JAPAN IN
ONE MINUTE 
~ Japanese Superstition: Plastic Bottles to Keep Pecco Away ~
Hey Issy, I saw something strange while walking today!
There were plastic bottles filled with water lined up along the sidewalk.
What’s that all about?
Oh, I’ve seen those too! But I never knew why people put plastic bottles there either.
Ah, yes. People place plastic bottles filled with water near their houses or on the edge of their property in Japan.
It might look a bit odd, but there’s a reason behind it.
The belief is that cats and dogs don’t like the way light reflects off the water inside the bottles.
The reflections supposedly scare them away and keep them from peeing or digging in people’s yards.
Really?! But when I saw the plastic bottles, I didn’t feel anything at all…
But there’s no scientific proof that it works.
It’s more of a folk belief or superstition.
So those bottles are there to keep cats like me away?!
That’s a bit rude! I wasn’t going to pee there anyway… probably.
It’s just one of those quirky parts of everyday life in Japan.
Some people still believe it works, so you’ll spot those water bottles here and there.
Even if it’s not effective, it’s become part of the scenery in some neighborhoods.
In Sweden, I remember that some people hang out old CDs in tree or bushes to scare animals so that they don’t eat the plants and flowers.
Wow it sounds similar to this.
Hmm… maybe I’ll start walking on the other side of the road just in case…but I’m a little bit sad…
Sorry, Pecco. It’s just a superstition, so I don’t think you need to worry about it too much.
Summary
In Japan, you might spot plastic bottles filled with water placed along streets or near houses. Though there’s no scientific proof, many people believe they help keep stray cats and dogs away.
