Canis lupus hodophilax

The Japanese wolf used to exist in central and southern Japan. However, it is now extinct. The scientific name references the "sending wolf". As Japanese society grew and developed roads, wolves started watching, accompanying, and even attacking travelers. The "hodo" means path in this sense, and "philax" means guard. Thus they are guardians of travelers on the roads. Wolves were considered to be crop protectors due to hunting the deer and boars that were attracted to farms. https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Lost_Wolves_of_Japan/NBUTCgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Horkew%20Kamuy&pg=PA78&printsec=frontcover