History
During the Edo era (around 1700) a primitive type of Smooth Fox Terrier from the Netherlands came to the Nagasaki port. This terrier mated with a small Japanese native dog, creating a small terrier-type offspring. Soon later the offspring mated with various breeds like the Italian Greyhounds and by 1900 at the end of the Meiji era in the Kobe area was a dog referred to as the Kobe Terrier (神戸テリア). This terrier looked like a mix of the current Smooth Fox Terrier and the Japanese Terrier. The Kobe Terriers still varied in size and type, but it was quite well known as the first terrier breed to be developed in Japan. The Kobe Terriers and their grand dogs were also referred to as the Mikado Terrier (ミカドテリア) or Oyuki Terriers (お雪テリア) and were well-loved by the locals. Later on, in the Taisho period (1916), in Hyogo in the Nada area a dog named Kuro-Go (クロ号)the founding dog of the Japanese Terrier appeared. This dog was a result of the breeding of the Toy Manchester Terrier and the Toy Bull Terrier. Kuro-Go and the Kobe Terriers were bred, creating a small short-haired dog that looked like today’s Japanese Terrier. Thereafter, mainly in the Osaka prefecture, the close breeding of the offspring started. After ten or so years in the 1930s in the Showa period, the breed was officially established with written standards. Until around the 1940s, Japanese Terriers were easily spotted in most major cities in Japan, however when World War II happened and when the Western breeds became more popular, the breed took a rapid decrease in numbers. By the 1980s Japanese Terriers were on the verge of extinction.
Outside of Japan, the Japanese Terrier has been recognized by the FCI in 1964, by the UKC in 2008, and by the AKC Foundation Stock Service in 2020. Their numbers are still very low worldwide. On average there is around 50~80 born and registered each year with the Japan Kennel Club.
The Japanese Terrier was once one of the most popular small sized breed in Japan with 5316 registered in 1935 just in the Tokyo area. After the World War and the demand for Western breeds, they are have taken a rapid decrease in number and are close to extinction. This can be attributed to the high demand of smaller, more companion based Western Toy Breeds in Japan. The number in and outside of Japan remains low over the years and threatens them with extinction.
The Japanese Terrier was once one of the most popular small sized breed in Japan with 5316 registered in 1935 just in the Tokyo area. After the World War and the demand for Western breeds, they are have taken a rapid decrease in number and are close to extinction. This can be attributed to the high demand of smaller, more companion based Western Toy Breeds in Japan. The number in and outside of Japan remains low over the years and threatens them with extinction.
Picture Credit
- Terrier Ken no Chishiki by Seikoukan