# Shikoku Ken

> Behind-the-scenes preservation work — importing quality dogs and placing with dedicated breeders.

## Shikoku Ken

The Shikoku Ken is native to Kochi prefecture on the island of Shikoku. Known for its tenacity in hunting large game and calm demeanor around family, the Shikoku Ken was declared a Living Natural Monument in 1937. The breed is characterized by its well-balanced and muscular build, with coat colors including red sesame, black sesame, and sesame.

My involvement with the Shikoku Ken has been more behind the scenes. I focus on importing quality dogs and placing them with dedicated breeders. The Shikoku breed faces challenges due to the aging breeder population in Japan and the heavy-handed selection process leading to inbreeding. My efforts aim to ensure the breed's survival outside Japan by collaborating with other breeders and enthusiasts.

### How Others Can Help:

*   Support breeding programs that focus on maintaining genetic diversity.
*   Educate potential owners about the breed's characteristics and needs.
*   Participate in breed-specific events and organizations.

## Shigeru's perspective

My partner Shigeru Kato has been the major force placing working Shikoku Ken with serious hunters overseas, particularly in Norway. His October 2025 post "Old is New: Shikoku Ken 'Ichiju Ikku' in the Fjords of Norway" follows a Norwegian hunter working a Shikoku in mountain terrain that's structurally similar to where the breed originated in Kochi prefecture — the matagi ideal of *ichijuu-ikku* ("one gun, one dog") translating directly to Scandinavian big-game hunting. He returned to the theme in his November 2025 "Interview With Jeger in Norway." Given the aging breeder population in Japan and how few Shikoku exist outside it, these international working-home placements may be more load-bearing for the breed's long-term preservation than the Japanese population itself. See `topics/nihon-ken-international-placements.md`.

Source: [nihonken.co](https://www.nihonken.co/) — Shigeru Kato.

## Details

- **Category:** Breeds
- **Tags:** shikoku-ken, shikoku, nihon-ken, hunting, preservation, import
- **Region:** Japan — Kochi Prefecture, Shikoku Island

**Also read:** [All breeds](https://bradanderson.org/breeds?format=md) · [About Brad](https://bradanderson.org/about?format=md)

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