1.
Akita; Akita Inu (dog breed)
A large Japanese dog breed originally from Akita Prefecture, with a curled tail and thick double coat. Famous worldwide through Hachikō, the loyal Shibuya dog.
秋田犬を飼っている。
I have an Akita.
秋田犬は忠実な性格で知られている。
Akitas are known for their loyal personality.
渋谷駅の有名な銅像ハチ公は秋田犬だ。
The famous statue Hachikō at Shibuya Station is an Akita.
Also read あきたけん in everyday speech; the あきたいぬ reading is preferred by breed associations. Named after Akita Prefecture in northern Japan, where the breed was developed.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 秋田犬を飼う: to own an Akita
- 純血の秋田犬: a purebred Akita
- 大型犬: large-breed dog (category Akita falls in)
CULTURAL CONTEXT:
Designated a natural treasure (天然記念物) in 1931. Hachikō, the Akita who waited daily at Shibuya Station for his deceased owner, is a national symbol of loyalty, and Akitas have also been given as gifts to foreign dignitaries including Helen Keller and Russian president Vladimir Putin.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 柴犬: Shiba Inu — smaller Japanese breed; both belong to the 日本犬 (Japanese dog) group