AT a presentation on Tuesday to the Rotary Club of Saipan, visiting veterinarian Dr. Taisho Watanabe and Ichirou Wakatsuki spoke about the pet cemetery they run in Japan, and the possibility of a pet crematorium on Saipan.
“Pet lovers are borderless,” said Wakatsuki, president of Heiwakai Pet Memorial Park, who spoke through a translator.
Wakatsuki said he and Watanabe were on island hoping to share Japanese pet culture with Rotarians and other residents.
According to Wakatsuki, the clients who use his services consider pets as their family members.
“The pet is their ‘kawaii’ baby,” Wakatsuki said, adding that “kawaii” is the Japanese word for cute.
Wakatsuki said the Heiwakai Pet Memorial Park offers pet funeral, pet grave, and pet memorial services. In Japan, the law requires that pets are cremated when they die.
Wakatsuki said in his home country this can cost about $250.
On Saipan, Wakatsuki and Dr. Watanabe are interested in pursuing dog health care services and are exploring ways to do that.
Watanabe also said that they may also offer pet crematory services on Saipan, but they have not yet selected a site to place a crematory.
A pet cemetery may not be necessary for Saipan, Watanabe said.
“There are a lot of pet owners who love the beautiful ocean in the Marianas,” Watanabe said through a translator. “So, they may want to spread [their pet’s] ashes” in the ocean.
From left, Rotarian Hiroko Stewart, Dr. Taisho Watanabe and Ichirou Wakatsuki.
