A Shiba Inu dog is carried to a police car after it was caught on a highway, in this photo taken on the Daisan-Keihin Road’s outbound lane in Kawasaki’s Takatsu Ward on April 29, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Hinakichi Masateri)
On April 29, a dog ran free on a highway near Tokyo. Many drivers and police worked together to catch it safely. It happened during Japan’s Golden Week holiday, when many people travel.
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At about 11 a.m., someone saw a dog running on the Daisan-Keihin Road in Kawasaki’s Takatsu Ward. Kawasaki is near Tokyo. They quickly called the police. Police soon came and saw the dog running away along the highway.
Shunsuke Omi, 29, was driving from Tokyo to Shizuoka Prefecture to perform with his music group. He said, “I saw an electronic sign saying an animal was on the road. Then I saw a Shiba Inu dog walking around. It was cute, and it made me feel happy.”
The dog was a male Shiba Inu. It had a collar around its neck but did not have a leash or a name tag. No one knew who owns the dog. It was quiet, but it looked afraid because many cars were driving past.
Before the police came, some drivers parked their cars at the roadside to try to catch the dog. About five or six people helped the police catch the dog. It took about 20 minutes. A police officer wearing a helmet safely put the dog into a police car. The police said no one was badly hurt.
One 31-year-old who helped said, “I was a little late because of this, but it still made me smile. Other drivers near me also looked happy.”
The highway police said, “The dog is male, but we do not know its age or owner. Sometimes wild animals like raccoon dogs run onto roads near mountains. But this is the first time for us to hear about a dog running on the Daisan-Keihin Road near the city.”
(Japanese original by Shota Harumashi, Tokyo City News Department)
Vocabulary
highway: a big road with cars moving fast.
electronic sign: a sign that shows information using lights and words.
collar: a strap around the dog’s neck.
leash: a rope you use to hold onto and control a dog.
patrol car: the special car that police drive.
raccoon dog: a small wild animal that looks like a raccoon.
owner: the person who has a pet animal.
AloJapan.com