Shikoku (Kochi-Ken)

Awa, Hongawa and Hata were the three strains from which the Shikoku developed, each named after its breeding area in Kochi Province. According to the FCI standard, the Hongawa remained purest because its area was difficult to reach from any direction. The breed is still sometimes called Kochi-Ken.

A mountain hunter from Shikoku island

It was bred to hunt in Kochi’s mountainous areas, mainly wild boar. The standard describes it as tough and agile enough for steep terrain, with a characteristic sesame coat. The breed was designated a natural monument in 1937, and the FCI granted definitive recognition in 1982. To compare Japanese Spitz breeds, the Kishu is the same height, while the Kai is slightly smaller and brindle.

Passion combined with obedience

Remarkably enduring, bright, energetic and highly alert, also a passionate hunter very obedient to its master: this is how the standard portrays its temperament. That obedience usually centres on its trusted person and grows through shared work rather than strictness. It rarely greets strangers exuberantly. Its watchfulness makes it a reliable announcer of anything unfamiliar; guide this calmly before it becomes a habit.

Quick turns and long distances

The standard describes lively movement allowing rapid changes of direction. This shows in play and sport: mantrailing, tracking or calmly introduced agility challenge mind and body. Add long hikes. It follows wildlife trails with devotion, making a long line and practised recall essential equipment.

Brushing a sesame coat

The coat is uncomplicated. A weekly brush, daily during shedding, is all it needs. Bathing is necessary only after rolling in something.

What health studies reveal

No lifespan can be established, as McMillan et al. did not analyse the Shikoku and no other reliable study is available. In a Japanese blood investigation, 2 of 35 Shikokus had red blood cells with high potassium, an inherited trait that does not itself cause disease (Fujise et al. 1997). It still matters in practice: blood sample analysis can give a falsely high potassium result, and onions are more harmful to these cells. A single male has also been described whose progressive gait disorder began at almost three years old. Behavioural changes and vision loss followed, with a diagnosis of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, a storage disease of the nervous system (Tamura et al. 2021). One case says nothing about prevalence in the breed. Nevertheless, ask breeders about neurological abnormalities in the lines.

A Shikoku suits you if

you are athletic, patient and close to nature, and enjoy a dog that works closely with you once it trusts you.

Less suitable if

you want a dog that warmly welcomes every visitor, lives easily with household cats or stays alone through long days.

The breed quiz can show whether such a hunting enthusiast fits your everyday life; for background on choosing a breed, read “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For the early days with a puppy, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. Its finely speckled sesame coat looks particularly striking as a digital artwork or on a poster in a wooden frame.

Further reading

• The first 30 days with a puppy: a plan for weeks 1 to 4
• Puppy biting: teaching bite inhibition without spoiling the fun
• Older dog, new rules: giving your senior their best years

Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 319 Shikoku (fci.be, German version dated 26.03.2018, valid standard published 30.10.2016); McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024 (breed not included); Fujise H et al., Incidence of dogs possessing red blood cells with high K in Japan and East Asia, Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 1997; Tamura S et al., Adult-Onset Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis in a Shikoku Inu, Veterinary Sciences 2021.

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