Japanese Dog Breeds

The island nation of Japan has a lot to offer, including some amazing dog breeds. The country has six recognized native breeds (the Akita Inu, Shiba Inu, Shikoku Inu, Kishu Inu, Kai Inu, and Hokkaido Inu) however there are quite a few more. And with this Japanese dog breeds list, you can get to know each one.

Shiba Inu

The Shiba Inu is one of the six original Japanese dog breeds and it’s the smallest of the entire group. It’s has been used for hundreds of years as a hunter on Honshu island and is considered to be one of the most ancient dog breeds in the world. Similar to the Basenji, but unlike almost all other dogs, it doesn’t bark but instead lets out a high-pitched shriek.

The breed is a popular companion and often compared to a cat both in temperament and because of its cleanliness. The Shiba Inu actually grooms itself in a manner similar to that of a cat as well.

Kai Inu

The Kai Inu is a medium-sized dog that was developed in the Yamanashi Prefecture of Japan. It was used to hunt both deer and bear in packs. And it still has a strong pack instinct today. The Kai can be differentiated from other similar-looking Japanese dog breeds by its narrower skull and tapering muzzle.

Another distinguishing characteristic is its brindle coat which comes in varying shades of red. The Kai’s coat is actually solid in color when the dog is born and changes to brindle as it ages. Because of its wild temperament, this is not a breed recommended for inexperienced dog owners.

Hokkaido Inu

This breed is also sometimes called the Ainu Ken (Ainu Dog) because of its linked history with the ancient Ainu people. The Ainu migrated from Honshu (Japan’s main island) to the island of Hokkaido bringing with them their sled-pulling dogs.

These were the ancestors of the modern-day Hokkaido Inu. This is a medium-sized dog that’s thin and muscular. It’s one of the Japanese hunting dog breeds and was used to hunt bear, but also functioned as a guardian too. The Hokkaido Inu is extremely loyal and has an excellent sense of smell.

Kishu Inu

The Kishu Inu was named for the region where it was developed Kishu, which is in both the Wakayama and Mie prefectures.  It is also known as the Kyushu. This intelligent, medium-sized dog was used to hunt wild boar and deer. It also worked as a shepherd, watchdog, and companion.

Today, the vast majority of Kishus have a solid white coat. However, this was not the case until the breed was standardized in 1934. They may also be red or sesame as well. The Kishu Inu’s laid-back temperament and the fact that it’s naturally clean and quiet make it an ideal house pet.

Shikoku Inu

The Shikoku Inu comes from the remote mountains of the Kochi prefecture on the island of Shikoku. Because of this, it’s also known as the Kochi Ken. It was actually first called the Tosa Ken, but this name was changed so that it wouldn’t be mistaken for the Tosa Inu. There are three different lines of Shikoku Inu: the Hata, Hongawa, and Awa.

Each is named after the area in the prefecture where they come from. The Shikoku Inu comes in four different colors: sesame, black and tan, white and cream, and red. Similar to other Japanese hunting dog breeds it was used to hunt boar and deer. In Japan, the Shikoku is therefore sometimes referred to as a deerhound. While it can be stubborn, the Shikoku forms very strong bonds with its family and master.

Akita Inu

Easily one of the most well-known Japanese dog breeds Akita Inus are big dogs. It is the only one of the original 6 Japanese dog breeds that are considered large in size. All of the others are either small or medium. The Akita Inu was developed in the Akita Prefecture of Honshu Island for which it is named.

While it was first developed as a fighting dog, it was also used to hunt big game such as bear, deer, and boar. Later it was used as a companion, guard dog, and even police dog in Japan. One of the Akita facts prospective owners need to know about this popular breed is that can be quite dominant.

Ryuku Inu

The Ryuku Inu comes from the island of Okinawa in the southernmost part of Japan. It was developed to hunt wild boar in packs. The Ryuku Inu is not considered to be one of the original 6 Japanese dog breeds and isn’t recognized as a standard breed by any major kennel club. This is a medium-sized dog that looks similar to the Kai Ken.

The Ryuku Inu has a shorter stop than other Japanese dog breeds and is known for having a laid-back temperament. Its short coat is often a brindle or “tiger stripe,” pattern and comes in a handful of colors. Non-brindle dogs may be black, white, ivory, sesame, red, or liver.

After World War Two this breed nearly went extinct. However, an effort was formed to help preserve the breed in the 1980s. Despite this, it is still extremely rare outside of Okinawa and it’s estimated there are only a few hundred in existence.

Ryukyu Mike/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0

Tosa Inu

The Tosa Inu was created for the purpose of dog fighting. In order to gain superiority over other Japanese fighting dog breeds such as the Akita, the Shikoku Inu was crossed with various Western breeds. These included the Bull Terrier, Great Dane, Mastiff, Bulldog, and St.Bernard among others.

Unlike other fighting dogs around the world, the Tosa is still fought legally in Japan and actually fights in total silence. It originated in the Kochi Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. This is one of the big Japanese dog breeds and is also known as the Japanese Mastiff because of its size and Mastiff blood.

Japanese Spitz

The Japanese Spitz was created by mixing various Spitz-type dog breeds. This created a fluffy solid white dog that looks like a smaller version of a Samoyed or American Eskimo Dog. It’s also is similar in appearance to a white Pomeranian, although a bit bigger.

The Japanese Spitz is an active companion dog that is great with kids which helps to make it one of the most popular Japanese dog breeds. It’s naturally wary of strangers and it will not hesitate to bark and growl when it sees suspicious people. This is a breed that will need frequent brushing.

Japanese Terrier

The Japanese Terrier is a small breed that’s not very well-known. It’s also called the Nihon or Nippon Terrier. While its exact roots aren’t known, it’s thought to be related to the Toy Fox Terrier. This breed functions as a companion but in the past was used for ratting and as a retriever.

The head of the Japanese Terrier is always solid black in color while the body is white with random flecks of black. It’s one of the rare Japanese dog breeds both in the country itself as well as abroad. Because there are so few Japanese Terriers, inbreeding is a problem with the breed.

Japanese Chin

This breed is also known as the Japanese Spaniel. However, despite its name, its ancestors are actually believed to have originated in either China or Korea. The breed was later on developed in Japan where it was used as a lap and hand warmer for Japanese nobles.

This little dog is one of the Japanese toy dog breeds. And it comes in either black and white or red and white, with symmetrical markings on its head. The Japanese Chin is strictly a companion dog and it is highly devoted to its owner. Despite its small size, the Chin is a heavy shedder.

Shaped by the history, culture, and geography of Japan, each of these Japanese dog breeds offers something unique. And from the ancient to the more modern, and even rare, they are an intriguing group of dogs with fans worldwide.

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