Unknown Japan - Tosa Inu The Legendary Japanese Fighting Dog

Unknown Japanese History - The Tosa Inu Japan’s legendary fighting dog has a history as fierce and complex as the sumo and samurai who inspired it. Dogfighting in Japan dates back to the Kamakura or Muromachi period, but by the late Edo era, the sport took hold in Tosa Domain — now Kochi Prefecture — as a way to boost samurai morale using Shikoku dogs. As fights grew popular among commoners, they were banned repeatedly. But enthusiasts raised dogs in secret, even pretending they were samurai pets. After the Meiji Restoration, bans were lifted, but fearing chaos, Kochi began killing fighting dogs. That’s when Taisuke Itagaki, a political reformer, stepped in. In 1897, the government legalized dogfighting under a tax-based permit system, and Kochi became Japan’s dogfighting capital. In 1907, even Crown Prince Taisho attended a match. Owning a strong Tosa became a status symbol. To breed champions, locals crossed Shikoku dogs with Mastiffs, Bulldogs, St. Bernards, and more. The modern Tosa Inu was born — huge, stoic, and powerful. By 1917, over 200 dogs competed in Kochi. But during WWII, air raids and food shortages led to Tosa extinction in their homeland. After the war, a few surviving dogs were found in Tohoku and Kyushu. By 1946, they were brought back, and in 1948, donated for a tourism event, reviving the breed. In 1994, the Tosa Inu was named a natural monument of Kochi Prefecture — no longer just a fighter, but a symbol of heritage and pride. NB. Dog fighting is illegal in Japan