The Bright Side: Humble bugs are popular pets in nature-loving Japan

Bugs are fast becoming the pet of choice in Japan where they compete for the attentions of pet lovers who might once have settled for more conventional choices such as playful puppies, cute kittens or hamsters endlessly spinning on a wheel. Fueling the Japanese trend are popular modern-day manga and animation series like "Mushishi", which star insect-like creatures with supernatural powers.