Many Japanese families have pets, just like families in other countries. It's not always easy for them, because a lot of people don't have much space in their houses, or else they live in apartment buildings. Even so, interest in pets is increasing. The most popular pets are dogs and cats.
Fish are popular, especially goldfish, carp, and tropical varieties.
Other types of pets people keep are turtles, frogs, hamsters, and mice. For example, there is now a computer program that lets you have an aquarium with tropical fish on your monitor. The fish have eggs, and sometimes they get sick. If you forget to feed them, they die. In November 1996 a new type of electronic pet came on the market in Japan.