April 20, 2018
(AFP) - Hollywood actor Richard Gere, French film star Alain Delon and Russia's figure skating sensation Alina Zagitova have one thing in common: They adore Japan's Akita dogs.
And they're not alone. In recent years, foreign ownership of one of Japan's most famous indigenous breeds has skyrocketed, outstripping domestic demand for the fluffy, perky-eared pooches.
Earlier this year, the trend hit the headlines when Zagitova proclaimed her love for Akitas after spotting them while training in Japan, and local officials pledged to get one to her.
Her affection for the cute canines comes as no surprise to veteran breeder Osamu Yamaguchi, 64, who has been supplying Akita dogs to foreign owners for two decades.
The Akita dog preservation association confirms the surging overseas demand for the dogs.
The number of Akitas registered by overseas owners jumped from just 33 in 2005 to 359 in 2013, and up to 3,967 in 2017.
Yamaguchi has around 20 Akitas at any given time, many of them tiny fluff-ball puppies with white, brindle or reddish coats that tussle with each other or nuzzle their mother looking for food.
Originally a hunting breed, Akitas emerged from the northern Japanese region of the same name.
They are large, around 60 to 70 centimetres (24 to 28 inches) tall and between 40 to 50 kilogrammes (88 to 110 pounds), with prominent ears that stand straight up, deep-set eyes and almost bear-like faces.