Rambling Through Japan, Fall 1992

Transcription

1 Rambling Through Japan, Fall 1992 Tatsuo Kimura Ventura, California After an absence of about fifteen years, my wife and I took a thirteen day trip between October 20th and November 1st, 1992 to revisit the Japanese Akita dog world. Our basic plan was to meet a few well-known people from the three main Akita dog organizations: Nippo, Akikyo and Akiho world. The first week was to be spent in the Tokyo area to meet Mr. and Mrs. Tatsuo Nakajo, formerly of Nippo, and Mr. Mutsuo Okada from Akikyo. The second week was to be spent in Akita to meet Mr. Ryonosuke Hiraizumi of Akiho in Odate. The trip was more rewarding than anticipated. I was also able to meet either in person or by telephone: Mr. Tamejiro Ishibashi of Yuzawa in southern Akita, Mr. Naoto Kajiwara of Osaka, Mr. Kazuo Kuga of Chiba, Mr. Sadao Yukawa, executive director of the JKC and Mr. Hiroshi Kamisato, director, secretary general, judge (FCI, AKU, JKC) of the JKC. Mr. Tatsuo Nakajo and Mrs. Hiroko Abe (Nakajo) and Kincho-go I first met Mr. and Mrs. Tatsuo Nakajo about fifteen years ago in Tokyo. Mrs. Nakajo is the former Mrs. Hiroko Abe, of the famous Kincho-go (that won championships at the Nippo and Akiho shows and was placed highly as a young dog at the Akikyo show in the 1950's). However, Mrs. Abe's favorite dog was Asahime-go, the white dam of Kincho-go. Mrs. Abe, with her Kincho-go, and the late Mr. Heihachi Hashimoto of the famous Hashimoto Kennel of Tokyo, with his Kongo-go, were the shining stars in Nippo's large dog class (Akita dog) shows in the 1950's. Her first husband was the famous movie director, the late Mr. Yulaka (Minoru, Noboru) Abe. After Kincho-go was killed in a streetcar accident, Mrs. Abe left the Akita dog world to work with Mr. Nakajo in the Shibainu Hozonkai (Shibaho). Mr. Tatsuo Nakajo was a Nippo judge during Kongo-go's heyday. He stated that Kongo-go as a dog of his day had some good points. However, owing to his great popularity, Kongo-go's stud services were in great demand, and a more careful breeding program may have resulted in a different outcome. Mr. Nakajo left Nippo soon thereafter to organize the Shibainu Hozonkai (Shibaho). Its goal is to restore the type of Shiba dog that he believes lived during the Jomon Period (about 8000 BC or earlier to about 200 BC), based on dog skulls from that period. Shibaho observed their thirtieth anniversary a few years ago. Recently, Mr. Nakajo has been attending the Akikyo shows in Tokyo and seems to favor that type of Akita dog. Mr. Mutsuo Okada Mr. Mutsuo Okada of Tokyo is vice-chairman of the newly reorganized Akikyo of He has written numerous Akita dog articles in the Akikyo Bulletin, the Aiken Journal and the Aiken no Tomo magazines. He was one of the younger students of the late Mr. Hyoemon Kyono of Yuzawa in southern Akita, one of the great Akita dog pioneers of Nippo and Akikyo. Mr. Okada inherited many Akita dog photographs from Mr. Kyono. More on Mr. Kyono will be presented later. Mr. Okada's recent 147 page book, Akitainu Keito Tokuhon (Pedigrees of the Akita Dogs), published in 1991 by the Seibundo Shinkosha Publishing Co. Ltd. of Tokyo, contains many important Akita dog photographs and pedigrees rarely seen by the Akita dog world until now. This book may become an excellent reference for pedigrees of almost every Akita dog going back to Tochini-go or to Oyajiro- 1

2 go. The plus and minus features of several famous Akita dogs are also discussed. More than 240 Akita dogs are mentioned or shown in photographs. Unfortunately, an English edition of this book is not yet available. Mr. Okada suggested I visit Mr. Tamejiro Ishibashi in Yuzawa in southern Akita to see a few Akikyo Akita dogs, and to visit Mr. Kyono's famous loving memorial to his dogs located in his backyard. Mr. Kyono had a great love for dogs. Mr. Ryonosuke Hiraizumi, Heirakudo Kennel and Kongo-go We headed for Akita on the Shinkansen (the Bullet Train) that left Tokyo Station at 10:48 a.m. for Morioka in Iwate. After a few stops along the way, we reached Morioka by 1:44 p.m. We then transferred to another slower train that left Morioka at 2:03 p.m. and headed west through more scenic mountainous country toward Akita City located on the west coast on the Sea of Japan. Our first: stop was at the Shizukuishi Station. This is the station where the late Mr. Shoichiro Miyamoto, a dog trader and hunter, shipped purer Akita dogs purchased from mountain villagers and sold to the wealthy Mr. Kyono in Yuzawa. Mr. Miyamoto refused to reveal to his buyers the source of his pure Akita dog supply. Later, after Mr. Kyono was able to trace the source of these Akita dogs to the Shizukuishi Station as the origin, he began to purchase directly from mountain village matagis (hunters) in Sawauchi and Gosho, and bypassed Mr. Miyamoto. From the Shizukuishi Station our train headed slightly southwest to Kakunodate (hometown of the late Mr. Shoichiro Miyamoto), and then slightly northwest to Omagari (birthplace of Hachiman-go and Azumazakura) and on to Akita City (hometown of Dr. Shinichi Ishiguro, veterinarian of Goromaru-go, and one of two Japanese show judges at the 1966 American Akita Breeders show and the L.A. Akiho show judge of 1975). Along the way, before sunset, we were able to enjoy the fall colors, almost reminiscent of New England. The beautiful colors seemed more subdued in Japan. Our train then headed northward to the coastal town of Noshiro (birthplace of Tsukasa-go) before turning northeast to pass through towns with such familiar names as Futatsui (of Futatsui-goma: dam of Goromaru-go), Takanosu, Hayakuchi and finally arrived in Odate at 5:02 p.m. After having a bowl of noodles for supper at the station restaurant, we took a ten-minute taxi ride to the Shuhoku Hotel located across the street from the Odate City Hall. From our tenth story hotel window facing north, the beautiful city lights and highway traffic indicatedby moving lines of headlights below stretched out for miles. Fifteen years ago, Odate was not as developed when we were here. Before retiring, my wife and I went for a short walk to the Akiho headquarters building located about a block from our hotel. The following day was sunny with clear blue skies. The Akiho headquarters building is located on the left of Highway 7 that leads north to Hirosaki and Aomori. A beautiful red Japanese style bridge over Highway 7 connects the Akiho headquarters building to the Keijo Park, where the Spring Akiho Headquarters Shows are held. The changing red maple leaves added to the beauty of the park. The Akiho building is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is closed from November 21st to April 20th, Saturday p.m., Sundays, holidays, and December 28th to January 3rd. Admission: adults 100 yen, children 50 yen. Admission with groups of 30 or more: adults 80 yen, children 30 yen. The administrative office is located on the first floor. The second floor has a large meeting room. Framed photographs of chairmen of Akiho, beginning with Mr. Shigeie Izumi, the first chairman, and his successors, are on the walls to the right side as one enters this room. The museum is on the third floor and a porch goes completely around the building, giving one a panoramic view of the city of Odate. Since my appointment with Mr. Ryonosuke Hiraizami was not until 1 p.m., I had ample time to visit the museum from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mr. Hiroshi Hatakeyama, the secretary, made me fed at home. I became so 2

3 engrossed with the museum displays that my wife and I did not have time for lunch or for a visit to the city library to find more Akita dog literature. I plan to visit the city library on my next trip to Odate. Mr. Hiraizumi was awaiting our arrival a 1 p.m. at the administrative office. After proper introductions, including exchanges of meishis (business cards), we were ushered into an adjacent conference room. I asked Mr. Hiraizumi to comment on Mr. Katsushiro Kudo of the Iwate University, who wrote on the Iwate and the Akita Matagi Dogs back in (1) Mr. Hiraizumi said that Mr. Kudo is an authority on Japanese dogs. The original Akita dogs were the Akita matagi dogs that were slightly larger than the medium Japanese dogs, that lived in the Ouu Mountain Range. They were crossbred to produce Akita fighting dogs. The present goal is to restore the Akita dog that is larger than the Iwate or Akita matagi dogs. (Mr. Mutsuo Okada also told me in Tokyo that Mr. Katushiro Kudo is a Japanese dog authority and had given me two of Mr. Kudo's articles on the Iwate and Akita matagi dogs as references.) The late Dr. Yoshio Nagakura, author of Nipponken (Japanese Dogs), published by the Kodansha in 1972, was also a scholar on Japanese dogs. I asked Mr. Hiraizumi about foreign visitors to Odate. A French couple (Japanese wife), Italians, Canadians and Germans AND Taiwanese have visited the Akiho headquarters recently. No Americans have visited for the past several years. Language barrier seems to create some communication difficulties with foreigners. At times, the translations do not seem to clearly convey the total meaning. The Taiwanese seem to have less of a language barrier since many Taiwanese speak and read Japanese fluently. Mr. Naoto Kajiwara told me over the telephone from Osaka a few days later that the Taiwanese have translated his book, Waga Akitainuko (My Thoughts on The Akita Dog) into Chinese after receiving his permission. Mr. Hiraizumi has been involved with Akita dogs almost all of his life. His articles on Akita dogs have appeared in the Akiho Bulletin and other Japanese dog publications. He and his father, the late Mr. Eikichi Hiraizumi, the second chairman of Akiho, owned the Heirakudo Kennel prior to the Second World War. One of his earlier Akita dogs was the red female, Date-go, acquired in the mid 1930s from Mr. Tayama of Akita. She was bred to the brindle, Habutaro, to produce Datetorame, a brindle, and Datetaro. Datetaro was bred to an unknown female to produce Dategoro, a goma. Dategoro was then bred to Datetorame to produce Kikumarugo, a red goma. Kikumaru was bred to Dewawaka, a red goma, to produce Datemitsu, a black goma. Datemitsu was bred Co Taishu go, a red coat [Dewawaka (Dewa, a goma x Kuzugoma, a goma) x Takahime, a goma (Tokiwa, a red coat x Maru)?] to produce the famous Kongo, a black goma. Thus it was Mr. Hiraizumi's Heirakudo Kennel in Odate that produced the famous Kongo that was later sold to Mr. Heichachi Hashimoto, a dog trader and handler in Tokyo. It was Mr. Hashimoto's promotion and showing of Kongo that brought much popularity to the Dewa line and the Akita dog during the early postwar years. Many Akita dogs of the Dewa line from the Tokyo area were brought back to the United States during this period. However, the Dewa line soon went into decline in Japan when it became difficult to eliminate many of Kongo's faults in his offspring, such as the loose skin, wrinkles on the face, undesirable coat colors and the western dog features, mainly the German Shepherd appearance. Mr. Hiraizumi also told me that Dewa-go, the ancestor of Kongo-go, has Tachi-go's bloodline, although Tachi-go is not listed in Dewa-go's pedigree. While in Los Angeles as the 1970 L.A. Akiho branch judge, Mr. Ryonosuke Hiraizumi made the following statements on Akita dogs in the United States and the Kongo line: "Many of the Akita dogs were imported to the United States during the height of popularity of Kongo, and, therefore, it was necessary for me to explain the differences between the Akita dogs of that era to those of today (1970). Although Kongo-go fulfilled a certain role for a period after the war, many faults were left behind by Kongo. In order to remove these faults, these dogs were bred to Akita dogs of the Ichinoseki line such as 3

4 Tsubakigoma and his offspring, Goromaru-go. Soon after the war, these Akita dogs from Odate were bred to dogs of the Taihei line of southern Akita. Later, these dogs were bred to Tamakumo-go of Tokyo, which became the foundation of the Akita dogs after the war. "However, within the past few years, while trying to eliminate the faults of Kongo, Akita dogs with very bad forms and weak body have appeared. One must strive to correct this situation. "When one breeds from a popular line, one not only acquires strong points, but also the weak points, which may not be recognized and perpetuated. Certain faults may be looked upon as strong points in a given popular dog. Therefore, one must recognize these faults as soon as possible to avoid heading into a wrong direction. "The pendulum of a clock may swing to the left or right, or the course of a river is every changing. As the current becomes stronger, it is natural for the river to take a certain course. Dog breeding must never be allowed to take its natural course, but man must set the course. Mr. Hiraizumi made the following additional comments on his Heirakudo Kennel that produced Kongo: "Regrettably, many American Akita dog lovers have dogs of the Kongo type, and I felt that I should clearly point out the faults of the Kongo line, so that these faults may not be perpetuated. "Kongo-go was born at the Heirakudo Kennel. The Heirakudo Kennel is my kennel. Kongo-go was born in 1947 at my home. I told my audience that I was pointing out the faults of a dog that was born at my place, and, therefore, was asking them to believe me. The majority seemed to understand what I was saying (2) When I inquired about Mr. Naoto Kajiwara of Osaka (author of My Thoughts on The Akita Dog, the articles in the Aiken Journal of the early 1970s that gave us so much information on the Akita dog after they were translated into English) Mr. Hiraizumi told me that Mr. Kajiwara was still very active with Akiho. Mr. Hiraizumi tried to get in touch with Mr. Kajiwara in Osaka by telephone numbers and caught a taxi to the Odate Station. Among mementos of Akiho presented to me by Mr. Hiraizumi before I left Odate, was a bound volume of the first eight issues of the Akiho Bulletin (Akitainu). These issues contain the first Akiho Akita Dog (Odate Dog) Standard, published in Photographs of Datemitsu, Tsubakigoma, Taishu-go, Shintora-go, Bushi-go, and Long-go with their evaluations are present in the first issue. Articles by names well known in Japanese Akita dog circles such as the late Mr. Shinkichi Echizen, the late Mr. Daisuke Sasaki, the late Mr. Kichijiro Funakoshi, Mr. Ryonosuke Hiraizumi, the late Mr. Shinkichi Kurimori, the late Mr. Sadakichi Tayama, the late Mr. Tomoaki Adachi, the late Mr. Katsusuke Ishihara (of Akikyo), the late Mr. Eikichi Hiraizumi, the late Mr. Gisuke Yamamoto (1973 Los Angeles Akiho Branch Show judge) and others appear in this Akiho Bulletin. Mr. Tamejiro Ishibashi, Mr. Hyoemon Kyono and Daiunme-go We left Odate by train at 3:32 p.m. and reached Yuzawa at 7:02 p.m. after a transfer and stopover at Yokote. After detraining at Yuzawa, I saw the familiar face of Mr. Tamejiro Ishibashi, seen often in Akita dog magazines, looking toward our direction. He came to meet us at the train station, in spite of my saying that it was not necessary. Mr. Mutsuo Okada had informed us, previously in Tokyo, that Mr. Ishibashi wanted to meet us at the Yuzawa train station whenever we reached Yuzawa. I had telephoned Mrs. Ishibashi from Odate that I was on my way to Yuzawa to spend the night in a hotel before meeting Mr. Ishibashi the following morning. 4

5 Mr. Ishibashi immediately put us at ease by saying that he could pick us out of the crowd because foreigners usually carry too much luggage, although we had only three pieces of relatively light luggage plus my wife's small handbag and my camera bag. Evidently, the Japanese travel with less luggage. He drove a very short distance from the train station to his son s restaurant next to a house with a large warehouse where Mr. Ishibashi was born and reared. We exchanged meishis (business cards) after meeting his son, Mr. Kokichi Ishibashi, who is also an Akikyo judge. Hot refreshments were served. Mr. Ishibashi drew some side views of the ideal and faulty Akita dog heads on small pieces of paper. The ideal Akita dog head has parallel lines for the forehead and muzzles with a stop that is not too steep. The faulty heads have no parallel lines with or without deep stops. (See diagram by Mr. Ishibashi.) He then drove us to the nearby Yuzawa Grand Hotel, where I had reservations fro the night. Mrs. Ishibashi told me that there were only two such hotels in Yuzawa and both were near the train station. The following morning his son, Mr. Kokichi, came to the hotel and drove us to his father's home. We sat on the neat tatami floor in the living room facing the beautiful garden as Mrs. Ishibashi graciously served tea with delicious pound cake and Japanese crackers. Mr. Ishibashi again described the proper and faulty heads of the Akita dog. (See diagram by Mr. Ishibashi.) He also delved into the pitfalls of many champion dog breeders who breed dogs too closely within their own bloodlines until a fault is not easily removable. One must occasionally carefully bring in dogs of another line to correct the fault(s). He also said that true dog breeding is often not a profitable venture because of air transportation and other expenses involved in breeding dogs. (When Mr. Okada suggested a few days earlier that I visit Yuzawa to meet Mr. Tamejiro Ishibashi, I could hardly believe that such a great opportunity was unfolding before me. I was acquainted with Mr. Ishibashi's name in the Japanese Akita dog literature. He produced the famous Daiunme-go that was acquired from him by Mr. Kiyoshi Komatsu (L.A- Akiho show judge of February 1989). Daiunme-go produced many outstanding Akiho Akita dogs such as Bankomaru (sire: Azumazakura), Kumohibiki (sire: Tanigumo) and Tamagumome (sire: Tanigumo). She also produced ten or more Tokuyu winners such as Moku-go (sire: Azumazakura) and Kiyo-go (sire: Yama-go). Nanun-go (Azumazakura x Daiunme.) produced Kumomaru-go. Kumomaru-go produced Tamayu go that won the highest awards from both Akiho and Akikyo.) And here we were in the living room of this famous man, Mr. Tamejiro Ishibashi, and warming our feet under the thick blanket around the modem electrical iron (a hearth without the sunken floor in this case) as he told us about Daiunme-go and other outstanding Akikyo Akita dogs. He presented me with large photocopies of Daiunme-go, Kiyo-go, Tanigumo-go, Shmhakuho-go, Tamayu-go and Tenko-go. I was also able to obtain photographs of Mr. Hyoemon Kyono, the well-known Akita dog pioneer, the cousin of Mr. Ishibashi's mother. Mr. Ishibashi was treated as if he were his son by Mr. Kyono since Mr. Ishibashi's father had died during Mr. Ishibashi's infancy. Later in the morning, we walked past a few houses up the street to get to the residence of the late Mr. Kyono. I had seen photographs of his stone entrance with many stone steps in the Aiken Journal articles on the roots of Akita dogs over ten years ago. (Mr. Okada had also told me that many of the Akita dog pioneers such as Mr. Tatsuo Nakajo, Mrs. Hiroko Abe (Mrs. Tatsuo Nakajo) of Nippo, the late Mr. Gisuke Yamamoto of Akiho, the late Mr. Katsusuke Ishihara and Mr. Tamejiro Ishibashi of Akikyo and many others visited Mr. Kyono's home during the earlier years, probably to discuss Akita dogs.) 5

6 He led us to the site in the backyard of the family photograph with a white dog taken during the latter part of the last century. Mr. Kyono is the infant in his mother's lap. A few yards behind this site in the backyard is the huge stone memorial erected by Mr. Kyono in memory of his dogs. Mr. Kyono's two granddaughters, Mrs. N. Kyono and Mrs. A. Onuma, who were at home, accompanied us also to the dog memorial. Five characters chiseled in kanbun (classical Chinese): "Ku shi ari butsusho" ("Dogs also have the spirit of Buddha") express the deep love of Mr. Kyono toward his dogs. Mr. Kyono was also involved with Tosa fighting dogs before he became involved in the restoration process of the Akita dog. He started the Nikkei line of Akita dogs that came from the Akita Matagi or Iwate dogs. The most famous dog is the white Akita Matagi dog, Oyajiro-go, that he acquired from the hunters of Sawauchi and Gosho. Mrs. Kyono, one of the granddaughters, spoke English. I told her that I had read much about her grandfather's role in the restoration of the Akita dog. This was a dream unexpectedly come true for me to visit Mr. Kyono's home that I had read about in the past. She and Mr. Ishibashi pointed to former kennel sites in the backyard and remaining kennels under the house, which opened to the outside. After having lunch at Mr. Ishibashi's son's restaurant, Mr. Ishibashi drove us to the Yuzawa Station and waited until we were on our way. He hid us farewell with a deep bow. We felt very grateful and honored. Our train left Yuzawa at 2:07 p.m. for Kitakarni. Mr. Ishibashi told us to look for Sawauchi near Yokote, where some of the pure Akita dogs were obtained by the late Mr. Shoichiro Miyamoto and the late Mr. Hyoemon Kyono. Unfortunately, I did not see this area from the train soon enough as the train had passed this area. At Kitakami we transferred to the Bullet Train on which Mr. Ishibashi had helped us obtain reserve seats at the Yuzawa Station. We reached Tokyo Station by 7:32 p.m. Mr. Naoto Kajiwara It rained the following day, and we decided to forego all travel. However, I was able to contact Mr. Naoto Kajiwara of Osaka by telephone. I had not communicated with him since 1976 when I spent a day with him at that time in Osaka. Mr. Kajiwara sounded just as hearty as he did in 1976, and was planning to see Mr. Hiraizumi in a few days. I told him how we in the United States have appreciated his articles entitled, My Thoughts on The Akita Dog translated into English over sixteen years ago. Many of us in the American Akita world have gained much historical information not available otherwise until that time. I also told him, since my retirement about two years ago, I have finally completely translated the rest of his articles, including his humorous, heartwarming and, at times, heartbreaking personal experiences with his Akita dogs from the time he was a novice to the time he became a judge and a trustee of Akiho. He has granted me written permission to use the articles from his book. Mr Sadao Yukawa and Mr. Hiroshi Kamisato of the JKC The following day, my wife and I visited the JKC headquarters near the Kanda Japan Railways (JR) Station to meet Mr. Sadao Yukawa, executive director and Mr. Hiroshi Kamisato, Director and Secretary General and All Breeds Judge (FCI, AKU,JKC). They have been contacted by the AKC to work on an educational video for the non Japanese Akita dog world. However, much of the detailed information on the history and development of the Akita dog must still come from Akita dog authorities of Akiho and Akikyo. The JKC has contacted Mr. Mutsuo Okada of Akikyo, who seems to have the largest collections of Akita dog photographs and Mr. 6

7 Ryonosuke Hiraizumi, the present chairman of Akiho. Both men, Mr. Okada and Mr. Hiraizu mi, told me previously that the JKC has contacted them recently. Mr. Yukawa.told me that more detailed information must be obtained from the respective Akita dog organizations, Akiho and Akikyo, since they are more knowledgeable about Akita dogs. JKC also has difficulties understanding the special terminologies in the Akita dog standards by Akiho, Akikyo and Nippo. The JKC Akita Dog Standard is patterned after those of Akiho, Akikyo and Nippo, and has also tried to simplify the terminologies for the non Japanese Akita dog world. The FCI Akita Dog Standard, written from the JKC Akita Dog Standard, is not as stringent in order to accommodate Akita dog owners in the FCI with the "American" type of Akita dog. The JKC is hoping that with more educational information from Japan, they will be able to explain to the overseas Akita dog breeders why the overly large Akita dogs with loose skin, wrinkles and undesirable coat colors are not desirable and was not in the original Akita dog standards. Mr. Yukawa also said that many Akita dogs went to the United States when the Kongo line was popular during the restoration phase. No further contact existed with the Japanese Akita dog fanciers except for those with the Los Angeles Akiho Branch. Many of the American Akita dogs went to Canada, Britain, Mexico and Europe. However, more recently, the Germans, French and Italians have begun to show the Japanese type Akita dogs after visiting Japan. Many of the visiting judges from overseas to Japan have noticed the differences between the American and Japanese Akita dogs and have begun to inquire about the differences. The American Akita dog world has gone in a different direction and many of their dogs do not have the Japanese dog appearance. The overly large Akita dog with any wrinkles, loose skin and poor colors are not desirable. Many of the American Akita dogs represent an impure stage of the Akita dog history. Mr. Yukawa attributes the differences to lack of knowledge of Akita dog history in the non-japanese Akita dog world. However, recently, an American Akita dog resembling the Japanese type won best of show over an Akita dog from Japan in the Youth Class in Europe. The majority of the Americans do not seem to be aware that the Akita dog is to be restored toward the Japanese type of dog as seen in the medium and Shiba dogs. Many of the Akita dogs of over thirty years ago resemble dogs of another breed. Mr. Kamisato stated that both Akiho and Akikyo have the Japanese type Akita dogs now. The Akiho Akita dogs have more volume and slightly larger head. The Akikyo Akita dogs have tighter bodies. The JKC is trying to get Akiho and Akikyo to get together. Mr. Kamisato again reiterated what Mr. Yukawa told me earlier about the FCI Akita Dog Standard. The FCI Akita Dog Standard is less stringent than the JKC Akita Dog Standard which is based after the Akiho, Akikyo and Nippo Akita Dog Standards. Reason: Since the differences between the Akita dogs in Japan and overseas are so great at the present time, JKC did this to accommodate both groups until the overseas Akita dog breeders became more informed on the original goal of the Akita dog pioneers in Japan. Just before parting, Mr. Yukawa and Mr. Kamisato presented me with the Eighth Edition of the Japan Kennel Club Standards of The Breeds (April 1, 1990) and the Japan Kennel Club Illustrated Breed Standards (July 1992). Mr. Yukawa told me that they are working to improve the color manual of different dog breeds, including the Akita, medium and Shiba dogs. It is very difficult to reproduce the exact coat color in the manual. Mr. Kazuo Kuga and Dr. Franz von Siebold 7

8 Another known name in the Japanese dog world is Mr. Kazuo Kuga (pen name is Koun Kuga) of the Hosei University, who has done much research on dog drawings by Dr. Franz von Siebold. (I was able to contact Mr. Kuga by telephone the day before our departure from Japan. We plan to correspond.) Many art critics, including the Japanese, state that Japanese dogs in old Japanese drawings are, in general, poorly illustrated and often inaccurate. The well-known writer, James A. Michener, points this out very clearly in his book, The Hokusai Sketchbooks (3) Recently, a few Japanese dog fanciers have discovered the sketch of a Japanese hunting dog of the 1830s based on a dog brought back to Leiden in the Netherlands around 1830 by Dr. Franz von Siebold ( ). Dr. Siebold was a German physician and naturalist, employed by the Dutch, and lived in Japan from 1823 to The Japanese interpreters of that time understood Dutch so well as to detect his foreign accent, but they were satisfied with the explanation that he was a Dutch mountaineer. (4) As a physician, he introduced European medicine to Japan. As a scientist, he collected large amounts of materials about Japan, including animals. Siebold edited a book entitled, Fauna Japonica (A Record of Japanese Animals) published in the middle of the last century. Many of the illustrations in this book are true to life in nature to a high degree. Siebold has a general classification of three types of Japanese dogs: the hunting dog, the city dog and the indoor dog (the Japanese Spaniel). The hunting dog and the city dog are illustrated in his book. The city dog has droopy ears with more body volume, while the hunting dog has erect ears. None of the drawings by Japanese artists of that period are as accurate and realistic as this illustration. Dutch art has a tradition of realism going back 300 to 400 years before the time of Siebold. Rembrandt, considered as one of the world s greatest artists, was born in Leiden. (5) In order to study Siebold's works, Mr. Kuga went to the Leiden Museum of Natural History in the Netherlands in Through the cooperation of the curator at the Leiden Museum, Mr. Kuga was able to locate the stuffed Japanese hunting dog of Siebold. The stuffed specimen very closely resembled the hunting dog illustration in the Fauna Japonica. Mr. Kuga became strongly convinced that the illustration of the hunting dog in the Fauna Japonica was drawn from the actual dog. The head region of the hunting dog drew much of Mr. Kuga's attention. "The side view of the hunting is especially superb. The forceful rise from the withers to the occiput, the wide and very flat forehead, very shallow stop, and the well elongated and pointed tight muzzle, creating an impression of excellent symmetry and a keen and alert hunting dog." (5) More recently, Mr. Kuga has written another article comparing the two different types of Shiba dogs in Japan. (6) The Shiba dogs in Nippo seem to he heavier with a fuller face, while the Shiba dogs of Shibaho (by Mr. Tatsuo Nakajo, formerly of Nippo and Nippo judge that favored Kongo-go) have a more elongated face with a shallower stop resembling the dog illustrated in von Siebold's book. How is this topic related to the Akita dog? According to Japanese dog literature, the Akita dog is being restored to the Japanese dog image similar to the medium and small (Shiba) dogs. Akikyo seems to favor the Akita dog with a head that is not overly large but more in balance with a tight body. Time did not allow me to visit the Nippo headquarters. Fifteen years ago, I visited Nippo in Tokyo to briefly meet the late Mr. Hajime Watanabe, who has written much on Japanese dog history, including the Akita dog. Much of the earlier Nippo Bulletins contain, articles by those famous in the Japanese dog world: the late Dr. Tokio Kaburagi, Mr. Shinichi Komatsu, the late Mr. Hiroshi (Hirokichi) Saito, the late Mr.Yonekichi Hiraiwa, 8

9 Mr. Tsuneji Iwahashi, the late Mr. Hyoemon Kyono, the late Dr. Kotondo Hasebe, Mr. Katsushiro Kudo, Mr. Tatsuo Nakajo, Mr. Takio Higuchi, Mr. Genzo Satoda, Mr. Yoshiro Matsumoto, the late Dr. Shiro Itagaki, Mr. Kunio Yanagida, etc. (7) Hachiko and Jiro-go The next day, we visited the famous stuffed form of Hachiko at the National Science Museum at Ueno Park in Tokyo. The display, which is located on the second floor, has been rearranged since our last visit to the museum fifteen years ago. Many of the other dogs such as the Borzhoi, Shiba dog, Taro-go (the Akita dog resembling and mistaken for Kongo in the past) have been removed. Only Jiro-go, the longhaired Karatuto dog from the 1959 Japanese Antarctic Expedition, Hachiko-go and the medium Kai dog are displayed. Hachiko was the famous Akita dog that gained worldwide fame in the 1930s as the faithful dog that awaited vainly for his dead master's return at the Shibuya Station in Tokyo. Jiro-go was one of the two surviving Karafuto dogs found in 1959 in the Antarctic one year after the Karafuto dogs had to be abandoned due to bad weather and lack of time, after much deliberation by the crew. (8) The Kai dog is a brindle Japanese dog from Yamanashi that falls somewhere between the small medium and the small size classes. Summary We were able to gather the following information not widely known in the non Japanese Akita world. Mr. Ryonosuke Hiraizumi, the present chairman of Akiho, is the son of the late Mr. Eikichi Hiraizumi, the second chairman of Akiho. They owned the Heirakudo Kennel in Odate that produced some of the well-known prewar and postwar Akita dogs from the Dewa line, including Kongo-go. Mr. Hiraizumi stated that Kongo served a purpose in the restoration process, but had faults difficult to eliminate. Therefore, dogs of the Ichinoseki line were brought in to continue the restoration process from the impure to a purer state. Mr. Tatsuo Nakajo, the Nippo judge during Kongo's great popularity left Nippo over thirty years ago to organize the Shibainu Hozonkai (Shibaho) to produce Shiba dogs that resemble small dogs of the Jomon Period (Japanese neolithic cultural period extending from about 8000 BC or earlier to about 200 BC), based on dog skulls from that period. Since no reliable old Japanese drawings of Japanese dogs are available, Shibaho has used the Australian dingoes and drawings of the Japanese hunting dog by Dr. Franz von Siebold of the 1830's as more reliable references. Mrs. Hiroko Abe (Mr. Tatsuo Nakajo) was the owner of a white female, Asahime-go, that was bred to Kongogo to produce the famous Kincho-go. Kincho-go became champio in the Nippo and Akiho headquarter shows and placed highly, as a young dog, at Akikyo. After the accidental death of Kincho-go, Mrs. Abe left the Akita dog world. She married Mr. Tatsuo Nakajo and has been involved with Shiba dogs for over thirty years. Mr. Mutsuo Okada, vice chairman of the reorganized Akikyo of 1989, is a well-known Akita dog authority, breeder and writer. He was one of the students of the late Mr. Hyoemon Kyono of Yuzawa. Mr. Kyono was one of the Akita dog pioneers and a former Tosa fighting dog official, who later worked with Nippo and Akikyo. He started the Nikkei line of Akita dogs originating from the Akita Matagi and Iwate dog lines, which were obtained from the mountain villages of Sawauchi and Gosho in Iwate near the border of southern Akita. Mr. Tamejiro Ishibashi is an Akikyo judge and Akita dog breeder of many years. He learned much about Akita dogs from his mother's cousin, the well-known Akita dog fancier, Mr. Hyoemon Kyono of Yuzawa. Daiunme- 9

10 go, one of his outstanding Akita dogs was born at Mr. Ishibashi's kennel (Yuzawa Ishibashi). Although Daiunme became ineligible as an adult show dog due to an ear injury, she produced many Akiho and Akikyo champions. This occurrence again reinforces the statement that the Akiho, Akikyo and Nippo Akita dog standards have only minor differences, so that a given dog under certain judges may win championships in the different Akita dog organizations, so far. According to Mr. Sadao Yukawa and Mr. Hiroshi Kamisato, who are officials of the JKC, the JKC Akita Dog Standard is based on the Nippo, Akiho and Akikyo Akita Dog Standards. The FCI Akita Dog Standard (prepared by the JKC for the FCI) is not as stringent as the JKC standard, until more knowledge on the Akita dog history becomes available to the non Japanese Akita dog world. Mr. Naoto Kajiwara is still active with Akiho. Mr. Kazuo Kuga (pen name: Koun Kuga), of the Hosei University, presents an interesting viewpoint in reference to the Japanese hunting dog of the early 1800s in Dr. Franz von Siebold's Japanese dog illustration. The Shibainu Hozonkai (Shibaho) seems to be using von Siebold's drawing, which seems to be more accurate than the old Japanese dog drawings, as a guide in their restoration program toward the Japanese dog. Hachiko is still on display as a stuffed dog in the National Science Museum at the Ueno Park in Tokyo. He is considered a good representative of the Akita dog from Akita of the mid 1920s. References 1. Kudo, Katsushiro, "Iwateinu ni Tsuite" ("The Iwate Dog"), Nipponken Hozonkai Soritsu Gojyushunenshi (Kokan), The Fiftieth Anniversary Book of Nippo (First Volume), pp (1938) (article published in 1938), 1978 Nippo Inc., Tokyo, Japan, 2. Hiraizumi, Ryonosuke, "The First Los Angeles Akiho Branch Show (August 1970) and The Akita Dogs in The United States", Akitamu (Akiho Bulletin) 120:1 (October) Michener.JamesA., The Hokusai Sketchbooks p. 88, 1958, Charles Tuttle Company, Rutland, Vermont &. Tokyo, Japan. 4. Hildreth, Richard, Japan As It Was and Is p. 488, 1855, Phllips, Sampson & Company, Boston (1973, Scholarly Resources Inc., Wilmington, Delaware). 5. Kuga, Koun (Kazuo), "Shibonito to Mihon no Inu, Yamainu, Okami" ("Siebold and Japanese Dogs, Mountain Dogs and Wolves"), Aiken no Tomo pp , (September) Kuga, Komi (Kazuo), "Ano Shiboruto nara, Ima no Shibainu wo Do Mirudaroka?" ("How Will Siebold Evaluate Today's Shiba Dogs?") Aiken No Tomo pp , (November) Nipponken Honuikai Gojyushunenshi (Kokan-Gekan), (the Fiftieth Anniversary Book of Nippo) (First and Last Volumes), 1978, Nippo Inc., Tokyo, Japan. 8. Fujiwara, Issei, Nankyoku no Taro to Jiro (Taro and Jiro of Antartica) p. 151, 1983, Kodansha, Tokyo,Japan. 10