Famous Tosa from the past
Kouryukan Gou
The reason that a Tosa has a commitment to Bushido, involves the story of the Tosa Kouryukan Gou. Kouryukan was a dog of a professor of Bushido in Tokyo, and his dojo called Kouryukan. The dog came from one of the best bloodlines Yokozuna of Japan, but was fairly small in size and as a puppy, he was often ill and was very small in size. The Japanese Dogmen saw nothing in the dog, and were not going to do something with him, so that the professor took him into his house. When the dog gets older, he became aggressive towards other dogs. So the professor decided to train him and bring him to the Tosa fighting. Although small in stature, had the dog had a lot of character, drive and will to win and became Yokozuna. Despite being almost blind in later life, Kouryukan remained active in the ring and was never defeated. The Japanese were so impressed by his story, Yukio Togawa wrote a book about a dog named Monogatari, the story of a Tosa Inu, but only available in Japanese.
Raiden
One of the best Tosa's of all times, brought to Akita by Kyono Hyoemon
Kirikawa, Ozeki in Kochi in 1910, also brought to Akita
Kanryu, first Meiken Yokozuna Fukyukai
Tenshi, one of the best middleweights in Tokyo in the 1930's
Kimputai, first Gaifu Taisho Tosa
Kubo, one of the most wanted studs in the 1920's
Hayabusha, one of the 22 Yokozuna in Kochi after WW2
Banryu
Kotetsu, first Yokozuna middleweight
Amagiyama, son of Kubo, famous for the fight with Akita Gamata
Kiyotomo
Terutoki
Kimenzan
Futabaryu
Fujinishiki
Tachiwaka
Oji
Kirakawani
Kagami
Kyodo
Shinriki
Yoshi
The reason that a Tosa has a commitment to Bushido, involves the story of the Tosa Kouryukan Gou. Kouryukan was a dog of a professor of Bushido in Tokyo, and his dojo called Kouryukan. The dog came from one of the best bloodlines Yokozuna of Japan, but was fairly small in size and as a puppy, he was often ill and was very small in size. The Japanese Dogmen saw nothing in the dog, and were not going to do something with him, so that the professor took him into his house. When the dog gets older, he became aggressive towards other dogs. So the professor decided to train him and bring him to the Tosa fighting. Although small in stature, had the dog had a lot of character, drive and will to win and became Yokozuna. Despite being almost blind in later life, Kouryukan remained active in the ring and was never defeated. The Japanese were so impressed by his story, Yukio Togawa wrote a book about a dog named Monogatari, the story of a Tosa Inu, but only available in Japanese.
Raiden
One of the best Tosa's of all times, brought to Akita by Kyono Hyoemon
Kirikawa, Ozeki in Kochi in 1910, also brought to Akita
Kanryu, first Meiken Yokozuna Fukyukai
Tenshi, one of the best middleweights in Tokyo in the 1930's
Kimputai, first Gaifu Taisho Tosa
Kubo, one of the most wanted studs in the 1920's
Hayabusha, one of the 22 Yokozuna in Kochi after WW2
Banryu
Kotetsu, first Yokozuna middleweight
Amagiyama, son of Kubo, famous for the fight with Akita Gamata
Kiyotomo
Terutoki
Kimenzan
Futabaryu
Fujinishiki
Tachiwaka
Oji
Kirakawani
Kagami
Kyodo
Shinriki
Yoshi
Comments
Kyotomo
Dewashiniki
Kokaji
Koryokan
Nishikidoichi
Seiyouken
Senman
Shinriki
Tamanoo
Kichi
Inoue
Thanks for sharing these pics, I really enjoy them!
Something I never understood, why is the "six native breeds" to Japan exclude the Tosa? I haven't really searched the answer, I guess it is a rhetorical question, but I have always wondered.
I feel like the Tosa has a lot of rich history within Japan, especially after seeing all these awesome photos you have shared.
(and honestly, as a side note, I love the fancy wardrobes of the dogs, haha ^_^)
The very first Tosa was created from Shikoku x Pointer x Boston Bull ( the later APBT) x Mastiff type of dog........in the 1920's the Great Dane was mixed in also. So actually not much Japanese breeds are in a Tosa.