News from Japan: A Unique Elderly Nursing Home
Date: Sep 25, 2026
In Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, 92-year-old Kaori Kusakari finds companionship in her 12-year-old male cat, Purin. They reside in Sakura no Sato Yamashina, a unique elderly nursing home that permits residents to live with their pets—a rarity in Japan.
Kusakari moved to the facility five years ago, and it was a key factor in choosing this nursing home that, importantly, allows pets to remain even after their owners pass away. Kusakari expresses her comfort with Purin, stating, “Purin is always at my bedside… I feel at ease when I am close to him.”
Currently, 13 pets, including dogs and cats, live alongside about 40 residents, many of whom brought their animals with them, while others were adopted through animal welfare organizations.
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Copyright: The Jiji Press, Ltd.
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