※This article was published at October 2014※
Have you ever been in the situation where you wanted to rear a pet, like a dog or a cat, but the idea was rejected by your parents for various reasons?
I have!
Since I was a child, I have always yearned for a pet but could not keep one because my sister is allergic to fur of all sorts.
It seems like I will be doomed to a furry pet-less life of sadness and loneliness, until I found out about the Marimo (毬藻)!
Now, the Marimo is not exactly a puppy or a kitten, but it sure is alive and furry!
It’s round, cute, green, and…squishy!
In Japanese kanji, marimo can be literally translated into “ball seaweed”.
Although it looks like moss, it is actually a rare form of algae that originally start out as free floaters, and as they grow, they roll deeper and deeper into the shallow lake that they can be usually found in.
This rolling is what gives the Marimo its round and cute shape!
The Marimo can only be grown under special conditions and currently, in the whole world, they can only be found in Iceland, Scotland, Estonia, Australia, and Japan!
In Japan, the original Marimo can be found in Lake Akan of east Hokkaido.
The shallow shores of Lake Akan provides ideal conditions for the Marimo to grow.
Nowadays, one can usually find Marimo in most souvenir shops.
However, please be aware that these found outside of Hokkaido are usually artificially made Marimo, and not the real ones found in Lake Akan.
The good news of keeping a Marimo as a pet is that… it is quite hardy and impossible to kill!
All you need is dim sunlight, water, and a pinch of salt. Make sure to roll your cute little squishy pet one every few days so it can get sufficient sunlight on all side, and it will be happy as ever.
When you come to Japan, please keep your eye out for a Marimo and consider keeping these fuss-free furry babies as a pet!
For those who are not able to come, I found a really great Etsy shop where you can order Marimos from! Go ahead, begin your bright new adventure with your newfound allergen-free pet!
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