is a Japanese breed of dog from Shikoku island that is similar to a Shiba Inu. The Shikoku is also in the Canadian Kennel Club Hound group and the United Kennel Club, awaiting full recognition. The Shikoku is one of the six native Japanese breeds, it is intermediate in size between the large Akita Inu and the small Shiba Inu; all are within the Spitz family of dogs. The Shikoku was bred mainly for hunting deer and boar in the mountainous districts of Kochi Prefecture. It is sometimes called 'Kochi-ken' and, along with the Kishu dog, referred to as a boar hound. Three varieties of this breed have been identified: the Awa, the Hongawa, and the Hata all named after the area where they were bred on the island of Shikoku. The Hongawa breeding area being the most remote and least accessible, the dogs of the Hongawa line maintained the highest degree of purity and was considered the best type.
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