The animals trotting around Mipig are known as “micropigs,” and they don’t get bigger than a corgi dog, even as adults. The cafes also feature adorable baby pigs the size of toy poodles, as per AP News.

    Image credits: haleyandzach_

    Should a person become particularly fond of one of these charming beings, they can purchase one for about 200,000 yen ($1,350) from Mipig.

    The pigs there have reportedly already been toilet-trained and are used to being with people. Micropig food is also for sale at the venue. So far, 1,300 pig lovers have found their new best friend at Mipig.

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    Sophie Mo’unga, a tourist from New Zealand in Japan with her husband and two children, said: “They were cute. I think they were all keeping each other warm.”

    Pigs are gentle creatures with surprising intelligence, and studies have found they’re smarter than dogs and even three-year-old children

    Image credits: haleyandzach_

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    @haleyandzach_ playing with pigs in Tokyo! #japan #japantravel #travelingjapan #visitjapan #tokyo #harajuku #mipigcafe #pigcafe #uniquecafe ♬ original sound – Haley and Zach | Budget Travel

    On Google, people have been flooding Mipig’s address with positive reviews, as one read: “There are pigs here. Lots of pigs. These pigs REALLY want to sit in your lap.” 

    “The big pigs seem to like little people, and the little pigs like big people.”

    “The pigs squabble sometimes, but the staff are quick to break it up.”

    “The pigs aren’t aggressive towards people.”

    “There are sometimes messes, but the staff are good at dealing with them.”

    The Mipig Café is located in the fashionable street of Harajuku and is among 10 such pig cafes the operator has opened around Japan

    @haleyandzach_ playing with a capybara in Tokyo! #japan #visitjapan #japancafe #travel #travelcouple #travelcouplelife #animal #uniqueanimal #capybara ♬ original sound – Haley and Zach | Budget Travel

    The pig cafe is the latest in a series of animal coffee shops that have popped up in Japan, including ones that feature owls, hedgehogs, birds, and even snakes, AP News reported.

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    Despite the cuteness overload customers may experience while visiting these types of venues, some people have raised ethical questions. 

    Sachiko Azuma, head of Tokyo-based PEACE, which stands for Put an End to Animal Cruelty and Exploitation, told AP News: “It must be stressful to be touched and fondled by a bunch of strangers.

    “The animals have become tools for a money-making business,” she said.

    @gisellee.lopezz my first animal cafe experience in japan! 💓🦔 #japan #tokyo #harryharajuku #harryharajukucafe #harajuku #japantiktok #japantrip #japanlife #japantravel #tokyotravel #ottercafe #hedgehogcafe ♬ How`s Your Day – aAp Vision

    Nevertheless, Sachiko-approved cafes are run by shelters trying to find owners for abandoned pets.

    Mipig’s official website indicates that the pigs get rest “according to the compatibility with each pig, physical strength, and health condition.” 

    It further notes: “Our staff always check the micropigs, and when they feel tired or [there is] any change in physical condition, they take a rest in a separate room.”

    The animals trotting around Mipig are known as “micropigs,” and they don’t get bigger than a corgi dog, even as adults

    @melbfoodieee honey-chan was the sleepiest, cutest hedgehog ever 🤧💞 📍 Hedgehog Cafe & Pet Store HARRY Harajuku #hedgehog #hedgehogcafe #japan #traveljapan #hedgehogs ♬ Rainy Days X Animal Crossing – ViBES

    Dr. Bruce Kornreich, professor of clinical sciences at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, New York, USA, said interacting with animals can lower one’s blood pressure and reduce headaches and the risk of cardiovascular disease.

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    He also said: “How they do these things, I’m not sure we know the answer.” 

    People had many different opinions regarding Mipig

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    Andréa Oldereide

    Andréa Oldereide

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

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    Andréa Oldereide

    Andréa Oldereide

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

    Donata Leskauskaite

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    Hey there! I'm a Visual Editor in News team. My responsibility is to ensure that you can read the story not just through text, but also through photos. I get to work with a variety of topics ranging from celebrity drama to mind-blowing Nasa cosmic news. And let me tell you, that's what makes this job an absolute blast! Outside of work, you can find me sweating it out in dance classes or unleashing my creativity by drawing and creating digital paintings of different characters that lives in my head. I also love spending time outdoors and play board games with my friends.

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    Donata Leskauskaite

    Donata Leskauskaite

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Hey there! I'm a Visual Editor in News team. My responsibility is to ensure that you can read the story not just through text, but also through photos. I get to work with a variety of topics ranging from celebrity drama to mind-blowing Nasa cosmic news. And let me tell you, that's what makes this job an absolute blast! Outside of work, you can find me sweating it out in dance classes or unleashing my creativity by drawing and creating digital paintings of different characters that lives in my head. I also love spending time outdoors and play board games with my friends.

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    LokisLilButterknife
    Community Member
    10 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have no doubt that they are well cared for, but I highly recommend reading this article from the Smithsonian museum’s magazine about the fact that there really is no such thing as a “mini” or teacup pig. The smallest breed of domesticated pig is the kunekune and even they can get fairly big when fully grown. Many times people are sold potbelly pigs that have been underfed to stunt their growth. Then people leave their “mini pigs up for adoption or at animal sanctuaries when they start to actually grow-and they get big: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bad-news-petlovers-theres-no-such-thing-teacup-pig-180962275/

    Mac Moore III
    Community Member
    10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Kunekune is the smallest now. There was a smaller breed of pig called a Julianna (which my piggy girl is half of) but thanks to human greed they no longer exist because people started breeding them with potbellies and commercial hogs to keep up with the demand for "micro" pigs. I work with a woman who's been rescuing pigs for nearly 25 years now and she's honestly disgusted with how misinformed people are about mini pigs. My baby girl is almost 3 now and she's a solid 70-80 pounds. She's still tiny in comparison to say a wild boar or a commercial hog but she's still a big girl if you were expecting some 20 pound pig. But when I see pigs under 50 pounds it hurts my heart because I know if fed properly they'd be bigger!!!

    Load More Replies...
    Lily Anne
    Community Member
    10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I’ve been to many animal and bird cafes in Japan. Mini pigs are well cared for, and the staff really cares about their wellbeing. Other cafes , however, make animals real money making tools. There was a cafe with exotic animals, which was noisy and crowded, the animals weren’t given breaks- take it from its cage, give it to a customer for petting, then shove it back in the cage or in the hands of another customer. The animals were super stressed by this total disregard of their comfort and their normal living conditions. And this is not only one cafe- many are like that. Avoid animal cafes, if possible. With the exception of some cat cafes and this mini pig cafe, animals only suffer there.

    Mac Moore III
    Community Member
    10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Except there is no such thing as a micro pig. Hi pig owner here and these "Corgi sized pigs" are being underfed plain and simple. The smallest breed of pig WAS the Julianna and they at one point did in fact stay super tiny (full grown females were 30-50 pounds and full grown males were up to about 60) however thanks to human greed they are no longer a thing. There are only mixes left. Now days ALL mini pigs are mixed with potbelly or even COMMERCIAL HOGS in their bloodline. This happened because back in 2013 (right after the 2012 French bulldog craze) social media was blown up with these so called micro/teacup pigs. Which were just baby piglets!!!! So yes, these animals MAY look well taken care of but in fact most of them are being starved (they're starved their entire lives so they have no idea. Plus pigs are always hungry as they don't have a way to feel full like people) so that they will stay cute and little forever.

    Load More Comments
    LokisLilButterknife
    Community Member
    10 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have no doubt that they are well cared for, but I highly recommend reading this article from the Smithsonian museum’s magazine about the fact that there really is no such thing as a “mini” or teacup pig. The smallest breed of domesticated pig is the kunekune and even they can get fairly big when fully grown. Many times people are sold potbelly pigs that have been underfed to stunt their growth. Then people leave their “mini pigs up for adoption or at animal sanctuaries when they start to actually grow-and they get big: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bad-news-petlovers-theres-no-such-thing-teacup-pig-180962275/

    Mac Moore III
    Community Member
    10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Kunekune is the smallest now. There was a smaller breed of pig called a Julianna (which my piggy girl is half of) but thanks to human greed they no longer exist because people started breeding them with potbellies and commercial hogs to keep up with the demand for "micro" pigs. I work with a woman who's been rescuing pigs for nearly 25 years now and she's honestly disgusted with how misinformed people are about mini pigs. My baby girl is almost 3 now and she's a solid 70-80 pounds. She's still tiny in comparison to say a wild boar or a commercial hog but she's still a big girl if you were expecting some 20 pound pig. But when I see pigs under 50 pounds it hurts my heart because I know if fed properly they'd be bigger!!!

    Load More Replies...
    Lily Anne
    Community Member
    10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I’ve been to many animal and bird cafes in Japan. Mini pigs are well cared for, and the staff really cares about their wellbeing. Other cafes , however, make animals real money making tools. There was a cafe with exotic animals, which was noisy and crowded, the animals weren’t given breaks- take it from its cage, give it to a customer for petting, then shove it back in the cage or in the hands of another customer. The animals were super stressed by this total disregard of their comfort and their normal living conditions. And this is not only one cafe- many are like that. Avoid animal cafes, if possible. With the exception of some cat cafes and this mini pig cafe, animals only suffer there.

    Mac Moore III
    Community Member
    10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Except there is no such thing as a micro pig. Hi pig owner here and these "Corgi sized pigs" are being underfed plain and simple. The smallest breed of pig WAS the Julianna and they at one point did in fact stay super tiny (full grown females were 30-50 pounds and full grown males were up to about 60) however thanks to human greed they are no longer a thing. There are only mixes left. Now days ALL mini pigs are mixed with potbelly or even COMMERCIAL HOGS in their bloodline. This happened because back in 2013 (right after the 2012 French bulldog craze) social media was blown up with these so called micro/teacup pigs. Which were just baby piglets!!!! So yes, these animals MAY look well taken care of but in fact most of them are being starved (they're starved their entire lives so they have no idea. Plus pigs are always hungry as they don't have a way to feel full like people) so that they will stay cute and little forever.

    Load More Comments
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