Dogs in kimonos are being led up shrine steps to receive blessings that echo a traditional coming‑of‑age rite for children.

The adaptation of a children’s ceremony for pets has become visible in urban Japan and across social media, as owners seek ritual recognition for animals they treat as family. Observers note that this trend is part of a larger evolution of children’s holidays in Japan, such as Children’s Day (Kodomo no Hi), which in its origins, dates back to the Nara period and involved various rituals to ward off evil spirits.

Shichi-Go-San is a longstanding rite in which three-, five- and seven‑year‑old children visit shrines to receive prayers for healthy growth. This ancient custom celebrates growth milestones in a child’s life, and in recent years, some shrines and photographers have extended elements of that ritual — ceremonial visits, commemorative photographs, and festive dress — to pets, with owners dressing dogs and cats in miniature kimonos for the occasion.

A video segment from the South China Morning Post captured the practice and its cultural framing: “A growing number of pet owners in Japan are having their dogs and cats blessed during the traditional Shichi‑Go‑San coming‑of‑age festival for children,” the narrator said. The trend has parallels globally; dressing pets in costumes has expanded beyond a niche practice in North America and Europe into Asia-Pacific, driven by rising pet adoption and urbanization.

Photographers and shrine staff offering pet‑focused services now provide staged sessions that closely resemble those offered to families with children. The demand for these services has intersected with a wider pet industry that supplies traditional garments, professional portraits, and shrine‑based blessings timed around seasonal festivals. The trend of dressing pets in costumes has evolved globally.

The phenomenon builds on an established tradition of costuming pets for festivals in Japan. However, as this practice grows, it’s important to consider health and safety; dressing pets should not restrict their movement or cause discomfort, a recommendation echoed by pet experts. Visual features of the practice — ornate fabric, careful grooming, and posed portraits — have been documented in cultural commentaries and lifestyle reporting, which note how the rituals are sometimes marketed alongside conventional Shinto rites.

Local lifestyle coverage has tracked the trend and its adaptations in festival settings; one recent feature in Deccan Herald described how pet owners are incorporating pets into holidays once focused on children. Background pieces on related cultural practices outline how festivals and ceremonies are evolving to include animals in symbolic roles traditionally reserved for people.

Support services have emerged to meet the interest. Professional photographers tailor packages for pet owners who want formal portraits; some shrines coordinate short blessing rites timed to coincide with established festivals. The result is a small but visible niche blending religious tradition, commercial services, and pet culture.

Commentators place the practice within broader social shifts: as household structures change and the market for pet goods and ritual services expands, owners increasingly seek ways to mark milestones and to include animals in family rituals. Observers note that dressing pets in traditional clothing predates this specific adaptation and appears in other seasonal observances and photo customs.

The adaptation of children’s rites for animals raises questions about how ritual, commerce, and family life intersect in contemporary Japan. For many owners, the visits are an expression of care and a way to record a moment; for shrines and service providers, they represent a new set of offerings aligned to demand.

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Original reporting: view the original article.