The number of guide dogs in Japan is much smaller than in Western countries. This paper summarizes the history of guide dogs in Japan, compares the development of the assistance dogs in Western countries, and points out problems that have hampered their spread in Japan. In the 1930s Western countries began breeding and training guide dogs, and in 1938 an American for the first time introduced a guide dog into Japan. But it was in 1957 that the first Japanese-trained dog for the visually handicapped began to serve. The Law enacted in 2002 legally defined how the dogs be trained. The author explores Japanese cultural and environmental restrictions in the propagation and training of guide dogs, the lack of social understanding towards the treatment of guide dogs, and points out that the dogs should be cared for properly. The author also points out that the lack of popularity of guide dogs will not be solved by simply increasing the number of the dogs. Steadfast steps towards further improvement of the support for the visually impaired such as the introduction of guide dog robots are also suggested
