one day in a Japanese class. we talked about “日本でのビックリした事” or what surprised you in japan. as in indonesia I rarely see dogs, especially those wearing such cute dress, no matter it’s male or female (or may be transgender), so I said, “it’s really surprised me to see many dogs here in japan, and they are wearing clothes!!!”
Well for other students, it doesn’t surprise them, but for me… it’s weird!!! or maybe I’m the one who is weird? Who knows hahaha then we had a lot of discussions about doggie in japan, pros and contras. that’s the discussion in a Japanese class three years ago.
about weeks ago, there something reminded me of that discussion. in a summer party in my department, I talked with one professor there. (well I think he was drunk, so we didn’t talk about research or something). he told me that he just got a family member. I was thinking that, oh…he just had his fifth son or daughter…very rare in Japanese especially among professor here. “おめでとう先生。。。男の子ですか”
innocently I congratulated him and asked him if he got new son or daughter. But he laughed and said, “違うよ！！！I just adopted a puppy for my youngest child?”
I asked why, he replied, “it’s little bit sorry to see him alone, I’m afraid he couldn’t go along with his sisters”
“heeee?”
I wonder why he didn’t give his son a little brother or sister…
“I spent 35 man (350 thousand) yen for puppy, it’s already including vaccine and everything, 安いでしょう？”
Heeeeeeee? cheap???
Oh man…I’d better have another baby rather than a puppy…
“it’s almost the same cost to deliver a baby in japan, sensei”
“sou sou”
I remembered how much money I spent for my wife to deliver my first son. almost 42man yen, and the government paid to the hospital. so, practically I don’t have to pay any other cost since my wife checked his pregnancy until delivering the baby.
for me, still it’s better to have baby than puppy. Let’s see, how much the initial cost you spend for both. you need 35man yen for a newborn puppy but you might only spend less yen for delivering baby.
next, after having a baby, you’ll get money from government (around 1.3 man yen) to help you raise up the baby, but for a puppy…I don’t think the government will support you 
what if the baby get sick? well, as long as your baby is registered in health insurance program, you don’t have to worry as the government will pay the medical fee for child under 12 years old. but for pet case, I’m not sure there’s health insurance for pet. it’s more expensive to take care of dog or pet, compared to raising up a baby…
so, after thinking of those things, I said to that professor, “I think it’s better to have one more baby, sensei”
and he just laughed and said, “four is okay for me, but five is too much haha”
well that’s your choice sir
