Western dogs began to be imported around 1570 with the opening of the port of Nagasaki to the Westerners. Large dogs such as the Mastiffs, Water Spaniels and Greyhounds from England were popular with the Japanese feudal lords. [Read more]
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Originally used for hunting game, including deer, wild boar and bear, the Akita has been used in more recent times as a trained working dog and many Akitas have been used for both police work and army work during the past thirty years. [Read more]