Japanese Dog Breeds

As a dog-lover, you must be familiar with the word ‘inu,’ but you may not yet know that it is Japanese for ‘dog.’ So, all the dogs with ‘inu’ in their name, like Akita Inu and Shiba Inu, are from this Land of the Rising Sun. Several more amazing dog breeds come from this country. But only 6 are considered ‘Nihon-ken,’ which means to be indeed Japanese.

Studies show that Japanese dogs are more likely to display aggressive behavior toward their family than dogs from the United States. Despite that, all these dogs make excellent, loyal pets. After all, who doesn’t know the story of Hachikō, the Akita that waited for his dead master for nine years?

List of Dog Breeds from Japan

‘Nihon-ken’ (True Japanese Descent)

• Akita
• Hokkaido
• Kai Ken
• Kishu
• Shiba Inu
• Shikoku

Other Breeds Originating in Japan

• Japanese Spitz
• Japanese Terrier
• Ryukyu dog
• Tosa

Some people erroneously (though understandably) consider the Japanese Chin to have come from Japan. But this breed is actually believed to have originated in China.

Brief History of Dogs in Japan

The first dogs are now believed to have arrived in the country from Northern or Southern Asia during the Jōmon Period (14,000-300 BC). Then, during the Yayoi (300 BCE-300 AD) and Kofun (300-538 AD) periods, some more dogs were brought to Japan from Joseon (or the Korean peninsula). It was when crossbreeding started here, eventually giving birth to many Japanese breeds we see today.

According to researchers, the first batch of dogs that came to the country during the Jōmon Period are the ancestors of the 6 main ‘Japanese’ breeds. These are called the ‘Nihon-ken‘ and are protected and preserved by the Nihon Ken Hozonkai (Nippo) or Association for the Preservation of the Japanese Dog.

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