This is Bill Tsutsui with another Postcard from Asia from the KU Center for East Asian Studies.

Happy New Year! On February 7, 2008, the Year of Pig officially came to a close and the Year of the Rat began. Rat years are known for business success and pet shops here in China are already feeling the positive effects: Hamster sales are through the roof, supplies are running low and hamster prices have tripled across the country. Why? Because, Ratatouille aside, rats are simply not on the favorite pet list (although, in parts of China, they are on the menu, but let’s not get into that here.) Hamsters, on the other hand, are viewed as the model rodent: gentle, soft, cuddly, the perfect New Year's pet for kids in the Year of the Rat. Next year is the Year of the Ox. How do you say “Don’t have a cow, man” in Chinese?

With thanks to Randi Hacker for this text, from the KU Center for East Asian Studies, I’m Bill Tsutsui. Wish you were here.