The winter issue of Shi-Ba, a Japanese Dog magazine published by Tatsumi Shuppan (Tokyo) in November last year, featured Akita dogs, including ones from Akita Prefecture, with over 34 pages. According to the magazine’s representative, this is the first-time other dogs except Shiba dogs have been on the cover page since its first publishing in 2001.
Shi-Ba provides information about Japanese dogs, mainly Shiba dogs, but also includes Akita dogs, Hokkaido dogs, and other breeds. As the two previous special features on Akita dogs were well received by the readers, Akita dogs were chosen for the front cover page and featured on multiple pages.
The theme of the winter issue is “Living with Akita Dogs.” In addition to the general information such as the standard size or personalities of Akita dogs, the magazine introduces some Akita dogs you can meet at the visitor center Akita Inu no Sato, or at the Royal Hotel Odate in Odate City, Akita. On the interview pages, owners of the dogs provide tips for keeping Akita dogs, including diet and coat care during the shedding season.
The representative said, “We hope the magazine can deliver the charms of natural, innocent Akita dogs.” The magazine is 1,320 yen and available at bookstores nationwide.
