# Satsuma Dog

> History of the extinct Satsuma Dog from Kagoshima, Japan, tracing its Jomon-period origins through its connection to samurai Saigo Takamori. Covers the failed 1989 revival effort on Koshikijima Island and its frequent confusion with the Samoyed breed.

Let's talk about the Satsuma Dog—an extinct breed that once roamed the rugged landscapes of Kagoshima, Japan. This isn't just another lost breed; the Satsuma Inu was a fierce and highly specialized hunting dog with a legacy deeply intertwined with Japan's history and cultural identity.

The origins of the Satsuma Dog stretch back to the Jomon period, over 12,000 years ago. By the Edo era, these dogs had become expert boar hunters, thriving in Kagoshima's mountainous terrain. Their skills weren't just limited to land—they were known for their ability to track prey through water, a rare trait among Japanese breeds. Some even believe their ancestry connects them to the Ryukyu Inu of Okinawa, another ancient hunting breed.

One of the most famous figures associated with the Satsuma Dog was Saigō Takamori, often called “Japan's Last Samurai.” He kept a female Satsuma Dog named Tsun, though ironically, the dog depicted beside him in Tokyo's Ueno Park isn't her—it's Sawa, another dog chosen because Tsun had passed away before the statue was completed.

Physically, the Satsuma Dog was a medium-sized breed, standing about 40 cm tall and weighing between 10 and 15 kg. Puppies often had reddish-brown fur, which darkened into a black-tipped sesame color as they matured. These dogs were fiercely loyal to their owners but aggressive toward strangers, making them difficult for the average person to manage. Their independent nature was one of the factors that led to their decline as hunting practices shifted.

By the early 20th century, the rise of Western hunting breeds, such as Beagles, led to widespread crossbreeding. By 1920, the purebred Satsuma Dog was declared extinct. However, in 1989, a surprising discovery was made—dogs with 90% Satsuma ancestry were found on Koshikijima Island. A revival effort began, and by 1996, seven dogs received pedigree certificates. Unfortunately, the project collapsed by 2010 due to lack of funding and breeders. Today, no verified pure Satsuma Dogs remain, though some hunters claim remnants of the breed still exist in remote villages.

Despite its disappearance, the Satsuma Dog's legacy lives on in Kagoshima's culture. Statues, local tourism efforts, and even historical misrepresentations—such as its mistaken link to lion-dog hybrids in Satsuma pottery—keep its memory alive. Interestingly, the breed is often confused with the Samoyed because the kanji characters for “Satsuma” (薩摩) also appear in the Japanese name for the Russian breed (薩摩耶犬). True Satsuma Inu enthusiasts stress that these dogs are entirely unrelated, a common misconception that they work hard to correct.

## Details

- **Category:** Topics
- **Tags:** aggression, breeding, extinct, fighting, genetics, history, hunting, preservation, ryukyu-inu, samoyed

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