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So in several online papers it has been claimed that there is a massive pet scam going on involving people in Hokkaido buying poodles online and getting sheep instead. And not realizing it.

They are trying to pull the wool over your eyes.

Even though each story has a different writer they are all possibly derived from the Sun.

Let’s look at the “facts” from one of the first stories that seemed to crop up online: ninemsn.

“The scam was uncovered when Japanese moviestar Maiko Kawamaki went on a talk-show and wondered why her new pet would not bark or eat dog food.

She was crestfallen when told it was a sheep.”

Actually this is not what happened. Maiko Kawakami (Nine couldn’t even get her name right) went on an afternoon TV show called “Gokigenyou” and said she had heard this story.

kana to yuka no nikki [Japanese] mentions how she saw this program and thought it was silly. Most of her commenters agree, and sounds as if she was just making a joke. There is no mention of photographs - and another couple of blogs support that the actress was not talking about herself but a “friend”.

“Japanese police believe there could be 2,000 people affected by the scam, which operated in Sapporo and capitalised on the fact that sheep are rare in Japan, so many do not know what they look like.”

OK for starters Hokkaido is not a huge place - and it just happens to be the centre of sheep breeding in Japan. There are even sheep festivals. Not to mention the following:

- Haruki Murakami’s famous novel published in 1993- A Wild Sheep Chase (羊をめぐる冒険)
- once every 12 years there is a Year of the Sheep
- mutton is often talked about because of it’s recent popularity, and the rise of “Genghis Khan” restaurants (places specializing in mutton dishes)
- hell even a couple of weeks ago Japanese band Metalmouse released their new album titled Tales of the Sheep

So sheep are very well known - especially in bloody Sapporo.

From the Sun: “The company, whose name translated as Poodles As Pets, has now been shut down.”

Well they certainly don’t muck around because there is no reference to any pet store real or offline that I could find googling with a name like that (or closest Japanese variations thereof).

Also let’s look at the fact that as far as popular dogs go Toy Poodles are in the top 5. They are all over the TV. You can’t miss them. Not only that but there are also several Japanese websites dedicated to poodles, poodle clubs and breeder sites. You can’t walk into a pet store without seeing one. Poodles are everywhere.

Plus it seems very odd that this breaking story does not appear anywhere in the Japanese media. Now this is exactly the kind of story most news shows would spend hours on screening - complete with tearful, blurred out victims, and the anchors being able to express total outrage.  Thorough investigations into the differences between poodles and lambs. A few “experts” in ties thrown in to give it all credibility. For sure Wai-wai would have jumped all over it months ago (and then Fark and every community blog and their dog).

Not a peep.

And if this wasn’t already smelling bad enough - how about this blog entry [Japanese] from 上海在住Jasonの麻辣珍道中！ - from waaaaaaay back on February 11, 2006?

He tells the exact same story as the actress - which was told to him by a co-worker when they went out drinking. Almost word for word it is the same story that Maiko Kawakami told on the TV show on April 18. X-san takes their “poodle” to a vet because they think it’s ill. The vet reveals that the “poodle” is not ill - but a sheep! （笑）

Looks like this is an urban legend that makes the rounds occasionally. This time however the English media got caught out.

The Sun: “A police spokesman said yesterday: “We launched an investigation after we were made aware that a company were selling sheep as poodles.”

Yes I’m sure The Sun spoke to a Japanese police spokesman and they launched an investigation based on some urban legend they’ve probably all heard before.

Dags.

• I heard somewhere that Japanese bloggers are skeptical this ever happened.

  ess ell quay sew
  07/04/27 06:36 AM

• These stories really illuminate how sensationalist and lazy the media can be. Thanks for checking sources, MJ.

  Kristen
  07/04/27 09:06 AM

• This is a little off topic, but i heard somewhere reputable recently (sorry, no references tho) that the most common language for blogging these days is Japanese, beating out both Chinese and English! That was a bit of a surprise; Nihonjin sure have taken to the Net like fish to water!

  j-ster
  07/04/27 09:20 AM

• Yeah if it had been Sun-readers who had been buying ‘em, I might have believed it…

  Richard Jones
  07/04/27 12:05 PM

• IN THE NAME OF /b/ LOL SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
  SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSS

  Anonymous
  07/04/27 12:05 PM

• Hi there, I’m from ninemsn.

  Luckily I can speak Japanese, so poured water on this once I came in (I start late) and made a couple of calls. Just found your blog and thought I should point you in the direction of our new story exposing the hoax. I’m just waiting for the folks at Gokigenyou to call me back so I can really pour cold water on it.

  http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=263447

  Cheers,

  Shaun Davies

  Shaun Davies
  07/04/27 01:19 PM

• Thanks for the comments kids.

  Cheers back to you Shaun - good to hear someone is willing to check real sources.

  Honestly this whole search for stories of the “wacky Japanese” really er gets my goat. It’s just reinforcing stereotypes and implying that a whole race of people are stupid. “Ha silly Japanese they don’t know the difference between a dog and a sheep!”

  It took a little bit of googling in Japanese with some basic keywords to find out the real information. That’s it. And that’s what should have been done before any calls to local police spokesmen.

  However in the end they got the site hits they all wanted - and now another round when they all release their “it was a hoax” stories. They don’t seem to mind the tarnish on their reputation.

  MJ
  07/04/27 01:47 PM

• Those who took this seriously are more amusing than the actual story but I think it did give ppl a laugh simply because it’s something that would be amusing to happen and early on a friday morning, who couldnt use a laugh...Yes, there have been comments from all round the world, even mine cos I thought this was hilarious, but I doubt ppl took this seriously...either way, we can thank the japanese...for the laugh

  Kylie
  07/04/27 02:07 PM

• I think I would prefer a sheep to some of those rat dogs about the place.

  The Goddess
  07/04/27 02:58 PM

• I still like my cartoon on the topic, even if the story isn’t true.

  My Japanese is a bit rusty; hopefully I got it right!

  (http://legalsoapbox.blogspot.com/2007/04/fleeced.html)

  Legal Eagle
  07/04/27 05:18 PM

• Hey, Anonymous.
  Rules 1 and two.

  Also, having myself, personally, seen both a poodle and a lamb, I’d find it hard to see why one could possibly mistake one for another.
  Surely someone who has at least seen a dog on television would catch this out.
  This smelled like bullcrap the first time I saw it.

  Anonymous
  07/04/27 05:56 PM

• Media Watch (http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/) would LOVE to hear how Nine, Noise Ltd, SMH and Agence France Presse (AFP) spread this one around. Tell them Jim Ball (http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s1411685.htm) sent you.

  weez
  07/04/27 08:18 PM

• *snort*

  MJ
  07/04/27 08:38 PM

• Fox News in the USA has published the false story too:
  http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,268766,00.html

  They also misspelled her name. Maybe some media are misspelling her name so they won’t get sued if Maiko decides that her reputation has been damaged by the false articles.

  Japan Phile
  07/04/28 12:02 AM

• Well considering she barely rates as a B-grade actress any mention of a name even close to hers has to be a bonus surely.

  Ta for the linky Japan Phile (^_^)

  MJ
  07/04/28 12:11 AM

• even CNN rpeateed this crap and the two anchors in Hong Kong, laughed their heads off on air, making fun of the silly Japanese again.....so sad, that CNN didn’t even check first.

  danny bee
  07/04/28 11:15 AM

• Thanks for the original blog!  Though it’s false and Shaun at ninemsn has seemed to confirm that, just some things I want to point out:

  * If I am reading http://faostat.fao.org/site/409/default.aspx correctly, there are 11,000 sheep in all of Japan in 2004 and assuming sheep are in flocks of 10 or so, that’s 1,100 households.  Hokkaido has 7 million people.  Is it possible there are people who haven’t seen a live sheep before?

  * Hokkaido only has one “major” city.  Outside of that is rural and many people living there are older as their children and grandchildren might have left to Tokyo, etc..  Is it hard to scam someone over 65 like this?

  * And if “Poodles as Pets” existed and then shut down, I doubt its web site would exist anymore and after some time, Google would no longer index it.  But just because there is no web site doesn’t mean a store doesn’t exist, either.

  Of course, nothing beats asking the police directly.  But some of the other points raised above proving the story was fake weren’t very strong proofs...but they were great at starting the discussion going!

  Now I wonder if Hokkaido’s police’s phones are ringing constantly…

  Ray
  07/04/28 03:42 PM

• Hi Ray

  - Is it possible there are people who haven’t seen a live sheep before?

  No. There are sheep everywhere. In ads, on the TV - as I mentioned there is even a Year of the Sheep here.

  - Is it hard to scam someone over 65 like this?

  With other things maybe. With this ridiculous story - no.

  - But just because there is no web site doesn’t mean a store doesn’t exist, either.

  That is true - however the articles claim that all these people bought them online - so there must have been a website. Also I didn’t just check google - but the Japanese listings on poodle club sites and pet stores in Hokkaido. Completely nothing. There may have been a real store - but it must have been tiny. And certainly would not have been selling online.

  - Now I wonder if Hokkaido’s police’s phones are ringing constantly

  Probably. Still an interesting distraction beyond them providing directions for a change… (~_^)

  MJ
  07/04/29 01:58 AM

• MediaWatch put this story to air last night:

  http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s1910529.htm

  Chris B
  07/05/01 03:31 PM

• You’re on Snopes

  DamienW
  07/05/01 11:49 PM

• Hi everybody,

  I just want to state that it *is* actually possible for people in Japan to have never seen a live sheep.
  For example, my boyfriend. He has never seen a live sheep, and he grew up moving around a lot and living in lots of different parts of Japan, due to his dad’s job. I myself haven’t seen a live sheep since I was about two years old, and that wasn’t even in Japan; and while of course there is a year of the sheep here, that doesn’t equate live sheep being paraded through the streets in every city in Japan every time said year comes around.

  I freely admit and apologize for the fact that I am tooootally splitting hairs here, but hey--if you want to de-bunk a ridiculous story, your proof should be stronger than that of what you’re arguing against.

  Also, just because something can’t be found on a search engine doesn’t mean it absolutely, without question, never existed. I don’t think I could find myself by googling if I tried! (^-^;)

  I agree whole-heartedly that this “news” story was assinine and appears to have been a case of irresponsible reporting. All the more reason to rise above the same tactics and not use arguments that can’t be absolutely supported!
  Even if absolute proof can’t be found for every single point, the proven evidence against this story (eg, the Japanese media never reported it, the actress in question clearly stated it was a story she heard, etc) is stronger than anything presented to support it in the original articles.

  At least Maiko Kawakami got some publicity! (^-~)

  Lupus Liz
  07/05/02 11:21 AM

• Hi Lupus Liz

  - I just want to state that it *is* actually possible for people in Japan to have never seen a live sheep.

  I believe the point is that everyone here knows what a sheep is - not whether they have seen one in the flesh or not.

  - your proof should be stronger than that of what you’re arguing against.

  It was - my arguments were based on fact, the entire story was based on an urban legend founded on no fact whatsoever.

  I think you are missing the purpose of my post a little. I came off a long night of working, came across this story, saw it was ridiculous and found some links and evidence showing it was wrong. It did serve it’s purpose - it got people thinking about the actual truth. I didn’t call the Hokkaido police or council - I didn’t need to. There was enough evidence out there online to show it the story was a fabrication. However I did do a lot more evidence gathering than several major media outlets which reprinted the original false story. And unlike them I don’t have support staff or receive actual monetary support for doing it.

  Your point would be more valid if you directed your criticism at the media who regurgitated the story, and the multitude of blogs who reprinted the original story and did not question it at all.

  MJ
  07/05/02 02:25 PM

• Hi MJ,

  I’m sorry if my post bothered you, because I know that criticism is especially annoying when it comes from somebody who doesn’t even know you.
  I think you might have missed the point of my criticism though;
  If you are arguing against irresponsible reporting by claiming the “facts” cited in this story to be false, you already had a couple of good bits of evidence (that I mentioned last time). Making blanket statements that can easily be disproved ("Is it possible there are people who’ve never seen a live sheep?” “no"), takes away from all the good criticism you’ve made towards this story. That’s all I was saying.
  Then agaaaain, I think I might have just mistaken the intent of your original post, and in that case I am really sorry!
  After all, this is your blog, not some kind of scholarly journal--irresponsible reporting in the media sucks, but so do readers who get anal when you’re just trying to vent!（笑）

  Lupus Liz
  07/05/03 01:32 AM

• Liz, you are in fact splitting hairs. You know perfectly well that the point is that Japanese people know what a sheep looks like. Maybe not everyone has seen a live sheep, but everyone has seen at least a picture of a sheep. So your criticism makes no sense at all.

  Jen
  07/05/04 03:08 PM

• I tried to add a comment to the offending article on The Sun’s website - the first was removed after ten minutes, and two more never appeared on the comments page.  I didn’t swear and was not offensive in the slightest! 

  I’ve since posted a thread in the sites forums, explaining why this story is a load of sheep doings, and expressing my disdain for the journalists lazyness and lack of integrity.  I made sure not to use any words over three syllables, otherwise none of the readers would be able to understand what I am trying to say… The article itself also makes this concession.

  The comments made by The Sun readers on the articles page really annoy me.  Almost all of them basically say “hey, this proves that all foreigners are stupid.  Look what they fell for!”. 
  They haven’t noticed that its far, far more idiotic to believe such a thing is possible, for TWO THOUSAND people to have no idea what the difference between a sheep and a dog is. 

  I have never knowingly bought The Sun, and now there is absolutely no way I will ever purchase a copy. 

  Apologies for the rant, but this really, really got to me.  First theres the blatant lack of effort and integrity, then they decide to delete my comments because it showed them up!  Aaargh! 

  It’ll be interesting to see whether my post is still there tomorrow.  Also to see what sort of comments I attract from Sun readers… Of course I’ve used a disposable address/name to register on the site itself…

  Blue Sonnet
  07/05/07 07:36 AM