16th century shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi was known for his strict (and sometimes peculiar) legislation against cruelty to dogs and other animals. One of his more whimsical edicts required that all dogs be addressed as "O-inu-sama"( approx. transl.: "Most Honorable and Revered Dog"), a form of address typically reserved for deities and human dignitaries of the highest importance. Today, millions of animal lovers know just how he felt! Thus we offer this dishwasher-safe fine china bowl hand-painted with this phrase in Japanese characters, a great gift idea for owners of Oriental breeds and other pampered pets. Not a dog person? We have also adapted it for cats and ferrets, with most other animals available upon request. In addition, we are also offering free personalization with your pet's name on the inside of the bowl in your choice of kanji or katakana( see below for details). Click picture for larger image. Kanji or katakana? Katakana is a purely phonetic alphabet using angular, shorthand-like characters, typically used in Japanese to write foreign words. It is considered to have a hip, modern feel by many Japanese. Kanji characters are used in both Chinese and Japanese, and have both sound and meaning. To write your pet's name in kanji, each syllable would be represented by a different character with its own meaning. Many people find these characters more pleasing to look at and like the idea of a hidden meaning. If you choose this method, please remember to include some information, such as breed, gender, and outstanding personality traits, to help us choose from what may be many possibilities. Also remember that some names may translate to an offensive or otherwise inappropriate phrase in kanji. We will notify you and ask how you wish to proceed in such a case. As with all our porcelain items, there may be additional shipping charges added to your account after shipping due to the weight of the item. You will NOT be charged more than actual shipping. Click pictures to enlarge them. |