Shugotenshi
Akita Inu 
History
Although we have titled this page history, we are not going to try and unravel Japanese history. We will try and give an informed opinion. The Akita-inu's history dates back to around 8000bc, where recent discovery at stone-age digs have revealed skeletal remains that strongly point towards the Akita type dog. The hunter gatherers of this period used the "Matagi-Inu" (translates as hunting dog) for tracking and pinning down such animals as wild pig, deer and other large game. At some point in history the southern type "spitz" was introduced into the Japanese dogs, this happened by Japan invading Korea or vice versa. We can not be sure which way it happened, as there are no written records from this time. Evidence links the two cultures through certain similarities in language and pottery. As time passed these seminomadic hunters settled down to form the early Japanese culture, this society slowly developed into the warlike shogun. By the twelfth and thirteenth century the "matagi-inu" were being used for the barbaric pastime of dog fighting, where as many as 200 dogs were released to fight in a free-for-all. In the centuries that followed dog fighting declined as popular pastime.
With the onset of the nineteenth century and the industrial age, great change came to Japan, with a mining boom enticing fortune hunters from the cities. With this influx of people, came the inevitable social problems. For this reason the people living in rural areas began to train their dogs to help protect their families and property. The more wealthy families began a selective breeding plan, concentrating on size, speed and aggressiveness. Around this time European traders became interested in Japan and with them came their dog's. Eventually these dogs were crossbreed with the Matagi-Inu, among these dogs were Mastiffs, Bulldogs and Great Danes. To enhance the aggressiveness the Japanese Tosa was introduced. These dogs were known as "Shin-Akita's" (improved dogs), around this time dog fighting became popular again. Because of the popularity of the Shin-Akita, the traditional Japanese dog of the Odate region fell into decline. Fortunately a few inspired dog breeders continued to preserve the original Japanese breeds and the Matagi-Inu was maintained. As such the Shin-Akita and the Matagi-Inu existed as two separate and distinct types of Akita's. These two types were the forerunners of the current Great Japanese Dog and the Akita-Inu.
With the onset of the twentieth century brought a nationalistic movement, with an interest in reviving Japanese traditions and Japanese icons as such western influences began to fade. All things Japanese from landmarks to animals were all designated for preservation and in 1919 a law was passed guaranteeing the preservation of these National Treasures. Thanks to this law dog owners in the Odate region began a breed restoration and on the 30 August 1929 the first Akita registry was published, with 30 dogs. With strict regulations the Akita was preserved and all crossbreeding was forbidden. Many Japanese dog fanciers began to purchase the rare, pure Japanese dogs from the rural area's to use for the breed restoration. In July 1931 the Odate dog of the Akita prefecture was designated a National Treasure; and named for the first time Akita-Inu.