by Cindy Hicks,
President, American Akita Preservation League

As it stands in the USA, we have one Akita breed.  In many countries of the world there are two.  The Japanese do not consider the American Akita to be an Akita.  It is the Great Japanese Dog.  Americans chose to bred them bigger, stronger, more massive and with more color.  In Japan, the colors are more limited, the size is smaller, the overall balance more pronounced.  The big bear-headed American Akita little resembles the Japanese Akita with the fox like head.

AKC recognized the Akita in 1973.  The doors were closed to further imports because the AKC did not recognize the Japanese Kennel Club.  In Japan, the restoration process had begun, but there was no standard of what an Akita should be.  In the USA, breeders and fanciers were (and are) drawn to the large, heavy boned dogs, typical of the American Akita today.  When the AKC recognized the JKC in 1992, the door opened for further imports.  The direction taken by Japanese breeders had increased the differences between the two types.  The FCI accepts the standard of the country of origin for a breed.  FCI judges began to judge according to the standard and wishes of the JKC.  This was done gradually, until people started to realize that Akitas with black masks and colors other than red, white, and brindle could not receive high ratings, could not be used for breeding.  Suddenly, the split issue was reborn!

In Dec. 1996 in Tokyo, at the 1st World Akita Conference - It was decided that the American and Japanese Akitas are two different breeds, should be shown separately and not be interbred. The Japanese Akita Club of America (JACA) was formed. JACA (JACA) adopted the same philosophy of Akiho, to preserve the Japanese Akita.  The only major difference between Akiho and JACA is that JACA seeks to show outside of Akiho as well as in Akiho.  JACA is seeking recognition through the United Kennel Club.  In Dec. 1998 in Germany, at the 2nd World Conference - It was decided that the Akita would be divided into two breeds in the FCI countries as quickly as possible.  The name for the American type would be Great Japanese Dog.  (This is probably the major reason given for being against splitting the breeds.)

 In July 1999, in the United States, the Akita Club of America (ACA) took a straw poll that determined that a majority (57% to 43%) of its members did not want to pursue information regarding the split issue or how it might be accomplished.   The ACA membership was presented with ballots corrupted by biased information, and the question was hidden from immediate view on the ballot.  There were some votes received after the deadline and therefore not counted.  Due to the manor in which the split issue has been handled in the United States, the American Akita Preservation League (AAPL) was created to promote and preserve the American Akita in the USA.

The Japanese Akitas are not as large or massive and heavy boned as the American Akita.  The Japanese dogs are more square in proportion and have a more pronounced tuckup.  The head proportions are more 50/50 whereas the American standard calls for 40/60 (as two is to three) ratio between the muzzle and top skull.  Our standard allows all colors whereas the Japanese dogs are only allowed to be red, white, or brindle, with no pintos or black masks.  Red and brindle dogs are required to have white shading on the face, chest, inside of legs, and under tail.  In general, the Japanese dogs resemble the Shiba Inu, but in a larger size.   The beautiful black mask typical of the American Akita is a disqualification in Japan and FCI countries.  The whole look is different between the American and Japanese type.  An excellent example of an American Akita would not be confused with an excellent example of a Japanese Akita.   An excellent American Akita would not win under the Japanese standard even if the colors were acceptable.  It has already been proven that a Japanese Akita rarely does well under the AKC standard for American Akitas.  The dogs coming from Japan today have been separated from our gene pool for well over 25 years.  They are very different in looks and in genetic makeup.  They are lovely, and exotic Akitas that deserve their own stage.  They are finally being given their place in the world, but not in the United States.

Over 100 years ago, there were two different breeds that we consider Akitas today.   We in the US redeveloped the guarding/fighting type while in Japan the breeders redeveloped the more ancient hunting type. Both Akitas, both Japanese breeds, but historically used for very different purposes, and in different terrains

The genetic pool of American dogs is many times greater than that of the Japanese dogs.  We have more diversity, and hybrid vigor within our gene pool.  They appear to have the similar health problems.  Take into consideration that the first generation of crossbred dogs may be attractive.  The difficulties show in future generations. Breeders must have clear goal toward one end or the other. The crossbreeding of the two types has not worked, present or past.

Those breeders choosing to crossbreed the two types are creating yet another breed.  By crossing the two, there is now a third breed.    If the breed is not split soon, in five years, it may be difficult to find pure dogs, not crosses of American and Japanese bloodlines.  Crosses that have lost the distinctive looks of either type just muddied mixtures.   Japanese and American breeders have invested 50 years breeding out characteristics considered unfavorable.  The beautiful Japanese Akita, with its fox like head and moderate body is rarely competitive in the AKC rings against the massive, bear headed American Akitas, bred to conform to the AKC standard.  In reverse, the American Akita is completely excluded from the Japanese show rings.  A combination of the two will rarely be an exceptional specimen of either type.    The lessons learned from our history are being buried.  To honor the convictions, the practices, and the purity of past breeding, is more essential than ever.  Both breeds will be lost if the types are continually bred together.

See AAPL's website at http://www.americanakitas.com (will open in a new window)

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