A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE KISHU KEN
The Kishu Ken was recognized in 1934 by the Nihon Ken Hozonkai (NIPPO) as a Natural Cultural Monument and is a relatively young breed on paper-- but the breed's roots are deep and old. The breed originated from the large-game hunting dogs of the Kii Peninsula, where modern day Wakayama, Mie, and Nara prefectures sit. This area is steep, well-vegetated, and and the volcanic mountains can be difficult terrain (much like what we hike, here in Oregon). This is the terrain the Kishu Ken and their predecessors hunted in.
While the modern Kishu is a primarily white-coated breed, the original dogs were not so, and many coat colors existed in the foundation stock. As popular sires and lines emerged, the breed slowly transformed into what it is today.
The Kishu has, in the past, been called by other names based on the area where the founding dogs came from - the Kumano Ken and Taichi Ken, are among these historic names. Today, all registered dogs are recognized as "Kishu Ken." Like the other Japanese breeds, the Kishu Ken's population suffered in the wake of World War II but were mostly spared due to the mountainous and isolated region they originate from and the hunters who valued them.
Kishu Ken remained one of the most populous and popular of the medium-sized breeds in Japan in the modern age and the most common native purebred dog used for boar hunting in their native country. This popularity and population has recently been dropping drastically, and according to numbers recorded by the Nihon Ken Blog, the Kishu dropped from nearly 1000 registrations a year in 2011 to just about 300 in 2017. Without interest, the purebred Kishu Ken may very well become the next of the Japanese breeds to suffer extinction. Their numbers outside of Japan remain slim, but they are also the most-used of the native Japanese dogs for hunting boar abroad, with proven boar-hunting dogs residing in the USA and Europe. These are versatile and loyal companions, deserving of being preserved for a modern household.
While the modern Kishu is a primarily white-coated breed, the original dogs were not so, and many coat colors existed in the foundation stock. As popular sires and lines emerged, the breed slowly transformed into what it is today.
The Kishu has, in the past, been called by other names based on the area where the founding dogs came from - the Kumano Ken and Taichi Ken, are among these historic names. Today, all registered dogs are recognized as "Kishu Ken." Like the other Japanese breeds, the Kishu Ken's population suffered in the wake of World War II but were mostly spared due to the mountainous and isolated region they originate from and the hunters who valued them.
Kishu Ken remained one of the most populous and popular of the medium-sized breeds in Japan in the modern age and the most common native purebred dog used for boar hunting in their native country. This popularity and population has recently been dropping drastically, and according to numbers recorded by the Nihon Ken Blog, the Kishu dropped from nearly 1000 registrations a year in 2011 to just about 300 in 2017. Without interest, the purebred Kishu Ken may very well become the next of the Japanese breeds to suffer extinction. Their numbers outside of Japan remain slim, but they are also the most-used of the native Japanese dogs for hunting boar abroad, with proven boar-hunting dogs residing in the USA and Europe. These are versatile and loyal companions, deserving of being preserved for a modern household.
More Reading
Kishu history is recorded in spoken lore, in books, and on pedigrees made available to the public through various publications.
- The Kishu Ken (Japanese) offers a comprehensive look into the breed with a handful of founder photos and pedigrees, as well as a total overview of Kishu Ken care and traits.
- Waiting for Wolves in Japan (English) is an anthropological study on human-wildlife relations that covers Kishu Ken history in its sections about boar and wolves in Japan.
- Nihon Ookami o Ou (Japanese) is a look at Japan's lost wolf population which includes Kishu Ken folklore and the history of crossing native Japanese hounds to wolves.
- The Kishu Kennel Houren sou (Japanese) has a look at some historic and modern Kishu Ken NIPPO winners.
- The Nihon Ken Blog by Shigeru Kato (English)