Kai Ken

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Kai Ken" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Dog breed

Kai Ken

A Kai Ken

Other names| Kai
Common nicknames| Tora Dog
Origin| Japan
| Traits

Height|  Males|  50–56 cm (20–22 in)
|  Females|  45–51 cm (18–20 in)
Weight|  11–25 kg (25–55 lb)
Coat|  Double coat of medium length
Color|  Black brindle, red brindle and brindle.
| Kennel club standards

Japan Kennel Club|  standard
Fédération Cynologique Internationale|  standard
Dog (domestic dog)

The Kai Ken (甲斐犬, Kai Inu,[1][2] Kai-ken[2][3]; Japanese pronunciation: [kaꜜi i.nɯ],[1] also called the Tora Inu or Tiger Dog) is a breed of dog native to the Kai region, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan,[4] where it is a national monument. It is a rare dog even in its native land and is one of the six native Japanese dog breeds protected by the Nihon Ken Hozonkai.[5]

## Appearance

[edit]

Stuffed specimen of Kai Ken named "Kai-kuro-go" at the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, Japan Kai Ken puppy

The Kai Ken is a medium-sized dog with a wedge shaped head and prick ears. Males are typically 18 to 22 inches at the shoulder, while the females are slightly smaller, 17 to 20 inches at the shoulder. The tail may be curled over the back, or carried in a sickle position. Limbs should be strong and hocks should be well developed reflecting the dogs’ history of mountain life. The coat is of harsh texture, medium length, and comes in various shades of brindle ("tiger" stripes). There are three main recognized shades of brindle: the Aka-tora (red), Chu-tora (middle), and Kuro-tora (black).[6] Puppies are born a solid color, and their brindle markings develop as they age, sometimes taking as long as five years before fully showing.

## Temperament

[edit]

Kuro-tora Kai Ken Chu-tora Kai Ken

The Kai Ken is intelligent, agile, alert and brave. They are natural hunters and make good watch dogs, being reserved with strangers but loyal to their families. They are friendly, often good with children and are not usually aggressive towards other dogs. Many love to swim, and have been known to cross rivers and climb trees while chasing their prey.[7]

## History

[edit]

The Kai Ken was split off from the Nihon Ken (Japanese Dog) landrace during the creation of the Nihon Ken Hozonkai (NIPPO) and named after Kai Province in Yamanashi Prefecture where the breed is said to have originated.

Being an agile and effortless climber, the Kai Ken was used to hunt in steep mountainous terrain in Yamanashi where's its primary quarry was the Japanese serow (Kamoshika), deer, wild boar, and occasionally bear.

After the creation of NIPPO in 1928, the Kai Ken was designated a national monument in Japan in 1933. In 1931 the Kai Ken Aigokai Archived 2017-04-05 at the Wayback Machine (KKA) was formed and became the primary Preservation Society for the breed in Japan and still is today.

## In popular culture

[edit]

* Many Kai Kens play important roles in the Yoshihiro Takahashi's series Silver Fang and its sequel, Weed, including the brothers Kurotora, Chūtora, and Akatora. In the sequel, Ginga Densetsu Weed, Kurotora's son, Kagetora, stars as an important character, with his less prominently featured brothers, Harutora and Nobutora, and cousins Dodo, Buru, Shōji, and Shigure.
* Another Yoshihiro Takahashi's manga, Kacchū no Senshi Gamu featured a villainous Kai Ken named Gama.
* Chu, a Canine Warrior from the 2006 video game Ōkami, is also a Kai Ken.
* Oswald "Ozzy" (played by Little Bear), a 600 year old magic dog in the movie The Amazing Wizard of Paws from 2015 by director Bryan Michael Stoller.
* Rover, a large dog monster who becomes the main character's pet later in the series, in One-Punch Man is based on a Kai Ken.
* The mascot of Yamanashi Prefecture in Central Japan, Takeda Hishimaru (武田菱丸), is a Kai Ken samurai based on the historical figure of Takeda Shingen.[8]

## See also

[edit]

* Dogs portal
* List of dog breeds
* Japan Kennel Club
* Koyasu Inu [ja]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Matsumura, Akira, ed. (5 September 2019). 大辞林 (in Japanese) (4th ed.). Sanseidō.
2. ^ a b 甲斐犬. コトバンク (in Japanese).
3. ^ 甲斐犬(かいけん). 日本犬保存会 (in Japanese).
4. ^ "Kai". JKC (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-07-25.
5. ^ "Kai Inu (Kaiken)". Nihon Ken Hozonkai (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-07-25.
6. ^ "Kai Ken Dog Breed Information". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
7. ^ "Kai Ken - Canada's Guide to Dogs". Canadasguidetodogs.com. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
8. ^ "Yamanashi Prefecture". nippon.com. 2023-04-13. Retrieved 2023-05-16.

## External links

[edit]

* The North American Kai Ken Association Archived 2015-04-07 at the Wayback Machine
* Canada's Guide To Dogs, Kai Ken
* About Kai Ken, Hozonkai (Japanese Dog Preservation Association) registered kennel Kai Dog Kennel- GINYASO Archived 2016-08-05 at the Wayback Machine

* v
* t
* e

Dogs originating in Japan

* Akita
* Hokkaido
* Japanese Chin
* Japanese Spitz
* Japanese Terrier
* Kai Ken
* Kishu
* Ryukyu dog
* Sakhalin Husky (ostensibly extinct)
* Shiba Inu
* Shikoku
* Tosa

See also: Japan Kennel Club • Nihon Ken Hozonkai

* v
* t
* e

Spitz-type dogs

Sled dogs|

* Alaskan husky
* Alaskan Malamute
* Canadian Eskimo Dog
* Chinook
* Chukotka sled dog
* Eurohound
* Greenland Dog
* Kamchatka Sled Dog
* Mackenzie River husky
* Samoyed
* Siberian Husky
* Yakutian Laika
* Sakhalin Husky

Hunting dogs|

* Black Norwegian Elkhound
* East Siberian Laika
* Finnish Spitz
* Hällefors Elkhound
* Hokkaido
* Jindo
* Kai Ken
* Karelian Bear Dog
* Karelo-Finnish Laika
* Kishu Ken
* Norrbottenspets
* Norwegian Elkhound
* Norwegian Lundehund
* Pungsan dog
* Russo-European Laika
* Shiba Inu
* Shikoku
* Jämthund
* Taiwan Dog
* West Siberian Laika
* Zerdava

Herding dogs|

* Cardigan Welsh Corgi
* Finnish Lapphund
* Icelandic Sheepdog
* Lapponian Herder
* Nenets Herding Laika
* Norwegian Buhund
* Pembroke Welsh Corgi
* Swedish Lapphund
* Swedish Vallhund

Asian breeds|

* Akita
* Bắc Hà dog
* Chow Chow
* Dikkulak
* Donggyeongi
* Hmong bobtail dog
* Indian Spitz
* Japanese Spitz
* Jeju dog
* Kintamani dog
* Nureongi
* Ryukyu dog
* Shar Pei
* Thai Bangkaew Dog

Companion dogs|

* Alaskan Klee Kai
* American Eskimo Dog
* Danish Spitz
* Eurasier
* German Spitz
* Keeshond (Wolfspitz)
* Pomeranian (Zwergspitz)
* Northern Inuit Dog
* Schipperke
* Tonya Finosu
* Volpino Italiano

Extinct breeds|

* Argentine polar dog
* Guejae Gae
* Hare Indian Dog
* Hütespitz
* Salish Wool Dog
* Tahltan Bear Dog

Types: Husky, Laika, Tugou

Authority control databases: National |

* Japan

|

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template