# Tosa Inu: Japan's National Fighting Dog

> A technical overview of the Tosa Inu's origins as a counter-strategy to Akita fighting dogs, the logistics of preservation breeding via importation, and the specific temperament traits that distinguish them from other mastiff breeds.

### Breed Origins & Purpose
The Tosa Inu is the national fighting dog of Japan, created specifically in the Kochi region of Shikoku island [00:00:37]. Historically, the people of Shikoku were known for being aggressive during the Edo period and fought their local wolf-like dogs, the Shikoku Ken [00:01:00]. However, they heard that the Samurai in Akita were fighting Akita Kens and always winning against the Shikoku Ken [00:01:24]. To counter this, they developed the Tosa Inu by mixing the local Shikoku Ken with various Western breeds to create a dog capable of defeating the Akita [00:01:34]. Since its creation, the Tosa has remained the premier fighting dog in Japan [00:01:42].

### Importation & Breeding Logistics
My entry into the breed began with a desire to experience them firsthand. I worked with a friend in Japan for several years to find an appropriate female, eventually importing "Sakura" [00:02:03]. While I didn't initially intend to breed, the interest from breeders in Europe and America made me realize the West needed more high-quality imports [00:02:25].

The logistics of breeding a female to a male across the country are difficult, which drove my decision to acquire a male for my own program [00:02:52]. I contacted Candy at **SouthEast Tosa** in Georgia and purchased "Musashi" [00:03:08]. I was specifically drawn to her kennel because she had consolidated "Meiken Yokozuna" and "Yokozuna" titles on both ends of Musashi's pedigree, which is very unusual [00:03:18].
* **Yokozuna:** A Champion fighting dog in Japan.
* **Meiken Yokozuna:** A Grand Champion, similar to a "Match Dog" in the US but far more celebrated and notable in Japan where the sport is legal [00:03:38].

### Selection & Culling
I maintain a strict selection process.
* **Sakura:** Despite being a beautiful import, she developed hip dysplasia and was removed from the breeding program [00:04:13].
* **Amaya:** I imported another female, Amaya, but she ended up being too small, so I removed her from the program as well [00:04:23].
* **Future Stock:** I am currently waiting on another female from Japan who has already passed her hip and health checks [00:04:33].

### Temperament & "Handler Hardness"
Living with Musashi, Sakura, and Amaya highlighted distinct differences between Tosas and other mastiffs.
* **Velcro Factor:** Unlike athletic mastiffs like the Presa Canario, Dogo Argentino, or Boerboel, the Tosa is *not* a "velcro dog" [00:05:35]. They are affectionate and faithful but do not need to be at your feet constantly. They are happy to just hang out in the yard [00:05:58].
* **Handler Sensitivity:** Tosas are "handler hard" (resistant). Many mastiffs are surprisingly sensitive to correction, but the Tosa is on the resistant side [00:06:09]. As someone who is frank and doesn't "baby" dogs, I appreciate this. I can correct Musashi or tell him to settle down, and he doesn't get offended or shut down; he just accepts it [00:06:46].
* **Aggression:** Musashi is very social and loves people [00:05:05]. However, he carries the idiosyncrasies of a fighting breed: he cannot be trusted around other male dogs, especially large ones [00:05:08].

### Energy Levels & Management
A common misconception is that mastiff puppies are low-energy. While many mastiffs are calm puppies that turn on their drive later, my Tosas (Musashi and Sakura) were "terrors" as puppies [00:07:37]. Their energy levels were crazy—not like a small breed, but significantly higher than a Boerboel puppy [00:07:46].

Prospective owners must be prepared for a large, clumsy dog. Musashi is smart but acts like a "big goof," knocking things over and pushing people around in good spirits [00:07:59]. I recommend the breed only to those who understand the risks of owning a dog-aggressive fighting breed and can manage a large, physical animal [00:07:04].

## Details

- **Category:** Interviews and media
- **Tags:** tosa-inu, shikoku-ken, akita-ken, mastiff, fighting-dog, preservation, import, breeding, genetics, temperament, southeast-tosa, japan
- **Date:** 2017-04-22
- **Originally published at:** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDEy4KyUfSw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDEy4KyUfSw)

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

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