The Breed

The Akita (name for The Japanese Akita-Inu in Japan) being a breed unique to Japan, was designated as a Natural Monument in July 1931.  The Akita’s designation was the first of seven Japanese breeds: Akitas, Hokkaidos, Koshino-Inus, Kais, Kishus, Shikokus and Shibas.  Until that time, Akitas were known only to the local population around Odate in the Tohoku District, and by a handful of fanciers, as Odate-inu or Kazuno-inu.  The designation as a natural monument changed the breeds name to “Akita” and triggered the effort to preserve and restore the purity of the breed.

The ancestral home of the Akita is Odate City and its surrounding countryside in Akita prefecture.  Records of this can be found well back in History.  Odate, in the Tohoku District, has long been known as a “Dog Town”.  In the 1800’s (late Tokugawa period), domesticated dogs, which had increased in number because of the favourable socio-economic conditions, were gradually turned into fighting dogs.  After the Meiji restoration in 1868, dog fighting was established as a public event and large numbers of dogs were to be found in the “Dog Town” of Odate.

There were several names used in describing the breed.  They were known as “Odate-inu” and “Kazuno-inu” in their respective areas of northern Akita Province.  They were also known as “Nambu-inu” from the district as it was known in the “Han” period.  Collectively they were also known as the “Regional Dog”.  Of these regional dogs, those living in towns and used for fighting were known as “Kuwae-inu” or “Kuriya-inu” in the local dialect, while others that were used for hunting in the countryside and mountains were known as “Matagi-inu”.  Some names, including “Akita”, were taken from the locations where the dogs were to be found, while others such as the “Kuwae-inu” and “Matagi-inu” were named according to the use they were put to.  The dogs themselves were more or less alike.  They were all Japanese dogs, which had been bred in these areas since ancient times and were the ancestors of today’s Akitas.