While I am still endeavouring to japanify myself, so to speak, there are plenty of Japanese customs I will never make my own. One of the weirder things, which is extremely popular with kids, is to get pets. Yeah, you may think that’s not really weird, I mean, all the kids like pets, but have a look at what I mean and think again:
So, these enormous beetles – a number of different species – are very popular with kids to keep as pets over summer, in fact, you can start buying them now. The children are responsible for feeding them and cleaning their boxes, which is relatively easy I think, and since the beetles will die in autumn, it’s a short-term activity as well.
I am not sure what to think of pets like that. These large beetles – I have seen some up to 10 cm long – are indeed interesting, but at the same time there’s no way I would let one inside my home voluntarily, cage or no cage. I have enough of the bugs that visit me without my permission, thank you so much.
I always thought they were supposed to get them outside… I know you can buy bug catching sets… but I guess in the city kids don’t have a lot of possibilites for actually catching one of those. 🙂
I’d rather have one of those in my home than one of those large spiders or cockroaches, though…
I do see kids at the river sometimes, running around with big nets. I’m not sure if they are catching anything though.
Besides, I don’t think these enormous beetles could survive here in the wild. They look tropical to me.
They are, right? *panics*