Last week, a friend sent me a message on Facebook to let me know that Katja Weber of Akashima Shikoku Kennels had passed away. Katja was a friend for many years, and she worked tirelessly for the Shikoku. As the founder of the second Shikoku kennel outside Japan — and the first in North America — her name and her dogs are known to most people who have spent any time in the breed.
For twenty years, Katja dedicated herself to achieving official recognition of the Shikoku Ken by the Canadian Kennel Club, finally succeeding in this monumental task in 2020. I remember how happy and proud she was at that time — it was a well-earned victory.
I had the pleasure of visiting Katja and her husband George many years ago at their lovely home in British Columbia, and I still remember those ribs (and George's moose). We were able to see each other again a few years later when they visited Japan for the NIPPO Grand National. George and I even managed to get out hunting together with Baron while they were here — and we brought home some bacon.
Over the years, I’ve written a few posts bidding farewell to the old guard of the Japanese breeds here in Japan, but this is my first goodbye to one of the old guard overseas.
Goodbye, Katja. All of us will miss you, and the breed will miss you. Thank you for everything you did for the Shikoku — and my deepest condolences to your family and friends, who no longer have you here with them.
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