[Akita Prefecture] Akita Inu is a treasure of Japan. The Akita Inu Preservation Society in Odate City, the hometown of the faithful dog Hachiko, strictly manages the bloodline to keep it alive.

Odate City, Akita Prefecture, is located in the middle reaches of the Yoneshirogawa River that crosses northern Akita Prefecture, and is the northernmost municipality in Akita Prefecture, bordering Aomori Prefecture.

Odate City is a basin (Odate Basin) surrounded by mountains on three sides, and in the northwest is a series of mountain forests that lead to the Shirakami Mountains, a World Natural Heritage Site, and about 80% of the area is forested. The city is located in the center of the basin along the Yoneshiro River, and the surrounding area is surrounded by farmland.

The climate is unique to the basin, with large temperature differences between hot summers and cold winters, and is one of the heaviest snowfall areas in Akita Prefecture. The average snow depth reaches approximately 2.5m.

The Akita Inu was bred as a hunting dog and later developed as a fighting dog.

In the Odate region, there were many Matagi who lived in the mountains and made a living by hunting, and they brought dogs with them as companions. It is not known how long it has existed, but its companion was the Akita Inu, a large, strong-bodied dog

In the Edo period, strong dogs were prized as fighting dogs, and it is said that breeding with large dogs became popular in order to improve their strength. The Akita Inu has also become a mongrel, and the number of purebred Akita Inu has decreased dramatically. In 1919 (Taisho 8), the predecessor of the current Cultural Properties Protection Act was enacted, supported by public opinion among dog lovers who feared that Japan's native breeds, including the Akita, would become extinct in the latter half of the Meiji period. A law for the preservation of natural monument designation, ``Act for the Preservation of Historic Sites, Places of Scenic Beauty, and Natural Monuments,'' has been enacted. became the first Japanese dog to be designated as a natural monument in 1931

The story of Hachiko, a loyal Akita dog known throughout the country.

The most famous dog in Japan is the loyal dog Hachiko . People were moved by the sight of Hachi waiting for his master to return for 10 years in front of Shibuya Station on the JR Yamanote Line in Shibuya, Tokyo, and after his death, a bronze statue was built in front of Shibuya Station. The statue of Hachiko, the faithful dog in front of Shibuya Station, which is now also known as a meeting place, is the second generation statue; the first statue was melted down during World War II due to metal shortages. This statue of Hachiko, the faithful dog, has his left ear hanging down, but it is said that Hachi's ears were originally erect, but they were bitten by a wild dog in his later years, causing them to droop.

Hachi is a purebred Akita dog who was born in Odate City in November 1923 to his father, Oshi Uchiyama, and mother, Goma. The following year, he was brought to his owner, Professor Hidesaburo Ueno, professor

Hachi waited for his owner to return home for 10 years, not knowing that his owner suddenly passed away at his place of work.

Dr. Ueno loved Hachi, and Hachi would take him to and from Shibuya Station every day. However, the parting between the doctor and Hachi comes suddenly. In May 1925 (Taisho 14), the doctor suddenly died of a cerebral hemorrhage while giving a lecture at a university, and Hachi, unaware of this, waited forever at Shibuya Station. It was only one year and four months after he met Dr. Afterwards, Hachi was placed in the care of an acquaintance near Shibuya Station, but she continued to go to Shibuya Station every day for 10 years, waiting for the doctor to return home.

Hachi was featured in a national newspaper and became known nationwide, and in his later years, staff at Shibuya Station seemed to take care of him. Hachi passed away due to illness in March 1935. He was later buried at the Aoyama Cemetery in Aoyama, Tokyo, where Dr.

In addition to Shibuya Station, there is a bronze statue of a bee in Odate City, and a stuffed animal is on display at the National Museum of Nature and Science.

The bee has been made into a stuffed animal and is on display on the second floor of the Japan Pavilion at the Tokyo National Museum. This is a valuable stuffed animal as a pure Akita dog.

In addition, in front of Odate Station in Odate City, where Hachi is born, there is an ``Akita Inu Group Statue'' that mainly depicts Hachi in his youth, a ``Hachiko Bronze Statue'' in front of the entrance of ``Akita Inu Village'' in front of the station, and a ``Nostalgia of Nostalgia'' in front of the Akita Inu Hall. The statue of Hachiko is also displayed at Hachiko's birthplace and at Todaidate Station.

Six dog breeds, including the Akita Inu, have been designated as Tennen Monuments as native Japanese dogs.

Including Akita Inu, Shiba Inu, Kishu Inu, Shikoku Inu, Hokkaido Inu, Hokkaido Inu, Six types of Kaiken are native to Japan and are called Japanese dogs. Both dogs were threatened with extinction around the beginning of the Taisho era, and were designated as natural monuments, and their blood has been preserved somehow. The Akita Inu is the only large dog among Japanese dogs, and in 1927 (Showa 2), the Akita Inu Preservation Society was established in Odate City, and in 1938 (Showa 13), the Akita Inu Constitution was established. The so-called Akita Inu standard has been established.

In order to be recognized as an Akita Inu, there are examination standards similar to the constitution.

The Akita Inu standard strictly stipulates the front legs, hind legs, tail, coat, and coat color. Moreover, there are also points reduction criteria and disqualification criteria, and it is said that there are more than 200 screening criteria. Even at the current Akita Inu Judging Committee (Headquarters Exhibition), this "Akita Inu standard" is maintained almost unchanged.

It has triangular ears that stand up, a curly tail, and fluffy fur. Besides that, there are many rules for purebred Akita dogs. If you are interested, please visit the homepage below.

INFORMATON

• akita dog standard
• URL: Akita dog standard

Akita dogs are more popular overseas than in Japan. The number of registrations in Japan is around 450 each year.

Despite the Akita Inu being designated as a natural monument and active conservation efforts being carried out, the number of Akita dogs kept has decreased significantly in recent years. According to the Akita Inu Station (Akita City), the number increased to 46,225 at its peak in 1972, but decreased to 2,038 in 2011. There are probably various reasons for this, but one major reason is that Japanese people prefer small dogs as pets. By the way, the number of registered dogs in 2022 is 474 (Japan Kennel Club / No. 1 Poodle is 83,916), and Akita Inu is 33rd overall. In 2016, there were 6,550 registered dogs worldwide (of which 2,628 were in Japan) due to the recent boom in Japanese dogs.

A facility where you can meet Akita dogs in Odate City

"Akita dog village"

Akita Inu no Sato is an Odate City tourist exchange facility located in front of JR Odate Station. The building is a replica of Tokyo's Shibuya Station in the Taisho era, where the faithful dog Hachiko waited for his master. Inside the building, there is an Akita dog exhibition room dog museum where materials related to Akita dogs are displayed. there is. It also serves as a tourist information center for Odate City.

A train car painted all green is preserved in the plaza. This vehicle is a vehicle called the Blue Frog (Tokyu 5000 type/leading vehicle Deha 5001 was manufactured in 1954) that ran on the Tokyu Toyoko Line that ran from Shibuya Station to Yokohama (Kanagawa Prefecture). By the way, it was transferred from the final owner, Shibuya Ward, to Odate City.

The site where Akita Inu no Sato is built is the site of the former Kosaka Railway Odate Station, which once connected Odate City and Kosaka Town, and the premises has been turned into a railway park The railway park has a popular rowing trolley

INFORMATON

• Facility name: Akita Inu no Sato
• Location: 1-13-1 Onaricho, Odate City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0186-59-4649
• Opening hours: 9:00-17:00
• Closed: December 31st, January 1st
• Admission fee: Free

• "Akita dog exhibition room" only
• Visiting hours: 9:30-16:45
• Closed: Mondays (the next day if Monday is a national holiday), December 1st, January 1st
• Admission fee: Free

• "Blue frog" exhibition
• Visiting hours: 9:15-16:45
• Visiting period: Early April to late November
• Tour fee: Free

• Facility name: Railway Park
• free entrance

• rowing trolley
• Business period: Late April to early November
• Business hours: 10:00-16:00
• Fee: 100 yen (free for preschoolers)
• Riding: up to 4 people

• access:
• Railway: Approximately 3 minutes walk from Odate Station on the JR Ou Main Line/Hanawa Line
• Car: Approximately 5 minutes from Akita Expressway Odate-kita IC
• URL: Akita dog village

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Akita Inu Museum

The Akita Inu Museum the 3rd floor of the Akita Inu Hall where the headquarters of the Akita Inu Preservation Society is located . Purebred Akita dogs are also bred there, and you can tour them.

INFORMATON

• Facility name: Akita Inu Hall
• Location: 13-1 Sannomaru, Akita Inu Odate City
• Phone number: 0186-42-2502
• Opening hours: 9:00-16:00
• Admission fee: 200 yen for adults, 100 yen for children
• closing day:
  • Saturday afternoons and Sunday holidays from mid-November to late April
  • Afternoon of August 13th
  • December 28th - January 3rd
• access:
  • Railway/15 minutes by bus from Odate Station on the JR Ou Main Line/Hanawa Line
  • Car: Approximately 8 minutes from Akita Expressway Odate-kita IC
• URL: Akita Inu Hall

GOOGLE MAP