“It is that time of year again, and we’ve started making our smoked radishes.” This message arrived at the Digital Editing Department responsible for the “The Akita Inu News.” The sender was Tsuneyoshi Ito (81) and his wife, Takako (77), from Yuwa, Akita City. Enclosed was a photo of the couple posing in front of a smokehouse with their pure white Akita dog.
The couple live in Yuwa, a nature-rich district in Akita City. Inside the smokehouse, rows of radishes were nearing the end of the smoking process. From September to December each year, they smoke radishes for personal use and fulfill requests from acquaintances, a cherished tradition spanning over 20 years.
The process involves slowly smoking the radishes over a low flame using logs of oak and cherry wood and sawdust from felled trees. The radishes are carefully arranged on shelves near the smokehouse’s ceiling, and their positions are adjusted every few hours. Once the moisture is gone and the radishes turn a rich brown color, they are ready for the pickling stage.
As Tsuneyoshi explained the process, Takako appeared, leading their white-coated Akita dog, Kisetsuhime (Hime for short). At 11 years old, Hime slowly approached when prompted, “Come here.” She has been living with cataracts for about four years and is now almost completely blind. Despite this, she curiously sniffed around as if checking the radishes for the day, making the couple laugh and cheer, “Hime, you’re like a skilled inspector!”
Hime joined the Ito family in 2013 and was adopted from a kennel in Daisen City. “Having an Akita dog attracted a lot of attention, and local kids often came to see her,” Tsuneyoshi reminisced. Since then, she has been a beloved part of the family. Her journey has not been without health struggles, but her spirit and the joy she brings to the family are irreplaceable.
In July 2019, Hime suddenly stopped eating and became lethargic. A visit to the veterinarian revealed an issue with her uterus. Tests confirmed that she needed immediate surgery, or her life would be at risk. The couple chose to proceed with the surgery.
“It was heartbreaking and overwhelming. All I could do was pray for Hime to survive,” Tsuneyoshi recalled. Thankfully, the surgery was a success. Since then, Takako has made it a daily habit to record Hime’s health status in a journal.
In 2020, while continuing post-operative checkups, Hime was also diagnosed with diabetes and cataracts. Her treatment includes daily insulin injections and eye drops to slow the progression of her cataracts.
At 11 years old, Hime is considered elderly for her breed. The couple is dedicated to ensuring her health and longevity through attentive care in their daily lives.
For instance, Hime loves white rice, so her meals are adjusted with chicken breast and komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach) to balance her carbohydrate intake. Takako admits, “She’s as much work as a child,” but her affection for Hime is undeniable.
During their daily walks, Tsuneyoshi gently guides Hime, warning her of obstacles with phrases like, “There’s a hole here” or “That’s a thicket over there.” When they spot a crow, he often sings a playful song: “Kuro-chan (crow), Hime-chan’s calling you!”
About a year ago, there was a frightening incident. While walking, Hime suddenly collapsed onto the path and lay motionless. Seeing her like this, Tsuneyoshi feared the worst and couldn’t hold back his tears. Fortunately, after about 10 minutes, Hime got back up and resumed walking, but the experience made them acutely aware of her limited time.
The couple lovingly tells Hime, “Let’s live each day together and try to stay with us as long as possible.” They hope to celebrate many more seasons of making smoked radishes with her in the years to come.