History of the Breed
Before you look at the pictorial history sections, we recommend you first look at the stories in Legend & History below.
Legend & History
Hachiko A true story of modern times
Hachiko was born
on November 1923 in Odate City in
the northern part of the prefecture of
Hachiko was only 18 months old when the tragic loss of his master occurred and without his master's care he became a stray. Although living on the streets, he returned to meet the Tokyo train each evening, at the expected time and waited for his master in vain. Eventually he was looked after by the Professor’s relatives but, for the next 10 years Hachiko still continued with his lonely vigil and returned to meet his master off the Tokyo train at the correct time every day, without fail.
Hachiko
became a local hero and was respected by everyone for this example of
loyalty. The workers at the station who were so impressed and touched by
his love and devotion for his dead master,
built a shelter for him and gave him food him until he died in March 1935 at
the age of 11 years and 4 months.
Hachiko
was finally reunited with his master since he was buried beside Professor Ueno in the
Near the entrance of the station
at Shibuya a
statue has been erected in his memory and another has been placed at the
entrance of the station of Odate: monuments to a forever faithful akita.
Shiro
In a village high up in the mountains of the Akita region, there lived a hunter called Sadaroku and his white Akita named Shiro. Sadaroku was the best hunter in the area and his reputation spread throughout the land. The Lord of Nambu invited him to his castle and rewarded Sadaroku with scroll which permitted him to hunt anywhere he wished on the Lord's lands. This was a great honour and only the best hunters were given these rights but, the permit had to be carried at all times whilst hunting in the Lord's mountains and forests.
One morning when Sadaroku and Shiro were hunting, the dog suddenly barked at a huge wild boar which was moving among the trees. Sadaroku stalked the boar but when he took a shot he only managed to wound it and the wounded boar escaped. Shiro dashed off in pursuit and Sadaroku followed. As an experienced hunter, he knew he couldn't leave the wounded animal since it would be more dangerous now that it was in pain so he had to finish the job. The pursuit lasted all day and through the night and Sadaroku realised he had wandered out of his familiar territory.
At daybreak he found himself in a strange forest near to a large castle. Shiro drew his attention to a noise nearby and when they investigated they discovered the wounded boar resting among the trees. Sadaroku took aim and fired a shot at the boar which killed it immediately. Suddenly he was surrounded by a group of samurais. They arrested him at once for hunting without permission on the lands belonging to the castle Sannobe. Sadaroku claimed his innocence and explained he had a permit from the Lord of Nambu which allowed him to hunt anywhere in the region. The samurais ask him to produce it immediately and Sadaroku searched through his pockets looking for the scroll. Alas, he didn't find it and remembered he had left it at home. His explanation was not accepted by his captors and he was dragged into the castle. At the court, before the Lord of castle Sannobe he was condemned to death and thrown into the cells to await his execution.
During the night Shiro succeeded in going under the grate of the prison and he began to yelp. His master heard him and he asked him to go home and bring the permit. His request was more of a wish than a command and he didn't think for one minute that his faithful Shiro would really understand. Instead Shiro understood fully and ran out of the castle in a purposeful rush.
He ran and ran crossing rivers, crashing through forests and galloping across plains and finally reached home. He began yelping and desperately barking to get the attention of Sadaroku's wife, but she didn't understand what he wanted. He then took of again to return to his master. When Sadaroku saw him coming back without the permit his heart began to sink and in a flash he remembered he had left it over the shrine of the ancestors. He told Shiro where to look for the scroll and once again the dog left for home running for all he was worth . He reached the house and began to bark in front of the shrine. The wife saw the scroll and this time, turning white in her face, understood the gravity of the situation. She quickly gave the scroll to Shiro who took it in his mouth and once again started another mad dash to the castle.
By dawn Shiro was still running but he had exceeded all physical limits and was very fatigued to the extent that he slowed down to a walk. At the same time Sadaroku was being taken to the place of execution. His last wish before he died was to see his dog, Shiro just one more time but this request was denied.
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As the executioner's sword dealt the deathly blow, Sadaroku cried out Shiro's name. Shortly after the execution the dog arrived with the scroll in his mouth which would have proved his master's innocence.
When Shiro found Sadaroku's lifeless body it began snowing and Shiro defended his master against anyone touching him. Shiro dragged his master's body into the forest, dug a hole and buried him. Then began to howl relentlessly towards the castle and every day and every night he howled all his pain and grief. His howl was so loud and intense that it reached all those who lived in the castle and froze their blood so that they too died. Shiro never left his master alone again and stayed in the forest for the rest of his life keeping a vigil over his master's grave. His mourning for his master and his continuous howling caused the locals to name the forest, "The Howling Forest".
