The Bar Owned By A Dog
Like any good bar owner, Hana waits to greet her customers at the door with a look of cheerful recognition, even if she can’t remember if you’ve been there before or not. Then she makes the rounds of her tables, stopping to chat with her patrons…and be petted.
Hana is a shiba inu, a dog that originated on the small Japanese island of Shikoku, and I think they still look like clever foxes. Shibas are usually this lovely red, but there are also black, cream and rather rare brindle varieties. I admit I’m not usually much of a dog person, but for some reason, shiba inus have wriggled their way into my faithless cat-loving heart. The only problem is, they are quite smart and energetic so…
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Waah, I’m sorry to report that the Bar Black Sheep has closed. I hope that Hana is lying on her chaise lounge, eating doggie bonbons and enjoying her retirement.
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Read a novel set in Tokyo…
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Jonelle Patrick View All
Writing mystery books set in Tokyo is mostly what I do, but I also blog about the odd stuff I see every day in Japan. I'm a graduate of Stanford University and the Sendagaya Japanese Institute in Tokyo, and a member of the International Thriller Writers, the Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters In Crime. When I'm not in Tokyo, I live in San Francisco. I also host a travel site called The Tokyo Guide I Wish I'd Had, so if you're headed to Japan and want to check out the places I take my friends when they're in town, take a look!
I’m a dedicated cat person, too, but I’ve got a soft spot for shibas. Not too small or too big, quiet, intelligent and oh-so-cute. I hate micro-mini twitchy dogs.
Just like me! And there are a super lot of small twitchy dogs here in Japan, because people live in such small places. Also, I suspect, small dogs make a more fashionable “accessory” than bigger ones. Don’t get me started on dog clothing!
Agreed on all counts. My old neighbor had a twitchy rat-dog and my cat would sit on the fence looking down at it with an expression that said, “Sucks to be you, doesn’t it?”