Historic Dogs

Dedicated to the Kai Ken in history.

Males

Kuro Go クロ号

Male
Kurotora

Kuro Go was born January 1913 in Ashiyasu Village, before the formation of the Kai Ken Aigokai. Due to this, there is no official record of pedigree for Kuro Go, but it is believed he lived to be 28 years old.

Hyaku Go 百号

Male
Kurotora

When we look at pre-war Kai Ken, Hyaku Go is often one who appears as an example, having been published across a variety of history books. Born in Ashiyasu Village, he was one of the Kai Ken used to represent the breed when they were applying for the designation of Living Natural Monument. He was owned by leading Nihon Ken researcher Yu Kaneko.

Dan Go ダン号

Male
Kurotora

Dan Go was one of Mr. Adachi’s Kai Ken, though he was donated to the Kai Ken Aigokai when Mr. Adachi transferred to Chiba. It is said that after completing training, Dan Go was able to climb an upright 8ft stone wall, and jump over 6ft fences.

Chitan Go チタン号

Male
Kurotora

Owned by Mr. Adachi, Chitan Go was born in Miyamoto Village, and was one of the boar-type representatives for the Kai Ken when the application for Living Natural Monument was made.

Ken Go ケン号

Male
Akatora

Born in Nishiyama Village, Ken Go was one of the deer-type representatives for the Kai Ken when the application for Living Natural Monument was made.

Satori Go Yatsushiro 智理号奴白

Male
Akatora

Satori Go is a Kai who’s name is behind many famous lines of Kai, one such being the famous ‘Great Wolf’ bloodline which his son Komarou Go founded. Satori Go was born in 1948 from exhibition prize winning Kai Ken. He and his offspring were the foundations for many famous Kai Ken kennels, and his lineage continues to be bred from today.

Komarou Go Yanagisawa Sou 巨摩狼号柳沢荘

Male
Kurotora
父 Satori Go Yatsushiro 智理号奴白
母 En Go エン号

Perhaps one of the most famous Kai Ken from this era, Komarou Go was born April 15th 1956. Sired by Satori Go, he founded the ‘Great Wolf’ bloodline which is still being bred to this day. Komarou Go was a large game hunter who killed many bears in his life, along with a variety of other game.
Adored by his owner, Takuro Yanagisawa, his life has been recounted in multiple books (甲斐犬柳沢琢朗執筆集 & 巨摩狼系甲斐犬の保存), and his pictures are featured across Japanese Dog history books for decades.

Ichirou Go Yanagisawa Sou 一狼号柳沢荘

Male
Kurotora
父 Komarou Go Yanagisawa Sou 巨摩狼号柳沢荘
母 Kitakaze Go 北風号

Ichirou Go, one of the sons of the famous Komarou Go. He was born November 26th 1962 and was the next step in the famous ‘Great Wolf’ bloodline. Like his father, Ichirou Go was a well known stud who’s photo has appeared in many Nihon Ken history books. Owned and bred by Takuro Yanagisawa, Ichirou Go also won Best Dog at the 41st KKA Tenrankai, and was awarded 'Excellent'.

Genichirou Go Yanagisawa Sou 源一狼号柳沢荘

Male
父 Ichirou Go Yanagisawa Sou 一狼号柳沢荘
母 Komahime Go 駒姫号

Sired by Ichirou Go and born July 6th 1969, Genichirou Go was the next step in the 'Great Wolf' bloodline.

Gengorou Go Yanagisawa Sou 源五狼号柳沢荘

Male
父 Gentarou Go Yanagisawa Sou 源太狼号柳沢荘
母 Manki No Ichihime Go 万騎の一姫号

After Genichirou Go came his son Gentarou Go 源太狼号. After Gentarou Go came Gengorou Go, again continuing this famous line. Born March 16th 1977, Gengorou Go was owned and bred by Takuro Yanagisawa, and appeared in his book, described as ‘a wonderful Kai who expresses agility’, and a favourite of his.

Kaikuro Go Agatasou 甲斐黒号愛宕荘

Male
父 Kuma Go Ariizumi クマ号有泉
母 Kuro Go Yoneyama クロ号米山

Born 24th February 1961, Kaikuro Go is perhaps one of the most well known historic Kai. A winner of the Excellent Dog Award, and best dog at the 40th KKA Tenrankai, Kaikuro Go is known as being one of the modern founders of the boar type Kai Ken. In life, he was a breed representative of the Natural Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo. Many know him as the Kai Ken who is preserved and on display in the same museum now, though not many know his name, unlike his famous neighbours Loyal Dog Hachiko and Karafuto Ken Jiro. Kaikuro Go is found in the pedigrees of many of our modern day Kai. He was owned by Genichi Hayakawa.

Dairou Go Kizen Sou 大狼号木善荘

Male
Kurotora
父 Fujikoma Go Fukasawa 富士駒号深沢
母 Kurotorajo Go Komiyama 黒虎女号小宮山

Born June 24th 1970, Dairou Go is another ‘famous’ name in Kai Ken. Winner of Best Adult Male at the 54th Kai Ken Tenrankai, it is believed that he is one of the modern founders of the deer-type Kai Ken. Described as an ideal Kai Ken, with good composition, a powerful tail and impressive limbs. He is referred to as an interesting dog with a strong personality, and a face rich in the unique wildness of the Kai Ken. It was stated that with deer-type dogs becoming more scarce, a dog of his quality should be preserved.

Maru Go マル号

Male

Owned by Mr. Karemaru, and winner of the Ministry of Education Natural Monument Award in 1938, Maru Go has appeared in advertisements for the Kai Ken Aigokai over the years, and is recognisable by his one white sock on his front leg.

Ka Go カ号

Male

Owned by Mr. Nonaka, and winner of the Ministry of Education Natural Monument Award in 1939, Ka Go has appeared in advertisements for the Kai Ken Aigokai over the years.

Kai Sashin Go Futabasou 甲斐智真号双葉荘

Male
Kurotora
父 Kaikuro Go Agatasou 甲斐黒号愛宕荘
母 Ken Go Futabasou 健号双葉荘

Born September 5th 1969 and sired by the famous Kaikuro Go, Kai Sashin Go won the 1st place Best Dog award at the 53rd KKA Tenrankai. He is described as an excellent dog with a perfect body shape and temperament, which is expected of his excellent experienced breeder.

Kai Oguro Go Sueki 甲斐小黒号末木

Male
Kurotora
父 Kaikuro Go Agatasou 甲斐黒号愛宕荘
母 Koma Go Sueki 駒号末木

Born July 2nd 1973 and sired by the famous Kaikuro Go, Kai Oguro Go won 1st place Best Adult Dog at the 61st KKA Tenrankai. He was described as having strong bone structure, and full of masculinity.
His full brother, Gorou Go Sueki 五郎号末木, is the grandsire to Rikirou Go Takabatake Kensha 力狼号高畑犬舎, who was the foundation stud in the United States, imported by Mary Malone of Minimeadow Kennel in 1990.

Rikirou Go Takabatake Kensha 力狼号高畑犬舎

Male
Kurotora
父 Kabuto go Takabatake Kensha 兜号高畑犬舎
母 Hime go Shio No Sansou 姫号塩の山荘

Also known as 'Rikiro Of Takahata Kensha', Rikiro was born January 7th 1986. Rikiro is perhaps the most famous Kai Ken in Western breed history. Imported from Japan in 1990 by Mary Malone of Minimeadow Kennel, he was the first Kai Ken to be imported into the US with the intention of breeding, and sired the first litter there. It was reported that he had sired over 100 puppies in Japan before being imported to the US, where he would go on to become the foundation of the breed there before passing away just short of the age of 15.

Kai Kokushin Go Jounan Kensha 甲斐黒信号城南犬舎

Male
Chutora
父 Kai Rikirou Go Nakatomi Kensha 甲斐力狼号中富犬舎
母 Jounan No Tora Go Jounan Kensha 城南乃虎号城南犬舎

Born January 1st 2000, if you have a Kai from Japanese imports any time after 2002, you might find this familiar name in their pedigree. Kai Kokushin Go is perhaps one of the most famous of modern Kai Ken. Kai Kokushin Go has an extensive show history, placing 2nd in the Minor Male Dog class in the 112th Kai Ken Aigokai Tenrankai, 1st in Mature Male Dog class at the 113th and 1st in the Adult Male Dog at the 115th Tenrankai, and taking Best Overall Winner in the 117th Tenrankai. An exceptional dog who lived to be 14 years old, he was apparently praised as "the famous dog of the Heisei era."

Haruna No Eishin Go Gunma Kawashima Sou 榛名の英心号群馬川島荘

Male
Chutora
父 Kai Kokushin Go Jounan Kensha 甲斐黒信号城南犬舎
母 Haruna no Ranhime Go Sai no Kuni Inoue Sou 榛名の蘭姫号彩の国井上荘

Born 25th May 2005 Haruna No Eishin Go is much like his sire Kai Kokushin Go in his status as a well known stud dog. Excelling in the ring with 2nd in the Mature Male Dog class at the 125th Tenrankai and 2nd in the Adult Male Dog class at the 126th Tenrankai, Eishin followed his father's footsteps in winning Best Overall Winner at the 128th Tenrankai. Eishin was known for being a multi-talented dog, apparently also having an excellent track record as a hunting dog.

Tone No Isshin Go Sai no Kuni Inoue Sou 利根の一心号彩の国井上荘

Male
Chutora
父 Kai Kokushin Go Jounan Kensha 甲斐黒信号城南犬舎
母 Sai No Takahime Go Funato Kamiyama Sou 彩の鷹姫号舟戸神山荘

Born 24th December 2002, like his half brother and father, Tone No Isshin Go (apparently known as Icchan いっちゃん to his friends!) is another well known name appearing across many pedigrees in our modern Kai. Another award winner, Isshin won 1st in Minor Male Dog at the 118th Tenrankai, 1st in Mature Male Dog at the 119th Tenrankai, 2nd in Adult Male Dog at the 121st Tenrankai, and like his relatives, taking Best Overall Winner at the 134th Tenrankai. Another in a line of exceptional Kai Ken.

Females

En Go エン号

Female
Akatora
父 Sachi サチ
母 Pii ピイ

En Go is an example of where our documented history gets a little confusing. She is the dam of the famous Komarou Go, this much is known for sure, however it is documented that her date of birth is April 23rd 1933, which would've made her 23 when he was born..! Regardless of the exact dates, she was an important piece of the history behind the 'Great Wolf' line.

Orihime Go 織姫号栃木阿部

Female
Chutora
父 Tochirou Go Furuya 栃狼号古屋
母 Kumahime Go 久摩姫号栃木阿部

Born March 18th 1973, owned and bred by Tochigi Abe, Orihime Go was an impressive Kai who was accomplished in both hunting and conformation, something that has become less common as the breed has become primarily a companion. Winner of the 1st Place Best Adult Bitch award at the 59th KKA Tenrankai, she was described as having a face which is characteristic of a Kai Ken, a strong constitution and the correct simplicity and wildness of a female Kai Ken. She was half sister to Yamatohime Go.

Yamatohime Go 大和姫号栃木阿部

Female
Akatora
父 Tochirou Go Furuya 栃狼号古屋
母 Yurihime Go Sankosou ゆり姫号山幸荘

Born March 18th 1971, bred by Tochigi Abe. An older half sister to Orihime Go, she won 1st Place Best Adult Bitch at the 56th KKA Tenrankai. Having feminine facial features and a clear tiger coat, she was described as having very few faults.

Kaikuma Go Shioyamashosou 甲斐熊号塩山小荘

Female
Chutora
父 Kaikuro Go Agatasou 甲斐黒号愛宕荘
母 Kuro Go Shioyamasou クロ号塩山荘

Born June 6th 1972 and sired by the famous Kaikuro Go, Kaikuma Go won 1st place Best Adult Bitch at the 58th KKA Tenrankai. A feminine dog with well-proportioned facial features and body shape, she is described as having excellent eye pigmentation and bright tiger fur.

Komahime Go Kaiyama Fujisou 巨摩姫号峡山藤荘

Female
Kurotora
父 Ichirou Go Yanagisawa Sou 一狼号柳沢荘
母 Toraroujo Go Kaiyama Fujisou 虎狼女号峡山藤荘

Born May 26th 1967, sired by Ichirou Go and the granddaughter of Komarou Go, she won 1st place Best Adult Bitch at the 55th KKA Tenrankai. Described as a feminine Kai with a strong tail, she had a good facial appearance, though her ears were a little small.

Special thanks to the Kai Ken Aigokai, Okabe-San of Tenrou Kensha, Kinoshita-San of Yuugiri Sou, Tain of Hayaikaze Kennel and the Nihon Ken Network Archives for images and information about these amazing dogs.