The Kai

The Kai Ken, also known as the Tora Inu (Tiger Dog), is one of the six, native, Japanese spitz type dogs. The breed’s brindle coat distinguishes it from the other medium sized Nihon Ken. In size, the Kai is larger than the Shiba, but marginally smaller than the Shikoku, Kishu and Hokkaido, giving it a unique place among the Japanese breeds.


The Kai originated in the mountainous region of Kai (modern day Yamanashi) which gave the breed its name. Historical records tell of the famed brindle hunting dogs of the region, and their hunting prowess was believed to be second to none. While traditionally used to hunt Kamoshika, a type of mountain antelope similar to a chamois, their versatility and athleticism allowed them to be used to hunt many types of game, ranging from pheasant to bear. Today they are primarily used to hunt pheasant, wild boar, and deer.

It is believed the first domesticated dogs arrived in Japan with the Jomon and Yayoi peoples. Over thousands of years the dogs remained essentially the same due to the country’s geography and isolationist policies. However as Japan opened up to the outside world, the native dogs crossbred with Western dogs leaving fewer and fewer of the original Nihon Ken (Japanese Dog). As the Showa period began efforts were made to classify and preserve the remaining Nihon Ken. Research teams scoured the country searching for and cataloguing the remaining pockets of native dogs. Thanks to the Yamanashi region’s mountainous terrain and limited accessibility there were considerable numbers of quality specimens to be found.

In 1931 Dasuke Adachi, a prosecutor in Kofu city, saw one of these brindle coated dogs and it made a strong impression on him. After some research he discovered that these dogs could be found in Ashiyasu village. He began efforts with other prominent citizens to locate and preserve this rare type of Nihon Ken. After much difficulty he was able to locate and return to Kofu city with 2 of the best available specimens. Hence began the preservation of the Kai as a breed. In November of the same year the Kai Ken Aigokai was formed with Mr. Adachi as its chairman. At the first Nihon Ken Hozonkai (Japanese Dog Preservation Society or NIPPO) show, the Kai drew much attention from the attendees, which helped lead to the classfication of the Kai as a Living Natural Monument by the government of Japan in 1933.


Kai numbers increased under national and prefectural government protection, with the prefectural government awarding tax incentives to owners of these national treasures. Thanks to this the Kai emerged relatively unscathed from the period during and following World War 2. While the other Japanese breeds faced harsh conditions, and extremely depleted numbers, the Kai was left primarily intact, with many of the dogs being kept at local government offices and police departments. The fact that post war over half of the registered dogs in Yamanashi prefecture were Kai, shows just how effective these measures were.

The FCI Kai standard describes the breed as: “A medium-sized dog, well balanced, sturdily built, muscles well developed. The dog has the characteristics of a dog living in mountainous districts of Japan. Limbs strong and hocks remarkably developed.” The are three recognized breed colors, all brindle: aka-tora (red), chu-tora (medium), and kuro-tora (black), with aka-tora being the rarest of the three variations. There is a recessive gene in the breed which occasionally produces non-standard white (or cream) colored Kai. Most Kai have dark spots on their tongues. Like all the Nihon Ken, the Kai has a double coat made up of protective coarse outer guard hairs, and a fine thick undercoat that is shed seasonally.

The JKC, Nippo, and KKA offer differing standards for the breed, with the Kai Ken Aigokai having the largest variation in size and type. The KKA standard recognizes Kai between 40-50cm, JKC 47-53cm for dogs, 42-48 for bitches, NIPPO 47-55cm for dogs, 44-52cm for bitches (a special allowance of 2cm under the NIPPO ‘medium’ standard has been made for the breed), FCI has dogs at 50-56cm, bitches at 45-51cm.


The Kai as a breed is intelligent, athletic, and alert, with a strong desire to hunt. Like most Nihon Ken the Kai is an independent thinker. Many are very attached to their owners, and they can make excellent companions for the individual prepared to give them the attention and exercise they require. They can be territorial, and make reasonable watch dogs, but are not by nature guard dogs or protection dogs. They have shown the ability to be quick learners, with some active in Japan as search and rescue dogs. They are a rare breed even in their native country with an estimated population of around 12,000-14,000, and yearly registrations of between 900 and 1,000, (all registries combined). The main breed registry is run by the Kai Ken Aigokai.

There is still limited data available regarding genetic health issues within the breed. Some conditions which have been seen in the breed are allergies, seizures, luxating patella, hypodontia, PRA, and a high instance of cryptorchidism.

Comments

  1. And 50% of black + 50% of red color in sesame dogs? Will be correct use the reference "chu-goma" for this balanced color?

    Thanks, Kato!

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  2. An evenly colored goma is referred to as goma.

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  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  4. What an informative blog. Thank you!

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  5. How is hunting pheasant with these dogs?

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    1. I've seen quite a few Kai that do well on birds. They find and flush, but generally don't point or retrieve (though some can be trained to).
      You can read about a friend of mine training his Kai import in the American style here http://www.nihonken.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/5806/tysons-training-log-2-guns-ty-kicked-ass/p1

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  6. I love bird hunting but do some deer/black bear as well. would love this kind of versatility.

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  7. Where could I find a puppy breeder for exports? is it too expensive?

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    1. You can take a look at costs over here http://japandogexport.com/export/

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  8. I have a Kai male dog, Max, who is 2.5 years old. His only variation from the breed standard, are his ears. When relaxed, they flop down. Does this mean he is not 100% Kai Ken? I am in Yamaguchi, Okayama-ken.

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    1. Without knowing the parents of a dog it's impossible to say whether or not it's 100% Kai. I would assume with the non-standing ears that it is a mix.

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    2. 子供自分は耳が垂れてますが、その時にうんと犬が喜ぶ環境に置いてやって、出来るだけ自由に遊ばせてあげる環境を作ると、、
      例えば、、早朝の誰も居ない広いところで精一杯、走らせると、、その後は全ての感覚器官が活性化され、聴覚も良くなり、自然、耳も立ってくる、、ようにも思えるのです。。
      そもそも、自然体で飼われ続けてきた甲斐犬が、
      子供の頃は体内に虫などが入りにくいように?耳が蓋になってたとしても、大人になれば耳が垂れると
      不都合ばかりです。後世になって、人為的に耳垂れ犬種を人間が改造したに違いないと思えます。。?

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  9. 海外では熊狩に甲斐犬を使おうというのでしょうか。。
    甲斐犬は前回、youtubeで猪にかぶりついたのは、、主人に猪が向かっていったからです。。追い詰めはしますが彼らは命を奪う必要がない限りは傷めません。彼らがそうする時は、自分の命に変えてでも守らないといけない命がある時なのだと思います。
    熊という圧倒的に巨大なものに敵対させるのは断固!反対です
    甲斐犬とちがい、他の人工的に狩猟向けに作られた犬種は、本能的に命を弄ぶことに興奮するようにできてるのか、うちのクロはそういうダックスフントのブリーダーさんが広い公園の対角線上に4匹を連れてるのをクロが気がつき、、ということは、、向こうの目つきが自分をターゲットにしてることを察知したのでしょう?猛烈に引っ返そうとしたら向こうも情念の塊になって走るからブリーダーの手から紐が離れ、すると後の犬も連鎖して情念の塊になって襲い掛かってきて私はクロを抱きしめ、足で獣を蹴飛ばしブリーダーが来るまで、戦い続けたことがあります。。
    甲斐犬は狩猟犬というよりも、、飼主の家族として、その手伝いに狩猟生活があったということだと思います。
    獣に成りきれない非常に人間に近い感性を取得する珍しい犬種だと思います。
    熊に殺されても、傷ついても、、故障としか感じられない人がオーナーになるべき犬種ではないと思います。

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  10. What happens when a female black Kai ken breeds with red Kai? Is each puppy different colors, some red, some black? or do they have a mixture of the colors happen in the coat?

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    1. Well starting with terminology, all Kai are required to have brindling according to the standard, so I would assume your female is a kuro-tora (black brindle), and the red you are referring to is aka-tora. When you breed a kuro-tora to an aka-tora, you have the possibility of getting any of the shades of brindle (black, medium, red).

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  11. We are in Japan. We have a shika (deer) type black female Kai. Where can we find an excellent champion male black shika type stud dog near Yamanashi or Tokyo prefecture?

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    1. Perhaps speak to the breeder you got your female from? You could also try contacting Sai no Kuni Inoue Sou in Saitama. They are on Instagram and Facebook.

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  12. By the way, the female black shika Kai in the post above naturally points when she comes upon birds in bushes. No one trained her to do this.

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  13. May I translate your description of the Kai en the Hokkaido for our Magazine of the breed club?

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    1. Can you send me an email at kato.the.walrus@gmail.com

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