Why are there so many people who think Japan is a dog eating country?

Question

because it's not!

Where do they get this info?
Do they not read?
Do they not try to educate themselves?

I wouldn't care much if these comments were in a form of a question like 'Do Japanese People Eat Dogs?" Or "I heard somewhere that they eat dogs in Japan. I'm not sure though..."
Or something like that.

But NO! Most of the comments I have seen specificly implies that "yes, the Japanese eat dogs on a regular basis." as if they visited Japan and munched on a poodle themselves!
What the hell???

In case it wasn't clear I know for a fact that they do not eat dogs in Japan. To those who were unsure if they do, there's your answer. Spread the word!! woohoo!!

Answer 1

I am always annoy about this thing.

I even test yahoo by asking clone question, I take insulting question about Japan eat dog or cat or child, then I replace Japan with America, and wait to see what happen!

One of my first question was delete by yahoo. They said it was incite voilence and hatred. I have now asked it again, because now yahoo know what I am doing. They havent delete it again, even thouhg some people have report it! The question is in america, how do they "torture" dogs and then eat them?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvjdbRDkt114UGMUW3aYD6Xsy6IX?qid=20060711205447AAKFBtQ
Here is the origianal one insulting Japan http://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylt=ArwNFeaCwwbx_CcIY3EzsFkjzKIX?qid=20060628124717AAIjiYk
That person never accept that she is wrong! She is very stranege I think. When people answer my question and say American dont eat dog, I say good!

Such ignorants is scary to me, I feel wave of rasism coming most from American continent and it has no cause. That make me very sad.

Answer 2

Apparently they get the info from malicious e-mails, then it's spread through word of mouth.
: (

I'm with you 100% though, it's indecent the way some people are so EAGER to believe that a foreign country - somewhere they have NEVER been, with a culture they don't understand - has dog / cat / human on the menu.

It's just racism, pure and simple. But then, some Americans would be happy to spread rumours like that about Canadians - and vice-versa, and they're NEIGHBOURS, so it's hardly surprising that so many people are happy to believe that a Far Eastern country is evil.

As for why don't they educate themselves - they feel that these lying e-mails and malicious web-sites ARE educating them! They're too blinkered to see the bigger picture...!

Answer 3

People in Japan eat normal food like we do, except lots of fish, rice and noodles. In some parts of Japan they eat horse. They don't eat dogs. My fiance is from Japan and has never eaten dog, even on trips to Korea. She's not too keen on the idea.

The reason people believe such things is because they are either ignorant or stupid. One person says something matter of factly and people take that as the truth. People forget that over 2 billion people live in Asia and that the people that eat dogs are actually a small part of that mass of people. I wish people would educate themselves, but, alas, I am surrounded by idiots. Oh well, c'est la vie.

Answer 4

People are stupid / ignorant...They think Asia is just one big country...They don't realize Asia is made up off many different countries. Each having it's own language and culture...Japan is a first world country with the highest standard of living in Asia. In some of the third-world countries most people are poor.In some of these countries they eat anything that's available. So if it comes down to eating a dog, or not eating at all, what will most people do ?

Answer 5

Not seen so traditionally just lately, some of us japanese folks devour whale, horse, deer and likewise undergo;those are jap normal food. Moreover, we eat raw fish as sashimi or sushi. (eating deer or endure hasn't been extensively spread.) even though some of you generally take us as barbarians, (lol) that is only a part of our usual food culture rooted in this nature. To come to the subject, there are, nevertheless, no traditions of consuming puppies or cats right here in Japan. When eating such animals is quoted, it represents a terrible tragedy, extreme poverty now or ever seen, or historic famine previously. 　 i hope this helps you.

Answer 6

I don't think they eat dogs in Japan. People say that a long time ago, they used to eat dogs in China, but I've never been to China, so I don't believe it. I've never heard of Japanese people eating dogs, Urban myth or not.

I thought pets were important in Japan, so I didn't think they ate dogs either.

Answer 7

I don't eat dogs, and I go to Japan all the time. I have a pet dog. My parents came from Japan, and they don't eat dog. I think there are some countries that do, Japan is not one of them. They don't eat cats either.

Answer 8

Ppl who doesn't know Asia much, they mix Korea and Japan up.
And funny thing is, if someone ask about this topic in Korea room, no Korean do attempt to answer it.

Me? Yes I have eaten whale meat when I was little child. But today no more. cos I don't see those meat in the market.
Today Japan catch whales lesser than the one in US.
Alaskan inuit and Maca race, WA is hunting more than Japan.
But I assume that it is their life and custom. Nobody can insult their life.

Answer 9

It's an old wives tale. And actually it started out as cats. And the presumable was the result of a food shortage, a long time ago. Then there is MONKEY MEAT on a stick,
that location may have started in the Philippines., etc.....

Answer 10

I don't know if they eat dogs in Japan but there is a tribe in China that considers dog a food. no kidding. it was in national geographic.

This link on Wikipedia claims that it's not uncommon outside of China as well.

Note: pictures of dog being prepared may be disturbing.