Japanese Akita

Medium size, tail curled forward close to the back, ears erect. Head large and broad, face expressive. Compact, powerful, strong body. Broad head, blunt triangular shape, deep muzzle, small eyes, ears straight forward and in a straight line with the nape, are the breed's defining features. The large, curled tail contrasts with the broad head, also characteristic of the breed.
Double coat. The inner coat is thicker, softer, denser and shorter than the outer coat. The outer coat is erect, coarse and somewhat flared. The coat on the head, legs and ears is shorter. The coat on the withers and hips can be up to 5 cm long, slightly longer than on the rest of the body except for the tail, which is the longest and most abundant.
Any color, including white, with stripes and spots. The color is striking and clear, and the spots are harmonious. Star spots or masks (large black faces) are also acceptable. White Akitas have no masks, and the spots on the white background are evenly dotte

A large fox dog breed originating from Japan, also known as the Japanese Akita

       Akita dogs belong to the working dog group. They were raised by the Japanese royal family or aristocratic families hundreds of years ago. They are famous for bullfighting and hunting and are awarded the title of "the most respected hunter". The protagonist of the story of Hachiko is an Akita dog. Akita dogs are the largest fox dog breed in Japan. This large fox dog is quite eye-catching even in countries with many fox dog breeds such as Europe and the United States.

The ancestor of the Akita dog is the "Mataki dog" (Mataki dog, mountain hunting dog) called the "Akita Matagi" (Akita Matagi). Originally, there were no large dogs in Japanese dogs, and the Akita Matagi was a medium-sized bear hunting dog. During the Edo period, the Akita region in the northern part of Dewa Province was pacified by the Satake clan. The Satake clan was a vassal of Hitachi Province after the Battle of Sekigahara. In the Keicho era, around 1630 (Kanei 7), fighting dogs were offered as rewards to cultivate and enhance the fighting spirit of the samurai. These fighting dogs were bred by mating hunting dogs with native dogs in the Akita area. This breed of dog became the original breed of the Akita dog, but it was called "Odate dog" in the Odate and Noh regions at that time.

In the past, only the royal family and the nobility could own Akita dogs. At the formal ceremony, people would announce the correct way to care for and raise Akita dogs. Different leashes for tying dogs represent different levels of Akita dogs and different status of their owners. People use specific names when talking about Akita dogs. Each Akita dog has a dedicated person to take care of it, and this person wears gorgeous clothes that are commensurate with the status of the dog being taken care of.

Due to the changing preferences of those in power, interest in Akita dogs has fluctuated. In the next 300 years, Akita dogs faced extinction several times. Fortunately, people's love for Akita dogs allowed them to survive the Meiji era. In the Showa period of the early 20th century, Japan began to gradually ban dog fighting, and the number of Akita dogs raised dropped sharply. Later, some people advocated protection and it was hailed as the national dog.

In 1927, Japan began to protect purebred dogs. In May of that year, the "Japan Akita Dog Preservation Association" was officially established. In July 1931, the Japanese government designated the Akita dog as a national symbol, and the Akita dog was officially declared a natural monument of Japan, and there was also an Akita Dog Natural Memorial Museum. When the 20th century arrived, the opening of Japanese society and the influence of European culture made dog breeding a fashion. The Japanese government attaches great importance to Akita dogs and provides subsidies to dog owners who cannot afford to raise Akita dogs. Later, some knowledgeable people proposed that the purebred bloodline of Japanese dogs should be preserved, and Akita dogs were once again valued and re-bred, improved and purified.

However, the Akita dog, known as the national dog of Japan, has a very rigorous and scientific management system in Japan. Many years after the establishment of the "Japanese Akita Dog Preservation Association", this management system limited to Japan has further restricted the export of Akita dogs, so that now Japanese Akita dogs are rarely seen except in a few countries and regions such as Japan. At the same time, the developed economic level of Japan also restricts the export of Japanese Akita dogs. The wealth makes most of the fine Akita dogs not for sale, and the price of the best Akita dogs is amazing. Today, the market price of a newborn purebred Akita dog is about 200,000 yen (about 12,000 yuan). It has now become a family dog and is loved by people all over the world.

In 1987, Hachiko's story was made into a movie, which caused a sensation in Japan that year. The movie attracted 178,527 viewers within two days of its release, and the box office revenue was 222,929,600 yen. Since then, a number of movies featuring Akita dogs, such as "Snow Prince", "Puff", and "Star Guardian Dog", have been released one after another. In 2009, the American version of "Hachiko: A Dog's Story", a touching and emotional film about the unending love between a man and a dog, was released, which moved many people. Since then, Akita dogs have become very popular all over the world, and their popularity is increasing, and Russia is no exception. Ito Takeshi, president of the Akita Dog Protection Association, said: "If President Putin keeps an Akita dog, the popularity of the Akita dog in Russia will increase, and I am very much looking forward to it.

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