Japanese Shiba Inu runs a sweet potato stand, melts hearts everywhere

Hot potatoes selling like…hot potatoes, thanks to this friendly doge.

It’s no secret that we’re head over heels in love with Shiba Inu. This adorable Japanese dog breed has stolen our hearts with pudgy faces, stubborn ways, and impressive Japanese skills, and now it’s time for us to fall in love all over again, this time with a pup called Ken-kun.

What makes Ken-kun so special is the fact that he runs his own sweet potato stand. Located in Kiyota Ward in Sapporo, on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, Ken-kun and his hot potato business recently starred on local television, and now everyone’s talking about the canine entrepreneur.

▼ “My husband messaged me on messaging app Line to say ‘there’s a pup selling roasted sweet potatoes'”

とある旦那からのLINE 「わんわんが焼き芋売ってる」 犬の、焼き芋屋さん、だと⋯？？#可愛すぎ https://t.co/YNvmbI0Htl

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ひゅがた は ディーシー だった ！▼ (@hina_shii_ver2) March 18, 2019

While the potato-selling pup was already making a name for himself in the local community, the above tweet sent Ken-kun’s popularity into overdrive, with people sharing the images and wanting to know more about the pup and his potato business.

▼ The stall is called “Dog’s Roasted Sweet Potato Stand“

今日は１日吹雪でした( ´△｀) もう雪は おなかいっぱい…🐧❄️ 桜吹雪🌸なら大歓迎o(*ﾟ∀ﾟ*)o 昨日 テレビで犬の焼き芋屋って やってたのですが さっき 思い出して近くだったので 行ってきたんですよ(≧▽≦)‼️ テレ… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

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🍑桃茂⚡️ (@momo2968) March 22, 2019

夫が仕事休みだったから、犬が店番してる焼き芋屋さんに行ってきた！ほんとに店番してた！！ちなみにイモは売り切れていた！ https://t.co/Tk2ZEaZgQy

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むにママ®8m (@munimamamaru) March 29, 2019

According to visitor reports, Ken-kun keeps watch over the sweet potatoes, which sit in a plastic box at the front of the stall. Customers purchase the potatoes via a self-serve honour system, where they pick up a potato and pop 100 yen (US$0.90) into a slot in the wooden stall for each one.

犬の焼き芋屋さん行ってきたワン（涙）。 ケンちゃんなまらおとなしくてかわいかったワン（涙）。 顔近づけてくれてなでなでいっぱいさしてくれたワン（涙）。 久々にさわる獣毛の感触たまらんかったワン（涙）。 お芋最後の1個でギリ買えたワ… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

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高木宣孝 (@hobby_space_jun) March 22, 2019

▼ Who wouldn’t respect the honour system with this adorable face at the stall?

犬の焼き芋屋さん 今回は買えました。 https://t.co/Qhgm9Mwh3L

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Peridot (@hiroki99837) March 25, 2019

Ken-kun finishes his shift when the sweet potatoes sell out, and enjoys a stroll around the neighbourhood after a hard day’s work.

犬の焼き芋屋さん行ったら売り切れでした。 散歩中のケンくんを写真撮らせてもらいました。 https://t.co/Vx6EXO1VcI

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Peridot (@hiroki99837) March 21, 2019

The three-year-old pup looks forward to greeting new faces at the stall every day, and with the money going towards Ken-kun’s food and treats, locals are more than happy to stop by and make a purchase from Dog’s Roasted Sweet Potato Stand.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen a canine running a small business – after all, who can forget about Tokyo’s cigarette-selling Shiba Inu? – so here’s hoping Ken-kun continues to warm the bellies and hearts with his hot potatoes well into the future.

Source, featured image: Twitter/@hiroki99837

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