Reference News Network reported on February 14 that Japanese media stated that in Japan, Akita dogs are designated as national natural monuments. The craze for Akita dogs continues to grow around the world, but at the same time there is the problem of counterfeit breeds.
On February 14, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun website published a report entitled "Akita craze sets off globally, especially popular among wealthy Chinese". The American movie "The Story of Hachiko" released in 2009 triggered a craze for Akita dogs overseas. In 2016, the number of registered Akita dogs overseas tripled in one year, surpassing those in Japan for the first time. On the other hand, many fake pedigree certificates were also found, and some non-purebred dogs were sold as Akita dogs on the market at high prices. The Japan Akita Inu Preservation Association (hereinafter referred to as: the Preservation Association) is strengthening its management system.
In early December 2016, about 170 Akita dogs gathered in the Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park. This is the "Headquarters Exhibition", an Akita dog evaluation event held twice a year by the Preservation Association, attracting dog lovers from overseas including mainland China, Taiwan, Russia and Poland.
The Preservation Association was established in 1927 with the purpose of maintaining the purebred nature of Akita dogs. In 1937, the dog registration business equivalent to the human household registration system was launched. In recent years, the number of registered Akita dogs in Japan has remained at around 2,000, but it has increased rapidly overseas. The number of overseas registrations was 73 in 2010, increased to 1,267 in 2015, and soared to 3,922 in 2016. The number tripled within one year, surpassing the 2,628 in Japan for the first time.
The American movie "The Story of Hachiko" that promoted this craze was a remake of the Japanese film "The Story of Hachiko", and the stage of the story was changed to the United States.
According to the preservation association, Akita dogs are very popular overseas, especially in China. Among the 16 overseas branches of the Preservation Society, 10 are located in China. The wealthy class will raise famous dogs that have won awards at exhibitions as a symbol of status. One Akita dog is even sold for as much as 10 million yen (approximately RMB 610,000).
With the popularity of the Akita dog trade, counterfeit breeds have also appeared. According to the preservation association, among the dog registration applications received, there have been cases where a female dog gave birth to an unrealistically large number of puppies and applied for dog registration for the puppies. Many pedigree certificates bearing registration numbers that did not actually exist were also discovered. It is reported that some pet stores sell non-purebred dogs as Akita dogs at high prices.
In December 2016, in Tokyo, overseas dog lovers also came to participate in the Akita dog tasting meeting (Photo source: "Nihon Keizai Shimbun" website)
Putin brought the Akita dog to meet Japanese reporters and teased the dog before the interview.
Russian President Putin said in an exclusive interview with Japanese media before his visit to Japan that there is no territorial issue between Russia and Japan. Japan believes that there is a territorial issue between the two countries, but Russia is willing to discuss this issue. The picture shows Russian President Vladimir Putin taking an Akita during an interview with Japanese media at the Moscow Kremlin on December 7. Image source: Reuters
On December 7, Russian President Putin played with his Akita dog before accepting an interview with Japanese media at the Kremlin in Moscow. Image source: AFP
On December 7, Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) shook hands with Japanese journalists at the Kremlin in Moscow. Image source: AFP
On December 7, Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) was interviewed by Japanese media at the Kremlin in Moscow. Image source: Agence France-Presse
Japanese media: Japan intends to give Putin a second Akita dog. No reply has been received yet
Reference News Network reported on December 4 that Japanese media reported that Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that Japan hopes to present another Akita dog to Russian President Putin during his official visit to Japan from the 15th to the 16th.
According to a report by Kyodo News on December 4, "We are discussing this possibility with Moscow, but have not yet received a positive reply." Yoshihide Suga said when meeting members of the Animal Husbandry Association that specializes in cultivating this breed.
In 2012, Japan presented Putin with an Akita puppy, whose name means "dream." It was given by Akita County in the north to thank Russia for helping with earthquake relief in 2011.
Russian President Putin gave the Akita County magistrate a Siberian cat in return. Japan's Akitas are world-famous because of the film "The Story of Hachiko."
Putin and his Akita met with Abe Russian media carried out extensive reports
China News Service, February 11 According to Kyodo News Agency of Japan, major Russian newspapers published on the 10th reported on the Japan-Russia summit meeting held in Sochi on the 8th. Photos of Russian President Putin welcoming Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with the Akita dog "Dream" presented by Akita Prefecture Governor Norihisa Satake appeared in the newspapers.
"Russian Gazette" mentioned Putin's meeting with dignitaries from various countries in its article. During the meeting, the second page devoted almost half of the page to reporting on the picture of the two men together with "Meng", and included the text "Putin is not alone in greeting"
The article also mentioned the interesting conversation between the two. When seeing "Meng" who seemed a little afraid of the flash, Abe praised it as "a good dog" and Putin said that "it sometimes bites people."
"Izvestia" published a report titled "Prime Minister Abe spoke highly of the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics". The article stated that in the absence of some European and American leaders, Abe, who attended the opening ceremony, said that Russia's art and technology were impressive.
Russian media: Japan will present Akita dogs to Russian President Putin
Reference. News Network reported on July 25 that the Russian newspaper said that Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Genba will visit Sochi this week and give the Akita dog promised by the Prime Minister to Russian President Putin.
According to the "Russian Business Consulting Daily", Japanese media quoted sources as saying: "Japan plans to transport the Akita dog to Russia when the Foreign Minister visits Sochi this weekend.. "Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda expressed his intention to donate the dog to Putin during the bilateral meeting at the G20 Summit in Mexico. Putin readily accepted and expressed his gratitude.
Genba Koichiro and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov are scheduled to hold talks in Sochi on the 28th. It is not ruled out that he will personally hand over the little bitch born in April this year to Putin, who is expected to be in Sochi at that time.
Putin He currently owns two dogs: one is Kony, a Labrador retriever, and the other is Buffy, a Bulgarian shepherd. The latter was given to him by Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov when Putin visited Sofia in November 2010.
Japan’s Akita Economic News reported that the Russian government had informed Japan through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “President Putin personally named the puppy ‘Dream’. "Dream" is pronounced "YUME" in Japanese, and Putin will pronounce it according to the Japanese pronunciation.