JAPAN: Japanese dress up bunnies for the holidays

Record ID: 464995

  • Title: JAPAN: Japanese dress up bunnies for the holidays
  • Date: 23rd December 2010
  • Summary: YOKOHAMA, JAPAN (DECEMBER 21, 2010) (REUTERS) PET RABBIT STORE "BUNNY FAMILY" SIGN READING IN ENGLISH "BUNNY FAMILY" 22-YEAR-OLD ARTIST KANA HASEBE DRESSING UP HER 3-YEAR-OLD PET RABBIT "MONDY" IN TRADITIONAL JAPANESE KIMONO STORE CLERK PLACING MONDY ON PHOTO SHOOT SET MONDY, DRESSED IN KIMONO, POSING ON SET MORE OF MONDY IN KIMONO (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 22-YEAR-OLD ARTIST AND OWNER OF 3-YEAR-OLD PET RABBIT "MONDY", KANA HASEBE, SAYING: "Since it's the Year of the Rabbit next year, I'm going to use this photo for my New Year's greeting cards. I mean, it's the only year (in a while) I will be able to take pictures like this." RABBIT HAVING PICTURES TAKEN HASEBE HOLDING HER PET RABBIT MONDY HASEBE SMILING AT MONDY RABBIT, DRESSED IN SANTA COSTUME, BEING PLACED ON SET RABBIT IN SANTA COSTUME 38-YEAR-OLD HOUSEWIFE YUKI SHIBAHARA TAKING PICTURES OF HER PET RABBIT "CHOCO" IN CHRISTMAS COSTUME CHOCO, DRESSED IN CHRISTMAS COSTUME WITH TIARA, ON SET (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 38-YEAR-OLD HOUSEWIFE AND OWNER OF 3-YEAR-OLD PET RABBIT "CHOCO", YUKI SHIBAHARA, SAYING "Choco has never been sick so I hope he continues to be healthy next year. As for myself, I've been living with rabbits and since it's the Year of the Rabbit next year, I hope to make it a healthy and joyful year that leaps past bad times." STORE CLERK DRESSING UP A RABBIT IN KIMONO RABBIT IN KIMONO RABBIT IN KIMONO ON SET COLOURFUL KIMONOS BEING PLACED ON A TABLE TRADITIONAL "OBI" BELT ON KIMONO RABBIT OWNERS, INCLUDING HASEBE, PAYING FOR PHOTO SHOOT 2011 JANUARY CALENDAR WITH RABBIT PICTURE ON THE WALL PICTURES OF RABBITS DRESSED IN KIMONO PLACED UP ON THE WALL MORE OF PICTURES RABBIT IN KIMONO HOPPING ABOUT THE SET
  • Embargoed: 7th January 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan, Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVAADXRYR2IZXVO2BYYQSXMQS0EY
  • Story Text: At the "Bunny Family" in Yokohama, Japan on Tuesday (December 21), customers packed the rabbit pet store to get a jump start on the nation's biggest holiday season, the start of the New Year - and specifically, the year of the Rabbit.
    While most of Asia remains faithful to the Chinese lunar calendar to mark the New Year, Japan ushers it in according to the Western calendar, making New Year's Day the start of both 2011 and the Year of the Rabbit.
    At this pet store just south of Tokyo, bunny owners primped their pets for the special occasion they hope to immortalise in a photo session.
    Nothing was extravagant enough for the furry bundles, as they were given a total makeover with traditional Japanese kimonos ---though tailored specifically for their size and shape.
    In Japan, kimonos are often worn during special occasions such as the New Year holiday as well as graduations, weddings and the Coming of Age Day.
    The glam bunnies were then put in the spotlight for a photo shoot, their owners hoping to use the images as their holiday greeting cards.
    "Since it's the Year of the Rabbit next year, I'm going to use this photo for my New Year's greeting cards. I mean, it's the only year (in a while) I will be able to take pictures like this," Kana Hasebe, 22-year-old artist and owner of 3-year-old bunny Mondy, told Reuters.
    With Christmas just around the corner, some owners also dressed up their rabbits in Santa and other Christmas costumes.
    Local housewife Yuki Shibahara groomed her 3-year-old cherished "Choco" into a pretty princess, complete with a glittery cape and shining tiara poking through it's floppy ears.
    Shibahara said she's hoping the Year of the Rabbit will be leap and bounds better than previous years.
    "Choco has never been sick so I hope he continues to be healthy next year. As for myself, I've been living with rabbits and since it's the Year of the Rabbit next year, I hope to make it a healthy and joyful year that leaps past bad times," she said.
    According to the Chinese calendar and beliefs, the rabbit is an animal that will bring endurance and peace after the fierce and energetic Year of the Tiger.
    Over 180 bunnies have had their photo taken at "Bunny Family" since the store first launched the photo shoot event in November.
    The store is doing brisk business while charging 500 yen (about 6 U.S. dollars) for each 30 minute session.
    The Japanese New Year holiday lasts through to January 4th with most of the nation either spending time with family at home or on holiday abroad.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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