The Inukko Dog Festival, a small New Year’s event in Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture, is said to have originated in the Edo period when people offered dog figurines at the front of their houses to prevent thieves from entering. Snow sculptures of dogs and shrines built from snow line the festival site. Recently, the festival has become a social gathering place for dog lovers, bringing dogs of all sizes and breeds to receive a blessing at the “Dog Prayer Service.” The festival occurred on February 11 and 12, 2023, for the first time in three years due to the coronavirus. Many Akita dogs from inside and outside the prefecture gathered around the city gymnasium, showing their cute expressions.
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Akita dogs and their owners visited from inside and outside of the prefecture. They were looking forward to meeting their friends at the dog festival.
Dog Prayer Service
Participants received a blessing from a Shinto priest at the “Dog Prayer Service.”
All the Way
Ranran, the 2021 Wasao Grand Prize Osaka winner, also visited from Muko City, Kyoto Prefecture. His yellow hat, which said, “Safety second,” was funny. According to his owner, “Snacks come first.”
Bow Tie
Akita dogs dressed up with bow ties around their necks.
Handmade Scarf
Akita dogs wore scarves around their necks. A woman in Yamagata Prefecture made them by hand and gave them to her friends’ dogs, catching people’s attention at the event.
Siblings
Siblings Pochi (left) and Hachi visited from Sendai City. They look just like each other.
“Two Shots”
“Two shots” of an Akita dog and a keychain Akita dog.
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