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Japanese dog breeds: a guide to the six native spitz breeds

See the real story – guest starring your dog.

If you are curious about Japanese dog breeds, there are six native ones, known together as the Nihon Ken. They are the Akita, Shiba Inu, Hokkaido, Kai Ken, Kishu, and Shikoku. All six carry Japan's Natural Monument designation, and share a curled or sickle tail, upright ears, and the distinctive urajiro markings. Below you can see how they developed, what set them apart from one another, and why some are still hard to find outside Japan.

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The story in 6 parts

A short version first. The full story, with every detail, is further down.

Part 1

The six native Japanese breeds at a glance

The Nihon Ken Hozonkai, usually called NIPPO, was founded in 1928 to classify and preserve Japan's native dogs.

Part 2

How Japan's geography shaped these breeds

Dogs are thought to have arrived in Japan with people during the Jomon period, a very long span of Japan's early history.

Part 3

What they were bred to do

These breeds were working hunting dogs first.

Part 4

Near-extinction and 20th-century preservation

After the First World War, Japan's economy struggled, and dog ownership became harder to afford even as pride in native traditions grew.

Part 5

Telling the breeds apart

Size varies widely across the six breeds.

Part 6

Beyond Japan: how these breeds spread worldwide

The Akita's move beyond Japan has a well-documented start.

Read the full story

Part 1

The six native Japanese breeds at a glance

The Nihon Ken Hozonkai, usually called NIPPO, was founded in 1928 to classify and preserve Japan's native dogs. It still names the same six breeds today: Shiba, Kai, Hokkaido, Shikoku, Kishu, and Akita. All six hold Natural Monument status from the Japanese government. They share a wedge-shaped head, upright ears, a curled or sickle tail, and pale cream or white markings called urajiro on the muzzle, chest, and underside. NIPPO judges all six against the same three qualities: spirited boldness, good nature, and an unshowy, natural beauty, which is part of why owners often describe these dogs as cat-like and independent.

Part 2

How Japan's geography shaped these breeds

Dogs are thought to have arrived in Japan with people during the Jomon period, a very long span of Japan's early history. Because breeding was mostly left to nature, Japan's dogs were shaped by local terrain, and only dogs suited to the mountains and rivers around them survived to produce pups. For more than two centuries, from 1635 to 1854, Japan was largely closed to outside trade and travel, which gave native dogs time to develop without influence from Western breeds. These dogs became tied to specific regions: the Akita to Akita Prefecture, the Kai to the mountains of Yamanashi, and the Shikoku to Kochi Prefecture on Shikoku island. If you want to know where your dog's ancestors likely worked, that regional link is often the clearest clue.

Part 3

What they were bred to do

These breeds were working hunting dogs first. The Kai was prized for hunting deer, bears, and wild boar in the mountains of Yamanashi. The Shikoku was bred to hunt boar in the mountainous interior of Shikoku island, and the Kishu, a mostly white dog from Mie and Wakayama, hunted boar and deer, often working alone. The Ainu people used Hokkaido dogs to hunt bear and deer. The Akita became known for loyalty and bravery, which made it valued as a watchdog.

Part 4

Near-extinction and 20th-century preservation

After the First World War, Japan's economy struggled, and dog ownership became harder to afford even as pride in native traditions grew. NIPPO was founded in 1928 partly because contact with the West had brought foreign dogs into Japan, and these were interbreeding with free-ranging local dogs. Government recognition followed over the next decade: the Akita was declared a National Monument in 1931, the Kai in 1934, and the Shikoku and Hokkaido both in 1937. The Second World War hit the Akita hard. Only around 18 documented purebred Akitas are thought to have survived the war, after the government ordered citizens to surrender non-military dogs while exempting German Shepherds, which led many owners to cross their Akitas to avoid culling. The Hokkaido faced its own crisis in 1949, which led breeders to form the Hokkaido Ken Hozonkai in 1954 specifically to protect the breed from extinction.

Part 5

Telling the breeds apart

Size varies widely across the six breeds. The Shiba is the smallest, standing roughly 34.5 to 41.5 centimetres, while the Kai stands about 40 to 50 centimetres and the Shikoku about 46 to 55 centimetres. Coat colour is another clue: the Shiba comes in red, sesame, or black and tan; the Kai has a brindle coat that earns it the nickname tora-inu, or tiger dog; the Kishu is predominantly white; the Shikoku can be sesame, red, black and tan, or white; and the Hokkaido carries the thickest, heaviest coat of the six. If you are trying to place your own dog, it is also worth knowing that the Japanese Spitz is a separate, non-native breed developed from the German spitz, not one of the six Nihon Ken.

Part 6

Beyond Japan: how these breeds spread worldwide

The Akita's move beyond Japan has a well-documented start. In 1937, Helen Keller visited Japan and was given an Akita puppy named Kamikaze-Go, the first Akita known to live in the United States. After Kamikaze died of distemper, the Japanese government sent Keller his younger brother, Kenzan-Go, in 1939. The breed's popularity in the United States grew further after the Second World War. Kennel club recognition came much later and in stages: the UK Kennel Club split the American Akita and Japanese Akita Inu into separate registrations in 2006, and the Akita was only granted UK Kennel Club championship status from November 2024, effective at Crufts 2026. The Kai Ken, Japan's rarest native breed, has only one active breeder behind its dedicated UK club, and that club says at least 20 dogs from separate bloodlines are needed before it can seek full recognition. The Kishu has no established UK breed club, while the Hokkaido is represented by a small British association.

Things you might not know

  • The Nihon Ken Hozonkai, usually called NIPPO, was founded in 1928 to classify and preserve Japan's native dogs.
  • The Kai was prized for hunting deer, bears, and wild boar in the mountains of Yamanashi.
  • The Akita became known for loyalty and bravery, which made it valued as a watchdog.
  • The Second World War hit the Akita hard.

Year by year

  1. 1928The Nihon Ken Hozonkai, usually called NIPPO, was founded in 1928 to classify and preserve Japan's native dogs.
  2. 1931Government recognition followed over the next decade: the Akita was declared a National Monument in 1931, the Kai in 1934, and the Shikoku and Hokkaido both in 1937.
  3. 1934Government recognition followed over the next decade: the Akita was declared a National Monument in 1931, the Kai in 1934, and the Shikoku and Hokkaido both in 1937.
  4. 1937Government recognition followed over the next decade: the Akita was declared a National Monument in 1931, the Kai in 1934, and the Shikoku and Hokkaido both in 1937.
  5. 1937In 1937, Helen Keller visited Japan and was given an Akita puppy named Kamikaze-Go, the first Akita known to live in the United States.
  6. 1939After Kamikaze died of distemper, the Japanese government sent Keller his younger brother, Kenzan-Go, in 1939.
  7. 1949The Hokkaido faced its own crisis in 1949, which led breeders to form the Hokkaido Ken Hozonkai in 1954 specifically to protect the breed from extinction.

Questions people ask

How many native Japanese dog breeds are there?

There are six native Japanese breeds, known together as the Nihon Ken: the Akita, Shiba Inu, Hokkaido, Kai Ken, Kishu, and Shikoku.

Are all Japanese dog breeds related to the Akita?

Three of the six even have their own dedicated breed clubs rather than registering mainly with NIPPO.

Why are some Japanese dog breeds so rare outside Japan?

Breeds like the Kai Ken, Kishu, Shikoku, and Hokkaido have small populations today. The Kai Ken's UK breed club currently has only one active breeder.

What is a Natural Monument designation in Japan?

It is a status the Japanese government gives to native dog breeds, including the Nihon Ken. The Akita received this status in 1931, the Kai in 1934, and the Shikoku and Hokkaido both in 1937.

Can Kai Ken or Kishu dogs be kept as family pets?

The Kishu is loyal and physically capable, with a strong prey drive and a tendency to bond closely with one person. It is not well suited to inexperienced owners.

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Sources

  1. The Nihon Ken Hozonkai. www.nihonken.co.
  2. 13 Beautiful Japanese Dog Breeds | My Itchy Dog. My Itchy Dog, Mar 8, 2024.
  3. The Shikoku. www.nihonken.co.
  4. The Kai Dog – King of the Mountains. Close-Up on the Japanese Dog ② | めぐりジャパン. めぐりジャパン | Meguri Japan, Jan 12, 2023.
  5. 10 Japanese Dog Breeds with Curly-Que Tails and Protective Dispositions. PureWow, Jul 2, 2021.
  6. History of the breed. The British Association of Hokkaido Ken - BAHK, Feb 19, 2024.
  7. Hokkaido History – Hokkaido Association of North America. www.hokkaidoken.org.
  8. Helen Keller, Accomplished & Inspirational Icon, Was a Lifelong Dog Lover. American Kennel Club.
  9. Deep and Beautiful Bond between Helen Keller and Akita Dogs. Akitainu News.

Written by TimeWalkies EditorialLast updated How we research