Old Japanese dogs

kimputai · February 2012

Some old historical pictures

Kai Sachi

Matagi Fuchi

Matagi Oyajiro

Akita Iwakiyama

Akita Hochi

Akita Goma

Mikawa

Ainu Aku

Matagi Yama

Akita Shiro

Akita Onishiki

Akita Junkei

Akita Gamata

Odate with Tosa influence

Shikoku

Akita

Odate Tosa

Chu Ken Hachiko

Zen'Nihon Tosainu Zenshu Taikan from the Sudos, original published in Meiken Gaho

curlytails · February 2012

Amazing collection! Thank you for sharing. Do you have dates?

jenz · February 2012

Wow! Great photos. I've never heard of Matagis before... are they related to the Akita? They look kind of similar.

I LOVE the black tuxedo shikoku!

Jen

Shishi · February 2012

thank you for the beautiful animals pictures

MirkaM · February 2012

Thanks for sharing these photos! It's always interesting to see how breeds have changed over the years.

shishiinu · February 2012

Great photos. I'm guessing you also have the ouko nihon ken shashinsuu. Great book on compilations of old nihon kens.

jellyfish · February 2012

Thanks for sharing! its interesting to see how the akita has evolved in the last recent history. (and to see old pictures of the other nihon ken:)
Reminds me of the book called "Dog Man". You should read it if you ever run across it. It is about a man who founded the modern akita after WWII. He counted only 16 akitas after the war, and there are pictures of many of his dogs in the book. The book focuses on his akitas and breeding and how he lived in the middle of no where in Japan, bringing electricity to rural villages. He used to go to the shows in japan, I think he died a few years ago? http://marthasherrill.com/dog-man

kimputai · February 2012

You are welcome. The only date that I am really sure of, is the picture from Akita Gatama, he was an Ozeki ranked Akita in 1910.
He had a historical fight with a Tosa called Amagiyama, son of Kubo, the most wanted stud in those days in Tokyo. Amagiyama was the first Zenkoku Yokozuna in Tosa history. After that fight the Japanese saw that the Tosa was far more superior in the ring and it was one of the last fights between Akita and Tosa.

ttddinh · February 2012

Thanks for sharing! The Matagi looks awesome! Are they rare or common now in Japan?

*JackBurton* · February 2012

Matagi means hunting dog. The current logic is that the modern Japanese Akita came from lines containing the Matagi inu as well as other regional dogs.

So in a distant sense yes the are k still around. I have always had issues with the 16 Akita theory. I saw that as 16 registered or something like that.

musashi · February 2012

Thanks Sean, great pics.

*JackBurton* · February 2012

I wish I could take credit for these photos.

shishiinu · February 2012

I was told that the matagi ken of the tohoku region was extinct until Shigeru met someone who still has the Akita matagi hunting dogs. The matagi refers to the Professional hunters of the kantou and tohoku regions of Japan (northern main land Japan). The dogs they hunted with were the Akita matagi ken.

It would be awesome to see an actual Akita matagi ken alive today.

ttddinh · February 2012

@thewalrus-- Did you happen to take a picture of the Akita matagi (not assuming that you carry a camera around with you everywhere and when you see a cool dog, you take a picture for our benefit, btw)?

*JackBurton* · February 2012

I wonder if shig's could get me a cheek swab.

ttddinh · February 2012

@*jackburton*--A cheek swab?!!! Hahhaa, now I don't feel so bad asking for a picture!

BradA1878 · February 2012

Great pics, thanks @kimputai!

It's interesting how rangy that Kai Ken is.

*JackBurton* · February 2012

I find the changes in the dog from then to now really amazing. Every dog has seem to have some sort of change to it.

@ttddinh - I'd tell you why but then I would have to kill you.

Losech · February 2012

Wow, thanks for sharing these! I really like the Matagi dogs and Shikoku. The rangy Kai is interesting. I kinda like it that way.

TheWalrus · February 2012

I do have some pictures somewhere, I'll try and scrounge them up. As far as cheek swabs go.... I'd have to be up there in the area again. Since I don't snowboard anymore, I don't have as much of a reason to drive 12 hours north.

BradA1878 · February 2012

don't snowboard anymore??? Wha????? Shame on you!

shishiinu · February 2012

Hope you are still surfing though.

sukoshi_mom · February 2012

@kimputai- Thanks for all the great old photos. Was especially interested in the Mikawa, since it is rumored that they may have contributed somewhat to the Shiba lines. I had always visualized them as small dogs, but that picture shows a very solid, fairly good sized dog. (I'm one of the folks on the Shiba forum.)

shibamistress · February 2012

Those are great pics! Interesting to see how different the Akitas were, though one looks like the AAs do now....

ShikokuSpirit · February 2012

That Kai Sachi looks tall (long legs), very pretty though. The Shikoku reminds me more of a Laika, lol. Cool photos, thanks for sharing.

Oh and I love the Akita Onishiki!

kimputai · February 2012

Matagi Fuchi

Matagi Potsu

Akita

JaanaS · February 2012

Those akita's look so much like Norwegian elkhound!

Old Japanese dogs

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