Several breeds of dogs are typically associated with particular areas of Japan. They include the Akita, Hokkaido, Kishu, Shiba, Kai, and Shikoku. (In Japanese, the word for dog is "inu.")

The Akita Inu is the Japanese national breed. He is related to the spiz and primitive types and originating from the province of Akita which he has his breed-name to thank for. Akita is in the north of Honshu (Japan). This breed is so ancient and has such a wealthy history that the city of Odate, in the province of Akita, has dedicated a museum to this dog. Since 1931 the Japanese government have considered the Akita Inu as part of the national inheritance, like the geisha's and sumo-wrestlers.

This breed of dog is highly intelligent. Centuries ago, the Akita was owned only by the Shogun, the imperial leaders of the century. This dog was used to track large game and hold it at bay until the hunters arrived to make the kill. Some of the types of game the Akita tracked included antelope, elk, boar and the 800 pound Yezo bear.

The Akita has keen senses of smell, sight and hearing, making it a remarkable guard dog.

Two major setbacks occured to this breed during the late 1800's. The first, was the crossbreeding of the Akita with the Japanese fighting dog, the Tosa. This resulted in a dog of imposing size and aggression.

The second, was at the turn of the century, when Japan had a fatal outbreak of rabies with more than 3000 cases reported. Dogs both healthy and affected, were clubbed to death.

In the early 1900's two events occurred that focused positive attention on the breed.

First was the story of Hachi-Ko, one of the most revered Japanese Akitas of all time. Hachi-Ko was owned by Professor Eizaburo Ueno of Tokyo. Everyday the Professor would commute to work on the the train from Shibuya Station. Hachi-Ko would accompany his master to the station each morning and meet him and accompany him home each night. 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 Professor Ueno had suffered a fatal stroke at work. Hachi-Ko continued to wait for his master's return. He traveled 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 his 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 honor.

The second positive event was the arrival in 1937 of Helen Keller in Japan. She expressed keen interest in the Akita breed and was presented with the first two Akitas to enter the United States. Unfortunately, one of the dogs died at a young age, but the second dog became Ms. Keller's constant companion until his death in 1945.

After World War II two main breed lines emerged, the Ichinoseki and the Dewa. The Dewa line was preferred by the American servicemen due to the dog's size and presence. This line had lost favor in Japan due to what was considered "impure" characteristics such as loose tail curl, wrinkles, loose skin, black mask and black markings.

The Ichinoski line was used to produce the Japanese Akita of today. These Akitas must have white markings - mask on face, on underside of jaw and neck, on chest and stomach, and on the undrside of tail, and on inside of legs.