Cover photo ‒ By author
Yushi Sasso (Brave and Prominent): Pet Line Award, 5 th
Photo Competition for Our Heart-to-Heart Relationships
w it h Pet s i n 19 9 0 ‒ Hosted by Yom iu r i Sh i mbu n ,sponsored by Petline Co., Ltd., and supported by Kyocera
Corp.
Title: NISHINO Shoko (Mr. Kawagishi's butler)

The Essences of Japanese Dogs

URANAMI Tomiaki

Table of Contents

Introduction
Congratulatory message Japanese spirit being forgotten
Research on hunting ability …………………………………………………………………

1

Thank you, Goro ………………………………………………………………………………

3

Godfather of the Kishu ………………………………………………………………………

6

Hachiko in the pass12…………………………………………………………………………

Tiger pattern of medium-sized Japanese Dogs…………………………………………

16………………………………………………………………

19

Hunting competition and exhibition of the Hokkaido ……………………………………

22

Dual crown of the Hokkaido …………………………………………………………………

26

Hunting abilities of the Hokkaido and the Kishu …………………………………………

29

Convinced of perfect posture and hunting ability of the Kishu …………………………

32

In search of dogs of the Tokachi’s same line……………………………………………

36

The Kishu fighting brown bears ……………………………………………………………

41

The Hokkaido with perfect posture and hunting ability …………………………………

46

Nature of Japanese Dogs ……………………………………………………………………

50

Yuho forever…………………………………………………………………………………

56

Dignity of Japanese Dogs ……………………………………………………………………

59

Kizuna（ties）（Toward KAWAGISHI Shinichi’s“Road to Happiness”）………………

63

Afterword

66

Local lines of Japanese Dogs……………………………………………………………………………………

Hachiko in the Pass
On September 29, 1999, I visited Ikutora Station on the JR（Japan Rail）Nemuro
Line in Minami Furano Town, Hokkaido. The station was used for shooting afilm“Poppoya”（Railroad Man）as“Horomai Station”.
I drove on Route 38 and through the top of the Jukai Pass（a.k.a. Ikutora Pass）
located on the border between Furano City and Minami Furano Town. Then,I found the monument of“Hachiko in the Pass”at a corner of a parking lot onright hand side, which I had read since before.
At that time, I headed for the location of the film without stopping there. After
visiting the shooting place, I came to the parking lot where there was the“Hachiko in the Pass”monument. It was splendid. I would like to introduce thehistory of this monument, which was written by TSUCHIYA Yoshio in Vol. 4 of
“Kotan”in 1987, a journal of the Natural Treasure Hokkaido Association.
Monument of Loyal Dog（Hachiko in the Pass）
Hachiko: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachik% C5% 8D
The Ikutora Pass（a.k.a. Sannoyama Pass）is located on the border between
Furano City and Minami Furano Town on Route 38.
On the top of the pass is a monument on which a word“Jukai”（Ocean oftrees）is inscribed. The great natural forest of the Sakhalin fir and the Yezo
spruce is really mystifying. It is just the ocean of trees and its view is one of
the best in Hokkaido.
Many drivers are also fascinated with this magnificent view.
A light red Hokkaido, male, started to draw attention from people in October
1974. The dog was gazing at passing cars, sitting on a small hill on the opposite
side of the monument.
Local villagers sympathized with the dog and some of them even gave food tohim, as he was supposedly left by his owner who came here to see the oceanof trees or by someone heartless. In addition, some drivers who regularly passhere put some food for the dog.
But he never tried to eat as long as he recognizes any human around him.
He was watching cars passing through the national road during daytime.
He rushed to the road whenever he found a black car passing. At night, he

12withdrew to his cocoon in the deciduous trees.
Supposedly, he knew that he would have enough food at a larger town rather
than in this remote pass. However, he never did so and was earnestly waitingfor his owner, and such his attitude drew people’s sympathy and strongly
impressed them.
Naturally, the dog started to be called the“Hachiko in the Pass”.
The town government put up a notice, saying,“This dog is looking for his
owner”. This was also covered and introduced to all around Hokkaido andJapan by the media.
On January 16, 1975, Hokkaido was hit by strong wind and heavy snow. A
blizzard hit the pass, making it impossible to see almost anything.
In the morning of January 19, when the snow storm was gone, Hachiko wasfound dead in the accumulated snow.
Judging from the situation, he was supposedly run over by a snow plow on theprevious night, resulting in the tragic death.
“How much was he longing for his owner? We wish we could find the owner.
He was persistently waiting for the owner here”.
Villagers who lived at the foot of the pass and cherished Hachiko, including
SATO Yasushi, buried him in the pass and arranged a Buddhist monk toconsole his soul.
On his tomb, the master of Zenshoji Temple wrote a message,“Namu Kanzeon
for Hachiko in the Ikutora Pass”.
As soon as this episode was reported in
the media, many dog lovers in all around
Hokkaido sent condolence money to the town
hall.
Some villagers proposed,“If possible, use
the money to build a monument to praise
Hachiko forever in response to the goodwill of
the people who sent it”,and the proposal wasmaterialized. The place was fixed at a cornerof the parking lot that was approximately 200
meters away from the spot where Hachiko
was longing for his owner. In early summerof 1975, TATE Daisuke, mayor at thattime, and 50 others attended the unveiling
Monument of“Hachiko in the Ikutora
ceremony.
Pass”

13

This monument would become the biggest tribute to Hachiko who waspersistently longing for his owner and showed his backbone as the Hokkaido.
All the participants filled themselves with deep emotions toward the dog.
On a 2.5-meter high and 1.5-meter wide granite tombstone were inscribed thefigure of Hachiko by SUGIMOTO Katsuyoshi, a painter living in Asahikawa
City, Hokkaido, and the message“Monument of Hachiko in the Ikutora Pass”
below. On the base of the monument was the following poem.
Legend of Loyal Dog
Descending the slope, encountering a dwelling of warm-hearted people
Looking in the distanceWith majestic and pristine nature in the north
On January 18, 1975 in deep snow
A stray light brown Hokkaido dog
Succumbs here in the Ikutora Pass
Never demanding any cocoon or food in a human dwelling
Supported by love and blessings of people coming here for more than a year
Why does he persistently gaze at cars passing, simply waiting for his owner?
Waiting here
Where’s his owner?
It’s a pity of him
He’s unforgettable even after he’s gone
His days are remembered forever
In memory of this loyal dog, the monument is built with the goodwill ofgenerous people.
（sic）
I took care of three male Hokkaido dogs between 1972 and 1984. I often
brought them to a mountain. They had a good response and always cared me.
In terms of loyalty to an owner, the Hokkaido were better than the otherJapanese Dogs I had taken care of（4 Kishu and 1 Shiba）.
The film“Poppoya”became a blockbuster in Japan’s film world. It is said to be
impossible for Hollywood to produce such a film as“Poppoya”no matter how
much it spends or no matter how long it takes.

14This is because“Poppoya”depicts the mentality of the Japanese people inaddition to the passion of TAKAKURA Ken, the lead actor who is called thegreatest treasure of Japan’s film world.
Japanese Dogs also have their spirit. In this trip, I strongly felt that weJapanese Dog enthusiasts have to be committed to the preservation of the dogs
by respecting the spirit.
Reference cited“Kotan”,Journal of the Natural Treasure Hokkaido Association
Vol. 4, 1987
（4）“Japanese Dogs”Vol. 6, 1999

15

Tiger pattern of medium-sized Japanese Dogs
A headquarters report about the fifth board meeting of the Nippo, which was
carried in its journal“Japanese Dogs”（Vol. 6, 1999）, said in its Item 7,“Atiger pattern shall not be specified in a pedigree of the Kishu or Shikoku”withregard to that of a medium-sized dog.
Based on this, a tiger pattern of the Kishu and the Shikoku is not supposed toexist for the Nippo headquarters. According to the association, only some of theKai and the Hokkaido have the tiger pattern among all medium-sized Japanese
Dogs.
At present, neither the Kai nor the Hokkaido are displayed in an exhibition of
the association. But a female Kai dog was displayed in an autumn exhibitionof the association’s Tottori Branch in 1993. The Kai had the tiger pattern anda straight tail, and her body was small but very agile. She was gentle andfavorable, and one of the most attractive dogs there.
In the association’s exhibition, the tiger pattern can be seen only in the large
Akita. A female Akita dog was displayed in an autumn exhibition of the Kinki
Union of the association in 2000. She had a very high bone mass with hair witha clear tiger pattern.
The first Japanese Dog I had was the Hokkaido. I took care of three male
Hokkaido dogs between 1972 and 1984. Two of them had red hair and the rest
had a spotty pattern in the hair. Unfortunately, I had not had a one with thetiger pattern, but I have been interested in the pattern of the Hokkaido sincethat time.
As there is an Ainu word“Ru”to express the pattern, the Hokkaido with it
have existed since a long time ago.
The Hokkaido have unique regional lines that cannot be seen in any other partof Japan. They consist of the Chitose line, the Iwamizawa line, the Biratori line
and the Atsuma line.
The most distinctive is Atsuma, which is called the“Atsuma tiger”. It is in thesoutheast of Chitose City where Hokkaido’s main airport is located, and takes
approximately an hour by car from the city. It is a quiet agricultural town in acorner of the Yufutsu Plain.
There is the Association to Preserve the Natural Treasure Hokkaido, Atsuma
in the town, which was established in 1936, and its exhibition is still held. The
association has addressed the preservation of the tiger pattern Hokkaido by

16

Dignity of Japanese Dogs
I would like to express my sincere sympathy to the victims of the Great
Eastern Japan Earthquake that occurred on March 11, 2011. I pray that all
suffering people can get back to their peaceful lives as soon as possible.
I travelled around the eastern part of Hokkaido with my brother’s family
between August 19 and 21, 2011.
We used this summer holiday as they were looking forward to seeing the Kishu
dog at“Rausu Daiichi Hotel”, which has been active in controlling brown bears
in the Shiretoko Peninsula. They also like dogs.
At 8am on August 19, we departed from Kobe Airport on All Nippon Airways（ANA）. We arrived at New Chitose Airport at 9:50am. Then, we connected toa flight for Nemuro Nakashibetsu, departing at 11:45am by ANA, and arrive at
the final destination at 12:35pm. On the connecting flight, we saw Lake Akan,
which was beautiful on that day, on left hand side of the plane.
For travelling around the eastern part of Hokkaido, we rented a car at the
airport.
Before we arrived at “Rausu Daiichi Hotel”, we enjoyed the Milk Road
that runs straight in the green dairy land, the Kaiyodai observatory with a
330-degree panorama and a round horizon, Lake Mashu that is cobalt blue andmysterious, the Oshinkoshin Falls designated as“Japan’s best 100 waterfalls”,
a beautiful sunset on the Sea of Okhotsk, the Trans-Shiretoko Road and theShiretoko Pass.
My brother’s family was totally fascinated with the beautiful nature in theeastern part of Hokkaido.
We were warmly welcomed by NAKAGAWA Masahiro, president of Rausu
Daiichi Hotel.
We really enjoyed the outdoor hot
spring bath and local specialties in
Rausu.
In the morning of August 20, Mr.
Nakagawa brought Ichi （male. 11
years）to us before we departed forwhale watching, a colored Kishu dog
which has been active in hunting
brown bears（Photo I）. This was our
Photo I: Ichi（11 years）

59

top priority in this trip.
The current Ichi is the fifth generationfrom the former Ichi of ISHIHARA
Ken, the“godfather of the Kishu”,
which was a son of the legendary
Yoshitomi Kentaro.
I contributed articles about thepedigree of the Kishu, which Mr.
Ishihara bred, to the Nippo journals
Photo II: Ichi and Yurina“Japanese Dogs”Vol. 4, 2004 with thetitle“The Kishu fighting brown bears”, Vol. 2, 2005 with the title“Nature ofJapanese Dogs”, and Vol. 5, 2008 with the title“Yuho forever”. There was a lotof feedback from many Japanese Dog lovers about these articles.
According to Mr. Nakagawa, Ichi has captured about 30 brown bears. Yuho,
Ichi’s father, captured about 70 bears.
I heard of fierce battles between Ichi and brown bears from Mr. Nakagawa.
Ichi fights a bear that grows as heavy as 400kg by fending off its punches. A
bear’s growl and Ichi’s bark are exchanged.
However, Ichi has calm and considerate eyes in front of us. He is sedate with
us whenever Mr. Nakagawa is there.
th
Photo II shows a scene that Yurina（5 grader）is touching Ichi on the neck.
He is never disturbed.
This is really how the strong is supposed to be. He embodies the essences ofJapanese Dogs, which are being considerate and courageous.
A strong dog having real gustiness and courage are considerate and calm. I
have seen Yuho twice, and the Kishu dog was the typical one that was always
ready to fight a battle for life.
As Ichi got older, he has become more similar to Yuho, his father. Both ofthem are appreciated by the people in Rausu for preventing brown bears fromattacking them and for defending the town for life.
In the afternoon, we visited the Shiretoko Nature Center in Shari Town.
After we watched a video of four seasons in Shiretoko on a huge screen, werequested YAMANO Hidenao of the Administration and Management Section,
the Shiretoko Nature Foundation, who gave us a detailed explanation about thevideo, to show us the Hokkaido, introducing my experience that I had seen thedog for hunting brown bears in 2004. He kindly accepted our request and took
us to the administration building.

60

In the building, KASAI Shinsuke, incharge of protection, management
and research, the Shiretoko Nature
Foundation attended us. There were
two Hokkaido dogs in the forest near
the building, which were Repun（11years）and Nupuri（9 years）.
Photo III shows Repun. It has a
big head and a body with a highPhoto III: Repun（11 years）
bone mass, which are typical of the
Hokkaido, and its eyes are clear, symbolizing its good-naturedness.
Photo IV shows Nupuri, which is tough, quick and sharp-looking.
According to Mr. Kasai, the two Hokkaido are used for patrolling to preventan accident caused by a brown bear, although they have some other duties. In
particular, Repun’s handling of a brown bear is, according to him, excellent.
When somebody was chasing an injured brown bear, it was hiding in a tree
across a river and noticed him, and rushed to attack him. Then, Repun stood
between them and skillfully controlled
and finally captured the bear. Thanks to
Repun, his life was saved.
However, as shown in Photo V, Repun
plays with Yurina at home when Mr.
Kasai is there. From this, it is impossible
to even imagine that Repun fights adeadly battle with a brown bear.
I learned from Repun that a really strong
Photo IV: Nupuri（9 years）
dog is full of tenderness.

Photo V: Repun with full of tenderness （Mr.
Kasai is on the left）

Photo VI: Mr. Nakagawa（standing on right handside）is explaining.

61

Photo VI shows my brother and his family who were receiving an explanation
about site photos of brown bear control and other related materials from Mr.
Nakagawa in the morning of August 21 before we headed for Kushiro. He is awildlife protector and has organized useful documents in chronological order.
This trip was a precious opportunity for my brother and his family toexperience Shiretoko, a mysterious land and a World Heritage site.
I was dispatched for rescue efforts in Miyagi Prefecture that was damaged by
the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake as an emergency firefighting rescue teammember.
It is not easy to rescue people. It is impossible to do it without experience,physical strength, knowledge and preparation. Operations in a dangerous andrough frontline of a disaster as a firefighter always require significant physicalenergy and preparedness.
I was encouraged with the gustiness ready for fighting for life and tendernessof Ichi and Repun. Real strength lies in tenderness. They embody real
braveness.
It is the greatest pleasure for me as a Japanese Dog enthusiast studying its
essences to have actually encountered those having real dignity, such as Ichi,
the Kishu and Repun, the Hokkaido.
Japanese Dogs are a living Japanese tradition. Consideration and courage arewhat Japanese people and Japanese Dogs have in common.
In this trip, we fully enjoyed the beauty of Shiretoko, a mysterious land, and the
dignity of the Kishu and the Hokkaido that are active in controlling and hunting
brown bears.
“Japanese Dogs”Vol. 5, 2011

62

Kizuna（ties）（Toward KAWAGISHI Shinichi’s“Road to Happiness”）
I encountered with Mr. Kawagishi at theexhibition and hunting competition hosted
by the Hidaka Branch of the Association
to Preserve the Natural Treasure
Hokkaido in September 2002. There, I saw
HAYASHI Yuka, his assistant, skillfully
handle three Hokkaido dogs. I requested
him to approve the photos to be used in
my article that was contributed to thejournal of the Japanese Dog Preservation
Association.
Then, I found many ideas about Japanese
Dogs in common with Mr. Kawagishi as
we discussed with each other by phone.
The Tokachi Branch of the Association to
Preserve the Natural Treasure Hokkaido,
for which Mr. Kawagishi was the manager at that time, held an exhibition anda hunting competition on the last Sunday in August every year. He suggested
me to take a summer vacation to come to Hokkaido.
As I liked the place, I assisted the exhibition and hunting competition in
Tokachi five consecutive times from 2003.
I have been to Hokkaido 21 times and become an expert of travel to Hokkaido.
Now, I am a tour guide there for my family and friends.
Mr. Kawagishi held Japan’s first display of dogs of the same line as the
Hokkaido as a part of an exhibition of the Tokachi Branch of the Association to
Preserve the Natural Treasure Hokkaido. This became a good opportunity forsuch dogs that were used only for breeding.
After that, Mr. Kawagishi became the examination department manager of the
Headquarters of the Association to Preserve the Natural Treasure Hokkaido
and significantly contributed to the world of the Hokkaido by hosting displaysof dogs of the same line as the Hokkaido at exhibitions of the association as thevirtual leader in the world.
As a musician, he taught about 800 students and, among them, about 80 have63

been active as musicexperts.
He has released manymusic CDs and used the
profits for the Eye Bank,his lifework.
Mr. Kawagishi told me,“Ihave my music CDs, so
you publish a book as yourpersonal history”. As aresult of my contemplation,
I decided to follow his
advice.
Under guidance of Mr.
Kawagishi, I published abook “The Essences ofJapanese Dogs”in 2009.
Thanks to my encounter with Mr. Kawagishi, I can now take in the phrase,“Glory in life is achieved through small, small efforts”.
I was dispatched for rescue efforts in Miyagi Prefecture that was damaged by
the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake as an emergency firefighting rescue teammember. It is not easy to rescue people.
It is impossible to do it without experience, physical strength, knowledge andpreparation.
The photo shows Repun, a Hokkaido dog active in controlling and hunting
brown bears, which I met in Shiretoko in August 2011. He was full oftenderness while having gustiness to be prepared for fighting the bears anytime
for life to protect human lives.
Consideration and courage
are what Japanese people
and Japanese Dogs have incommon. Repun embodied the
dignity.
As a person who has madeutmost efforts to protect
people’s lives and properties
as a self-defense official and a64

firefighter, I was encouraged by Repun’s dignity.
Senses of independence and public morality are required for happiness. It is thetemperament of the Japanese people to dedicate themselves to independence
and public duty for happiness.
Real happiness is realized through the promotion and nurture of pleasure andhappiness with efforts, mercy and wisdom.
Ties can be generated with utmost efforts made for the public.
This is my congratulatory message for the publication of“Road to Happiness”
with the title“Kizuna（ties）”.Congratulations.

“Rishiri Fuji from Wakkanai”F10
In 1975 by KAWAGISHI Shinichi

65

Afterword
On December 8, 2007, a film“A Tale of Mari and Three Puppies”was shown,which was produced based on a true story in Yamakoshi Village in Niigata
Prefecture in the 2004 Chuetsu earthquake. I watched the film four times at acinema and many times on DVD.
I have a special feeling for this film. The dog starring as Mari is the Shiba, thesame as my current one. As a firefighter, I am working for protecting people’s
lives and properties. Before I became a firefighter, I served for the Ground Self
Defense Force for two terms – four years.
At the GSDF, I went through rigorous training for jukendo, or the Japanesemartial art of bayonet fighting that is called“Combat of combats”and rugby
football that is called the“fiercest team combat sport on earth”.
Thanks to the hard training for four years, I was able to have my physicalstrength, mental strength and self-control cultivated. That has become the basefor me to complete my duties as a firefighter.
I read a note written by NAGASHIMA Tadayoshi, an incumbent member ofJapan’s House of Representatives and the former mayor of Yamakoshi Village
at the time of the 2004 Chuetsu earthquake in Niigata Prefecture. The note
was carried in a monthly magazine“Seiron”. All the villagers succeeded in
evacuating even in the darkness thanks to rescue efforts of members of the SelfthDefense Forces, especially the 30 Infantry Regiment of the GSDF, risking theirlives. Mr. Nagashima’s note was full of gratitude for the SDF.
People in an isolated village in Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture showed a sign
“SOS”on a road, and it was found first by TAKAYAMA Kazushi, the thenmaster sergeant of the Niigata Rescue Team, Japan’s Air Self Defense Force.
The rescue team of the ASDF is the“last resort”for rescue efforts that any
of firefighters, policemen and the Japan Coast Guard personnel cannot makeany longer. Duties of Mr. Takayama as the master sergeant and a medic are
to descend from a helicopter at the sea or in the mountain and rescue people
who request for help after going through the harshest training regimes, such as
airborne ranger qualification of the GSDF, diving qualification of the Maritime
Self-Defense Force, and the license for emergency lifesaving.
Master Sergeant Takayama died in the line of duty during training on April 14,
2005, on the following year of the Chuetsu earthquake.
Mr. Takayama was selected as the“4th SDF personnel for the people”in 2005

66

and an article about him was carried in Sankei Shimbun together with a photoof his family members.
I wrote to the members of the Niigata Rescue Team of the ASDF. At a later
date, I received a phone call from one of Mr. Takayama’s colleagues. He
expressed his painful feelings he had gone through whenever he saw the photoof Mr. Takayama’s family, saying it was very difficult for him to bounce backwithout being able to help crying.
Various things came to my mind from the start of the film, such as the SDF
that brought me up, Master Sergeant Takayama of the Niigata Rescue Team of
the ASDF, and my dogs I have taken care of.
It is not easy to rescue people. It is impossible to do it without experience,physical strength, knowledge and preparation.
My motto is“A man has to be strong. The weak can never save people”. My
belief is“Action before theory”, and I always keep myself in good shape andtrain myself.
Japan that is not rich in natural resources has prospered as a developed nation
thanks to the people’s courage, integrity, diligence, simplicity, cleanliness andmorality. These lead to bushido（Japanese chivalry）. I am convinced that such
public spirit has contributed to Japan’s growth.
The Hokkaido, the Kishu and the Shiba I have had were all considerate andcourageous. I learned a lot from these dogs.
Looking back my life, I have been able to live a fruitful life thanks to theJapanese Dogs as the living cultural heritage.
I would like to express my gratitude to Japanese Dog lovers who have been intouch with me, seniors and colleagues in the SDF and the fire department, andthe national and local governments and people in society for bringing me up.

67

Biography
Born on July 7, 1959
Current position: Deputy battalion chief
Graduated from Hyogo Prefectural Tatsuno High School
Completed two terms in the Ground Self Defense ForceHave taken care of the Hokkaido, the Kishu and the Shiba among Japanese Dogs
Budo (martial arts) history: Sumo, jukendo and toshu kakuto (hand-to-hand fighting)
Other sport history: Rugby football

The Essences of Japanese Dogs
Written by: URANAMI Tomiaki
595-1 Fukusu, Shingu-cho, Tatsuno-shi, Hyogo-ken, 679-4345 JapanFirst edition issued in December 2009
Second edition issued in November 2012
(With the addition of Japanese Dogs Vol. 5, 2011 and Kizuna )Printed by: Ono Kosoku Insatsu Co., Ltd.