Our New 2006 Japanese Import Tosa

Kochi City, formerly known as Tosa City is historically recognized as the city of origin for the canine breed of Tosa Inu or Tosa-Ken. This city has produced the best international level dogs many imported to the United States. This has made it easier for Europe and other countries to obtain the breed and its descendents. If you observe the pedigree in kennels in the US, you can see the remarkable lineage in dogs descendent directly from Kochi City, Japan. In other words, the American kennels have acquired their dogs from Kochi and rate amongst the best in the world. That has opened up the breed market so that Europe and other countries can purchase a Tosa.

The following information is derived from research based data, and the personal experiences visiting many Tosu Inu Kennels in Japan because of our love for this breed. We have seen the good, the regular and the excellent components of the Tosa Inu breed program.

Five Years of Waiting

Towards the end of 2001, after much planning, we visited the city of Kochi in hopes of purchasing a female Tosa and were placed on a waiting list. Two years later, we received a phone call from Japan informing us that there was a female Tosa waiting for us to pick her up.

So, on the 6th of September, 2003 we arrived in Kochi excited to meet our Tosa. To our dismay and great disappointment, the breeder decided to keep the dog because she had been the only female in the litter along with three males. Imagine how you would have felt after so much planning, making such an expensive trip, then having to go home empty handed! It was a sad experience, but that is in the past, today we have been blessed with a beautiful gift. During our trip we had the opportunity to meet an extraordinary male Tosa owned by the President of the Tosa Fighting Association, Mr. Sassaki. Mr. Sassaki was going to produce a new litter with this male and we decided to patiently wait for a female from this litter because we were truly impressed with this male. We waited for three years. In 2006, we received the good news that a female Tosa was born for us and that she would be ready for pick-up in four months. Our patience proved more than worthwhile, instead of receiving one female we were now the proud parents of two beautiful female puppies. We learned a valuable lesson, nothing is easy there is always a price to pay, and in our case the wait was worth it.

Okay, so you re probable thinking, why wait five years to get a female Tosa from Japan? Well, my friend, you can find the answer by looking at the photo below:

This photo was given to us by Mr. Hirose, the president of the Tosa Ken Center Kochi Japan. If ever you have the opportunity to visit the tourist Tosa Ken Center, going up the stairs to the second floor you can see a majestic reproduction of this picture in poster format. You know that if this photo is there then it is because it has a significant importance. This is a photo of the best puppy produced in six years by the outstanding, world reknown, Tosa breeder, Mr. Sassaki. You can actually verify this by logging on to websites of Japan imports, magazines, books and posters of dogs that have been imported for the past 15 years, and none will compare to this photo.

Mr. Sassaki, has dedicated his entire life to dog fighting and was an intimate friend of Mr. Maseru Hirose, founder the Tosa Ken Center in Kochi, Japan. Together they breed tremendously extraordinary Tosas. Mr. Sassaki success has placed him in the number one ranking and among the most influential Tosa breeders in Kochi and in all of Japan. He is in charge of the presidency of the main Tosa Fighting Association in Kochi Japan. Mr. Sassaki is nationally renown and receives the best of the breed from leaders of other dog fighting associations from as far as Korea, from which he received a remarkable female pup. This is why after visiting Mr. Sassaki s kennel and seeing this extraordinary male specimen we decided to wait for this exemplary litter for five years, for which we have been rewarded with two remarkable females.

This is the first opportunity for you to see the parents of Tosas imported from the legendary Mr. Sassaki's kennel on the island of Kochi, Japan.

Sire Maru

Maru is the only Yokozuna title in Kochi, Japan with the characteristics that distinguish an original Tosa Inu, difficult to find in exported examples. To maintain the quality of the breed, their offspring have not been exported, but because they face the dangers of extinction, they are offered only to breeders in Kochi whose experience make them the masters at selecting only the very best of the litters for reproduction.

Dame Hana

She is a female Tosa-Inu with the structure and well defined characteristics. Her coat is very short and deep red, and her strong character is reflected in her imposing eyes and facial expression. She has had only one litter of which we own the only two females she produced. The privilege of being Dame Hana s offspring has permitted these puppies to develop a strong physique.

Here is a picture of Maru's and Hana's offspring: Yuzu and Konatsu.

 

The following are photos taken in Kochi, Japan of Konatsu and Yuzu.

In this photo Yuzu was 21 days old

In this photo Konatsu was 21 days old

Yuzu and Konatsu at two months old

Here Konatsu and Yuzu are eating before taking the flight from
Kochi, Japan. They are three months old

In this photo Konatsu was six months old

We hope to see in the United States and Europe, Tosas imported from Japan better than the ones that we have today presented to the new lovers of this breed. We are sure this will greatly contribute to preserving the breed and saving it from extinction.

Emails From Japan Here are some emails that we received from Japan in 2006 from persons interested in acquiring dogs of this race but were unable to find Tosa Breeders. These emails validate our research published in a article on our Web site under the link "How Difficult can getting a Tosa be?". where we expose the danger of extinction of this breed of dog. ******************************************************************** Mr. Perozo, Is it realistically possible to ask you to choose a tosa male puppy from your kennel for me and bring it to Japan? Your dogs are so great and you know their puppies... Kind regards, Ivan ******************************************************************** Hello, I am very interested in getting a Tosa. I currently live in Japan now and can not find one. The people at the pet stores say that the only way to find is if I contact the Japanese mafia! If it is possible to purchase this dog, where and when can I do this. My husband and I are both military veterinary technicians, so caring for this type of dog is not a problem. Thank you I await your response. T. H. ******************************************************************** I enjoyed your website on the internet. My husband is in the U.S. Navy and we are currently stationed in Misawa Japan. I have been an Arabian horse and Australian Shepard breeder for over 25 years. I am in the process of bringing one of our dogs over here, but my two females are pregnant and cannot travel. This is the first time in my life I have ever been without a dog, and I am truly unhappy!! I have looked at various pet shops, but the condition of the puppies is very sad. I started looking for ways to possibly buy a puppy or dog here in Japan and found the Tosa sites. What a truly amazing and beautiful, athletic dog. If you can provide any further information on contacting or locating breeders, I would appreciate it. Thank you in advance. B. B. Misawa Air Base hperozo@aol.com

HOME