Hometown of Fluffy Akita-inu and the Faithful Dog Hachiko

Akita Dog Visitor Center

(Odate City, Akita Prefecture) 

【Mofu-Mofu (もふもふ)】 refers to the soft, fluffy and airy texture of animal fur. It is an onomatopoeic word in Japanese and a charming way to describe the comforting feeling of softness. When you touch fur that is “Mofu-Mofu”, it immediately springs back to its original shape.

The ‘Akita-inu', a large Japanese dog breed originating from Akita Prefecture, is beloved for its “Mofu-Mofu” appearance, with a curled tail and perky ears that make it irresistibly cute. You can’t help but want to touch its fur and experience that “Mofu-Mofu” feeling.

The ‘Akita-inu’ is very smart and gentle. This breed exhibits a calm and composed presence, embodying a sense of reliability. However, when confronted with potential threats, the ‘Akita-inu’ can reveal its more assertive side, a trait inherited from its ancestral lineage as a hunting dog. The ‘Akita-inu’ does not form attachments easily, but once it forms an unwavering bond with a trustworthy owner, it offers a lifetime of loyalty and protection.

The most famous story that shows the loyalty of the ‘Akita-inu’ is that of ‘Hachiko’, whose bronze statue stands at Shibuya station. ‘Hachiko’ used to accompany his owner to Shibuya station when he commuted to his office in the morning and would come to the station in the evening to wait for his owner’s return. However, one day his owner passed away at work and never returned to the station. Despite this, 'Hachiko' continued to wait at the station every day for over nine years, hoping for its owner’s return.

This story touched the heart of Helen Keller, who had a deep love for dogs and kept four of them in her home in the United States. During her trip to Akita Prefecture, Japan in 1937, she received an ‘Akita-inu’ as a gift. This was the first ‘Akita-inu’ to be brought abroad. I imagine she must have enjoyed rubbing her cheek against its "Mofu-Mofu" fur.

Odate City, Akita Prefecture, is the hometown of ‘Hachiko’ and the man who presented an 'Akita-inu' to Helen Keller. In front of JR Odate station, there is the Akita Dog Visitor Center. It houses 20 ‘Akita-inu’, and they exhibit one or two of them on a daily basis. Which 'Akita-inu' you can meet is a surprise until you see it.

The headquarters of the Akita Inu Preservation Society is also located in Odate City, near Odate Castle. This organization was established to preserve the Akita Inu breed from mixing with other breeds. It operates the Akita Dog Museum, which exhibits the history of the Akita Inu and the story of Hachiko. The society also keeps some Akita Inus; if you’re lucky, you might be able to meet them.

The 'Akita-inu' is designated as a Japan Natural animal. These dogs are protected, and only 2,500 dogs are recognized in Japan.

(map: Akita Dog Visitor Center, official website)

(map: Akita Inu Preservation Society: Akita Dog Museum, official website)