The Japanese and American Akita split

In this episode, we will delve into the origins of the breed, which hails from the mountainous Akita Prefecture, where its ancestors (known as Matagi Inu) were used for hunting large game, including wild boar and bears. We will also touch upon their evolution into fighting and guard dogs, highly prized in the courts of the samurai. In this episode, you will also hear about the difficult times of World War II, when the breed stood on the brink of extinction, and how the post-war division of the dogs led to the emergence of the American Akita. Of course, there will also be the moving story of the breed's most famous representative – the loyal Hachiko, thanks to whom the Akita became a point of national pride for Japan.