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Akita Breed History
Japanese history describe the Akita as one of the oldest of the native dogs. The Akita breed developed in the Akita prefecture (hence its name) the northern most region of the island of Honshu. Centuries ago the breed was owned only by the Shogun, the imperial leaders of the country. The Akita was used as a hunter, guard, herder, and fighting dog. This dog was used to track large game and hold it at bay until the royal hunters arrived to make the kill. Game included: antelope, elk, boar and the 800 pound Yezo bear.
The breed became a popular fighting dog and was bred with other dogs including the Tosa Inu and mastiffs, both known for their strength and aggression.
During the 1800s the Akita was nearly wiped out due to a rabies outbreak. The breed soon gained positive attention in the early 1900 sdue to a famous Akita known as Hachi Ko.
The story of Hachi Ko
Hachi-Ko was born in 1923 and was owned by Professor Eizaburo Ueno of Tokyo.
Professor Ueno lived near the Shibuya Train Station in a suburb of the city
and commuted to work every day on the train. Hachi-Ko accompanied his master
to and from the station each day.
On May 25, 1925, when the dog was 18 months old, he waited for his master's
arrival on the four o'clock train. But he waited in vain; Professor Ueno had
suffered a fatal stroke at work. Hachi-Ko continued to wait for his master's
return. He travelled to and from the station each day for the next nine years.
He allowed the professor's relatives to care for him, but he never gave up the
vigil at the station for his master. His vigil became world renowned, and shortly
after his death, a bronze statue was erected at the train station in his honour.
Then, in 1931, The Akita was officially declared a Japanese Natural Monument.
The Mayor of Odate City in the Akita Prefecture organized the Akita Inu Hozankai
to preserve the original Akita as a national treasure through careful breeding.
During World War II, the breed was nearly lost because many Akita's were killed for food or for their fur. After the war, the breed was re-established in Japan from the best of the remaining dogs. Although the first Akita to arrive in the United States was the puppy given to Helen Keller on her visit to Japan in 1937, breeding stock did not arrive until Akita's were brought over after WWII by servicemen stationed in Japan. In America the Akita breed was heavily influenced by western breeds that contributed the size, the heavy bone and the 'big bear head' we know today. This type of Akita became well established and recognized around the world as the "American-Akita".
This American line had lost favour in Japan due to what was considered "impure" characteristics such as loose tail curl, wrinkles, loose skin, black mask and black markings.
The Akita stud book in the United States closed in 1972 and no Akitas imported from Japan after that were able to be registered with the AKC. That led to two main types of Akitas being developed: American Akitas and Japanese Akitas.
American Akitas are larger, stockier
with a black mask, and have a big bear type appearance. The Japanese Akitas
are smaller with a different fox like appearance, with only white, red, and
brindle colours allowed.
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