The Japanese Microchip System.

The microchip (MC) system of Japan conforms to the ISO standard (International Standards Organization).

As such, a true ISO microchip has a 15 digit numeric ID code of which 3-digit national country code Japan: 392 ; 2-digit to identify animal category (pets, 14); 2-digit national manufacturer code (Digital Angel, 80; Datamars, 10;AVID, 30); 8-digit animal ID number. But only Torvan started 3-digit national manufacturer code 968 and 12-digit animal ID number.

Japan has a database available to all (run by AIPO-Animal ID Promotion Organization ) but used by AVID ,Datamars and Torvan. Another database in Japan (Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd - Hitachi system and service Ltd) is used by Digital Angel as their registry.

ISO is a global and international standard.　However, most of the United States has not adopted the ISO standard. However, this situation is beginning to change.

The microchip (animal identification) is implanted underneath the animal’s skin, where it stays for life. Procedure is simple; there is no discomfort regardless of how small the animal may be, similar to a routine vaccination. The device remains with the animal for life. It is scanned by a compatible electronic ID.

Under the current law, Japan requires all imported dogs and cats to have an ISO-compliant microchip or a compatible reader. If your pet is microchipped in Japan,(using the ISO standard), your microchip will be unreadable in the US (Non-ISO standard). Please understand this situation.
*　http://www.maff.go.jp/e/index.html

If your pet is found by a scan you will be contacted based on the information the animal recovery database. Microchips are tiny, just like a grain of rice. The size of each microchip is about the size from 12 to 13 millimeters in length and 2.1 millimeters in diameter.

Microchipping provides your pet with permanent identification. Microchips have been particularly useful in the return of lost animals.
AVID(American Veterinary identification devices)(www.avidid.com/pets) and CAR(Companion Animal Recovery www.akccar.org;) are two major players in the U.S. market.

AVID has information on 18 million animals in its database. CAR has information on more than 2.7 million animals in its system.