“Just taking a daily walk around the neighborhood is fun because I get to connect with
people I didn’t know before,” said Tamiko Oishi (66) from Ota Town in Daisen City, Akita Prefecture, describing her life with her Akita dog, Kotaro (four-year-old male). Since they started keeping him four years ago at her grandchild’s request, Kotaro has become a central figure in their family.
Tamiko lives with her husband, Isao (72), Isao’s mother, and their eldest daughter. On a sunny autumn day, they were just about to set out for a walk. Kotaro currently weighs around 30kg. Despite his relatively slim build, his gait shows the strength typical of Akita dogs. Tamiko, pulling on the leash while wearing boots, is also in good shape.
Tamiko takes Kotaro for a one-hour walk around the neighborhood, both morning and night, as part of her daily routine. She laughed, saying, “I walk so much that holes quickly form on the soles of my shoes.”
On their walking route, people wait for Kotaro, offering him fish sausage, while others ask, “How old is he now?” These exchanges have created a network of connections and spaces for communication.
Several other families in the neighborhood also own Akita dogs, and they have become friends through Kotaro. For a long time, Kotaro would regularly see a female Akita dog he adored on their walks. Although she passed away at the end of last year, Kotaro still glances back, as if searching for her, whenever they pass by her house.
On rainy days, Tamiko dresses Kotaro in a homemade raincoat for their walks. She guides him at intersections to speed things up, saying, “Not that way today,” and he will choose the other direction. Tamiko said, “He listens to people and understands well. He has a good memory.”
They got Kotaro when Tamiko’s granddaughter, who was in high school and living in the city, wanted a dog. Although they hesitated, unable to visit a distant pet shop, a newspaper ad happened to feature a local breeder in Daisen City looking for owners for Akita puppies.
They immediately called and visited, finding several two-month-old puppies waiting. Seeing one with a white mark on the back of his neck, Isao remarked, “It will be a good marker,” and chose Kotaro. Even now, at four years old, the small white spot remains. Tamiko’s granddaughter, who had wanted a dog, was overjoyed, and visited frequently to play with him.
Tamiko and Isao grow rice, so the harvest season keeps them busy. When Kotaro was small, they often took him to the fields in a container. Having spent time amid the loud noises of the combine harvester, Kotaro has grown accustomed to loud sounds like thunder and cars.
Isao chuckled, “He doesn’t bark at all, so he’s no guard dog.” He added, “But having him at home makes a huge difference. It’s really increased our family conversations.” Their grandchild, now a working adult living in Tokyo, still visits and plays with Kotaro whenever she comes home.
Their eldest daughter works at a home improvement center with a pet salon. When she is off, she takes Kotaro to work, and her colleagues adore him. “He’s popular wherever he goes,” Tamiko said with pride.
The couple has a dream. “One day, we want to enter Kotaro in an Akita Dog Preservation Society exhibition.” The society’s branch manager for southern Akita, Koshi Takeda, praised Kotaro, saying, “He has a masculine face, a beautiful coat, and has been blessed with gentle owners, which has shaped his calm personality.”
Kotaro continues to receive affection from both the community and his family, connecting people and expanding Tamiko’s world as he does so.
