Akita

The Akita (also known as “Akita Inu” or “Japanese Akita”) is the largest and best known Japanese breed. The Akita was bred as a fighting dog in medieval times, and redeveloped in the 1800’s as part of an effort to restore several ancient Japanese breeds. In 1918, the Akita Inu Hozankai Society of Japan was created to preserve the breed, which was subsequently designated a natural Japanese monument in 1931. In 1937, Helen Keller’s guide dog became the first Akita to arrive in the United States. The Akita grew in popularity in America after World War II, when many soldiers returned home from Japan with them. Today, they are popular American pets and serve as guard and police dogs in Japan. The world’s most famous Akita, Hachiko, greeted his owner at a train station after work every day. After his owner’s death, Hachiko continued to faithfully visit the train station every day to wait for his owner, until he died nine years later. Today a statue of Hachiko stands at the train station and an annual ceremony is held in his honor.

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