Maru, arguably the most famous Shiba Inu dog on Instagram, was the star of the show at a fan meeting in Tokyo this week. He has 2.6 million followers on the social media platform thanks to both his antics and cuteness. /Netease Photo

His owner Shinjiro Ono came across the then two-month-old dog at a pet store in December 2007 and has been recording his daily life on Instagram ever since. The photos were taken as inspiration for Maru’s fans, especially following the devastating earthquake that took place in Japan in 2011. /Netease Photo

His owner says he is surprised at the number of fans Maru has online, many of whom come from foreign countries. /Netease Photo

Fluffy and foxlike, Shiba Inus are described as the national dogs of Japan and tend to have a strong social media presence. /Netease Photo