This site is an online media that delivers all sorts of trivia about the six Tohoku prefectures, from sightseeing and gourmet spots to local customs, history, and more
Odate City in Akita Prefecture is located in the middle reaches of the Yoneshiro River, which runs through northern Akita Prefecture, and borders Aomori Prefecture. It is the northernmost municipality in Akita Prefecture.
Odate City is located in a basin (the Odate Basin) surrounded by mountains on three sides, and in the northwest is a series of mountains and forests that continue to the Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Site, with forests accounting for approximately 80% of the city. The city is located in the center of the basin along the Yoneshiro River, and farmland spreads out around it
The climate is typical of a basin, with large temperature differences between hot summers and cold winters, and it is also one of the snowiest areas in Akita Prefecture, with an average snow depth of about 2.5m
Akita dogs were bred as hunting dogs and were eventually bred as fighting dogs
In the Odate region, there were many Matagi hunters who made a living by going into the mountains and bringing their dogs as companions
It is not known when they first appeared, but their companion was an Akita dog, a large, strong dog
During the Edo period, strong dogs became popular as fighting dogs, and breeding with larger dogs became common in order to make them even stronger
As Akita dogs also became more and more crossbred, the number of purebred Akita dogs drastically decreased. In the latter half of the Meiji period, public opinion from dog lovers, who feared that the bloodline of native Japanese breeds, including Akita dogs, would be wiped out, supported the establishment of the Law for the Preservation of Historic Sites, Places of Scenic Beauty, and Natural Monuments Act.
As a result, the Akita dog became the first Japanese dog to be designated as a natural monument in 1931 (Showa 6).
The story of Hachiko, the loyal dog that made Akita dogs known nationwide
The statue of Hachiko, the loyal dog, is enshrined at the Hachiko Exit of Shibuya Station in Tokyo. His left ear was drooped after being attacked by a stray dog
The most famous dog in Japan is the loyal dog Hachiko . Hachiko waited for his master to return for 10 years in front of JR Yamanote Line Shibuya Station in Shibuya, Tokyo. People were so moved by his appearance that a bronze statue of him was erected in front of the station after his death.
The statue of Hachiko, the loyal dog, in front of Shibuya Station, which is now known as a meeting place, is the second generation; the first one was melted down during World War II due to a shortage of metal
This statue of loyal dog Hachiko has a drooping left ear. Hachiko's ear was originally erect, but it became droopy after being bitten by a stray dog in his later years
Hachi is a purebred Akita dog born in November 1923 (Taisho 12) in Odate City to his father, Oshinaiyama, and mother, Goma.
, Dr. Eizaburo Ueno , a professor at the Faculty of Agriculture at Tokyo Imperial University , and since then he has lived with the professor near Shibuya Station in Tokyo.
Hachiko, who had been waiting for his owner's sudden death at work for 10 years, was unaware of it
Dr. Ueno loved Hachi, and the dog became so attached to him that it would drive him to and from Shibuya Station every day
However, the parting of the doctor and Hachi came suddenly. In May 1925 (Taisho 14), the doctor died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage while giving a lecture at the university. Hachi, unaware of this, waited for him at Shibuya Station for an eternity
This happened just one year and four months after he met the professor. Hachi was then placed in the care of an acquaintance near Shibuya Station, but he continued to commute to Shibuya Station every day and wait for the professor to return home for 10 years
Hachi's appearance was featured in national newspapers, and he became known nationwide, and in his later years, Shibuya Station staff and others seemed to take care of him. Hachi passed away from illness in March 1935 (Showa 10). He was later buried in Aoyama Cemetery in Aoyama, Tokyo, where the doctor is buried
In addition to Shibuya Station, there is a bronze statue of Hachi in Odate City, and a stuffed specimen is on display at the National Museum of Nature and Science
In front of Odate Station in Odate City, where Hachiko is born, there is a "Group Statue of Akita Dogs" that mainly depicts Hachiko when he was young, there is a "Bronze Statue of Hachiko" in front of the entrance to "Akita Dog Village" in front of the station, there is a "Statue of Hachiko Longing for Home" in front of the Akita Dog Hall, and there are also statues of Hachiko at Hachiko's birthplace and Higashi-Odate Station
Six dog breeds, including the Akita, are designated as Tennen Monuments as native Japanese dogs
These six breeds are native Japanese dogs known as "Japanese dogs."
Both dogs were in danger of extinction around the beginning of the Taisho era, and were designated as natural monuments, so their bloodlines have somehow been preserved
The Akita is the only large breed of Japanese dog, and in 1927 (Showa 2), the Akita Preservation Society was established in Odate City, and in 1938 (Showa 13), the Akita Standard, , was established.
In order to be certified as an Akita dog, there are examination standards similar to those of the Constitution
The Akita dog standard strictly regulates the front and back legs, tail, coat, and coat color
Furthermore, there are also criteria for deductions and disqualification, and it is said that there are more than 200 judging criteria. This "Akita Inu Standard" has remained almost unchanged even at the current Akita Inu Judging Committee (Headquarters Exhibition)
They have erect triangular ears, a curly tail, and fluffy fur. There are many other rules for purebred Akita dogs. If you are interested, please check out the website below
Akita dogs are more popular overseas than in Japan. Around 450 are registered in Japan each year
Despite Akita dogs being designated a natural monument and active conservation efforts, the number of Akita dogs kept as pets has declined significantly in recent years. According to the Akita Inu Station (Akita City), the population peaked at 46,225 in 1972, but by 2011 had fallen to 2,038. While there are likely various reasons for this, a major one is said to be the shift in Japanese pet preferences toward smaller dogs. Incidentally, the number of registered Akita dogs in 2022 is expected to be 474 (Japan Kennel Club; the top-ranked poodle is 83,916), placing Akita dogs 33rd overall. Looking at the world, coupled with the recent boom in Japanese breeds, there were 6,550 registered dogs worldwide in 2016 (2,628 of which were in Japan)
A facility in Odate City where you can meet Akita dogs
Akita Dog Village
Akita Inu no Sato is an Odate City tourism and exchange facility located in front of JR Odate Station.
The building is modeled after Tokyo Shibuya Station from the Taisho era, where the loyal dog Hachiko waited for his master, and inside the building there an Akita dog exhibition rooman Akita dog museum where materials related to Akita dogs are on display . It also serves as Odate City's tourist information center.
A green train car has been preserved in the square. This car is a Tokyu 5000 series train (the lead car, Deha 5001, manufactured in 1954) known as the Blue Frog, which ran on the Tokyu Toyoko Line from Shibuya Station to Yokohama (Kanagawa Prefecture). It was transferred to Odate City from its last owner, Shibuya Ward, in honor of the faithful dog Hachiko
The site where Akita Inu no Sato stands is the former site of Odate Station on the Kosaka Railway, which once connected Odate City and Kosaka Town, and the premises a railway park is home to a popular hand-powered trolley that runs on the 300m-long old railway line
The Akita Dog Museum is located at the Akita Dog Hall. The bronze statue of the Akita dog is called "Hachiko Statue, Longing for Home."
The Akita Inu Museumthe third floor of the Akita Inu Hall , which is the headquarters of the Akita Inu Preservation Society. Purebred Akita dogs are also bred here and can be viewed.
My love of travel led me to work for a travel magazine some time ago, and now I work as a travel writer for an online publication. I have visited all 47 prefectures in Japan, focusing on the Tohoku region, and I enjoy soaking in hot springs and experiencing traditional Japanese culture, including old townscapes, lifestyles, and performing arts and crafts
![1ac3a1f21437c998188c16e5dfc8c65e_m](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/1ac3a1f21437c998188c16e5dfc8c65e_m-150x150.jpg.webp "[Akita] A traditional winter sweets event! What is Odate City's "Amekko Market"?")
