Anime, Sake, Mount Fuji, Sushi, and Shiba Inu. No matter who you ask, 99% of people will know about these things and they will immediately say – Japan! It is the country of the rising sun and the place of some of the most interesting dog breeds in the world. We’ve all heard of the Akitas or Shiba Inus, but there are many more dog breeds originating in Japan. While I was doing the research for the article, I was surprised to see how many more are emerging, not yet established as purebred dogs. I am looking forward to seeing how they spread across the globe. Until then, here are 14 native dog breeds of 日本 – Japan.
1. Shiba Inu
I’ll start with the famous one, the Shiba Inu. While we all know the modern version, before World War II, there were four “types” of Shiba Inu. The one we know, Shiba, and the other three – Mino, Shinshu, and Sanin. The only type that didn’t go extinct is the Shiba Inu, but the other types played a role in developing the modern Shiba Inu.
These dogs are known to have a “cat-like” personality. They are loyal but prefer to have their own space and be left alone. They are medium-sized dogs, growing up to 16.5 inches and weighing up to 23 pounds.
2. Akita Inu
This is the “original” Akita. The one more popular in the Western countries is their bigger cousin, the American Akita. Although smaller than the American, the Japanese Akita is a working dog of large size too. They weigh around 100 pounds and are up to 28 inches tall. This is a loyal but reserved dog that needs a confident owner. They may be cute-looking and fluffy, but they need firm training and proper socialization.
3. Japanese Chin
And now, a small dog but equally bold! The Japanese Chin is an old dog breed. They’ve been lap dogs for Japanese nobles and are still considered to be wonderful pets. They weigh up to 7 pounds and are up to 11 inches tall. As such, they are perfect for apartments or city living. But, that doesn’t mean they don’t need to be properly socialized. They might not harm anyone seriously, but we want our dogs to be well-behaved and sociable.
4. Japanese Terrier
The other small dog from Japan is the Japanese Terrier. They are beautiful with their unique markings – white body with tan/dark markings on the head. Just like other terriers, expect a dog with a high prey drive. They are small so they will sooner get in trouble than scare someone, but still, good habituation and socialization are always a must. These small dogs are up to 13 inches tall and can weigh from 5 to 9 pounds.
5. Japanese Spitz
If you are not looking for a terrier or a chin, there is a third option – Japanese Spitz. These dogs are fluffy-looking and adorable, very affectionate. They come in one coat color, white. Which makes the Japanese Spitz puppies look like small puff balls! The Japanese Spitz are small dogs too, growing up to 15 inches and weighing 10 to 20 pounds. Oh, and they are quite playful! A great choice for families with children and suitable for either country or city.
6. Tosa Inu
From the little ones, we move on to the giants. The Tosa Inu or just Tosa is a molossoid dog breed (mastiff type) originally bred in Kochi Prefecture. They were used as hunting dogs. Unfortunately, they also have a sad part of their history. Like many molossoid dogs in the past, they were also used in dog fighting. Tosa Inu is a large dog, weighing up to 200 pounds. They can also be more than 24 inches tall. This dog breed is not for everyone. They need a firm hand and someone who knows how to train a strong dog.
7. Shikoku Inu
This dog breed is also from Shikoku Island (Kochi Prefecture is on Shikoku Island, where Tosa Inu was originally bred). They are Spitz-type dogs with similar origins to Shiba Inu. But they have less Spitz-type characteristics. Still, they are similar to Shibas, which means they are quite independent. After all, they were bred to work independently. This is a medium-sized dog. Their height is from 19 to 21 inches and they can weigh from 35 to 55 pounds.
8. Hokkaido Inu
As the name tells us, this Japanese dog breed came from Hokkaido island. It’s another Spitz-type dog. The Hokkaido Inu dogs have been helping people from this island hunt for a long time. They were also used as all-around dogs, working on farms and protecting it. Hokkaido Inu is not a very popular dog breed outside Japan. They are loyal and independent, a trait found in other Spitz-type dogs of Japan. The Hokkaido Inu can weigh from 45 to 55 pounds and are usually up to 20 inches tall.
9. Kishu Inu
The AKC still does not recognize this dog breed, but it is recognized by the FCI. They have been around for centuries. Kishu Inu dogs were used as hunting dogs. They have excellent hunting skills, but because of their “Spitz-type dogs” aloof nature, they served as excellent guard dogs as well. There aren’t many Kishu dogs today, but they are still very much loved by the Japanese, especially from the Kii Peninsula where the breed originated. They are up to 22 inches tall and can weigh from 30 to 60 pounds.
10. Kai Ken
The brindle dog from the Kai region. They come in silver, red, or black brindle coat color variations. Similar to other Spitz-type dogs from Japan, they can be up to 22 inches tall and weigh up to 50 pounds. This dog breed is recognized by the AKC and they put it in the non-sporting group. As far as history goes, they were used primarily as hunting dogs, but they also helped people with everyday farm work. Kai Ken is a very smart and loyal dog. Like most dogs I’ve mentioned, they need thorough socialization to overcome or ease their natural reservedness.
11. Ryukyu Inu
This is a very rare dog breed. They come from Okinawa island and were used as hunting dogs. Today, the breed is Okinawa’s national treasure and breed enthusiasts are helping keep the breed alive. Ryukyu Inu is a versatile hunting dog. They have been used for hunting all kinds of animals, from wild boars to birds! They are medium-sized dogs, more similar to Shikoku Inu in size and head shape than Shiba Inu. But, yes, they too possess that aloofness and natural guarding instincts. I couldn’t find a lot of information on how many of these dogs are in the States or in Europe, however, I did find a Facebook group called Ryukyu Ken: the Okinawan Dog. There are only 88 members, but maybe they could help you find a Ryukyu Ken/Inu if you’re looking for one.
12. Yakushima Inu
Another rare dog breed from Japan. They got the name from the island where they were originally bred – Yakushima. The other names you can come across are Yakuinu, Yakuken, Yakken, etc. These dogs are so rare that it is debatable if there are any purebred Yakushima Inus left. They were crossbred with other dogs from Japan and other dog breeds from Europe. As with all other mentioned Spitz-type dogs (except for the Japanese Spitz), Yakuinu were used for hunting. They are medium-sized, very loyal, but not overly affectionate. I found a passage that says they have a “…wild, primitive nature”.
13. Kawakami Inu
I like to call this dog breed a Wolf Shiba Inu. It’s because of their coat color, and the belief that these dogs are closest to wolves from the Japanese Isles. It’s not a wolf of course, but a medium-sized Spitz-type dog from Minamisaku District, Nagano. The name comes from the village in this district called Kawakami. They too are extremely loyal and not very affectionate when it comes to other people. But, that’s what makes them so special. They know who they love and they don’t share their affection so easily with outsiders.
14. Sakhalin Husky
Even though the Sakhalin Husky is an extinct dog breed, it deserves to be mentioned, especially because of two brave dogs Taro and Jiro. It is a sad story and a cruel one where people abandoned their dogs, chained to the damaged sleds in the emergency when the rescue came. The only dogs that survived were Taro and Jiro. I don’t want to get into it, because people have their opinions on this topic, but I cannot fathom how they could leave them chained. Back to the breed, these two dogs were Sakhalin Huskies. They were more robust husky-type dogs originating in Japan and Russia. They were used for pulling sleds. As time passed, no one maintained the breed so today we have no Sakhalin Huskies. There are mixes with some Sakhalin DNA, but the breed is gone.
Final Thoughts
Most Japanese dog breeds share some traits. The most prominent are the Spitz-type looks and aloofness. Some even say they are cat-like breeds, especially Shiba Inu. Then again, there are three very different breeds from the rest of the Japanese breeds – the Tosa Inu, Japanese Chin, and Japanese Terrier. Another trait they share (with the exception of the Shiba and Akita Inu) is how rare they are. You won’t find these dogs outside of Japan so easily. So, if you fell in love or got really interested in one of these breeds, good luck finding them in your country. The best way is to contact someone on social media (groups of certain breeds) and start from there.
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