“Just being alive is cute,” said Miyuki Sato, 24, an office worker in Nishime, Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture. Miyuki and her husband Ryusei, 24, keep a two-year-old male Akita dog named Kohaku, whose trademark is his light, milk tea-like coat. The couple had their first son last year and enjoy raising their “siblings” as one family.
When our reporter visited the couple at their home earlier this month, Ryusei and Kohaku had just returned from a walk around the neighborhood. It was a warm and humid day, and Kohaku was huffing and puffing.
Miyuki, who was waiting in front of her house with her eleven-month-old son, Toki, called out to Kohaku, “It’s hot today, isn’t it?” After taking a break to get some water, they decided to go for a walk again to take pictures.
Kohaku walks at a good tempo, his tail wagging, through a peaceful landscape of rice fields filled with water. When the reporter pointed the camera at him, he would sit down, show a smile, or perform other actions. Miyuki said, “He has learned the commands such as ‘sit’ and ‘paw’ without my noticing.”
The Nishime area is a thriving apple-growing region. On our walk, we passed a bus stop with a waiting area decorated with apple motifs. The concrete floor was cool from the shade, and Kohaku laid down to cool off. When Toki, sitting beside him, looked at him with interest, Kohaku sniffed for a moment and then plopped down again. Kohaku is the older brother, but there still seems to be a delicate distance between them.
After returning from a walk, Kohaku enjoyed them spraying him with the hose in front of their house. At first, the water bouncing vigorously on the ground frightened him, but he gradually became accustomed to it and finally looked up at the sky with his eyes closed as if he felt terrific.
The couple met Kohaku in May 2022. They had no particular plans to purchase a pet but happened to see Kohaku at a pet store in Akita City. When Miyuki asked to hold him in her arms, he clung to her with all the strength he could muster in his paws.
“The moment I held him in my arms, I said, ‘That’s him!’ I knew I would regret not taking him home that day,” said Miyuki. She convinced Ryusei, who was worried about taking care of a new puppy that she would take good care of him, and the couple welcomed Kohaku into the family on the same day.
Toki was born in 2023 and the Sato family became even more lively. With Kohaku, who likes to ride in the car, the family now makes seasonal trips to various places in the prefecture, such as the Samurai Residence Street in Kakunodate, Semboku City during cherry blossom season, and Hottai Waterfall in Chokai, Yurihonjo City during summer.
One of the most memorable moments was in February of this year at the Amekko Ichi (Candy Fair) in Odate City. While observing the Akita dog parade with Kohaku, other visitors repeatedly asked to take pictures of Kohaku. Miyuki said, “There was a line of people who wanted to take pictures, and we could hardly move ahead. We received many compliments on his cute face and fur color, and Kohaku, who loves people, seemed very happy.”
Beyond the days of increasing happy memories, the couple envisions a future like this one.
Miyuki and Ryusei Sato have been married for two years and have not had a ceremony yet. Miyuki said, “I would like to take a family photo someday with everyone. If there is an opportunity to hold a ceremony, I would like Kohaku to be a part of it,” she laughed.
Miyuki also thinks about Kohaku’s future. I want to find him a great partner. I want a cool tiger-hair (brindle), but most of all, I want one who respects and loves Kohaku.
