Each additional Ainu Ken in your home increases the risk of serious knee injury by 5x. It’s just science.
October 11, 2026 at 8:50 PM
Each additional Ainu Ken in your home increases the risk of serious knee injury by 5x. It’s just science.
Tangentally related, but there was an anime released in 1988 called Kamui No Ken, based off a series of novels. It features the Ainu heavily.
What I didn't realize was how significant the decorative patterns worked into the character designs were.
What I didn't realize was how significant the decorative patterns worked into the character designs were.
September 9, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Tangentally related, but there was an anime released in 1988 called Kamui No Ken, based off a series of novels. It features the Ainu heavily.
What I didn't realize was how significant the decorative patterns worked into the character designs were.
What I didn't realize was how significant the decorative patterns worked into the character designs were.
Interesting play. Juro Kara's The Leaden Soldier, directed by Ken Kuboi, depicts the anguish of a stuntman searching for the lost fingerprints of his childhood friend, driven by Ainu memories and the trauma of the Iraq War.
June 13, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Interesting play. Juro Kara's The Leaden Soldier, directed by Ken Kuboi, depicts the anguish of a stuntman searching for the lost fingerprints of his childhood friend, driven by Ainu memories and the trauma of the Iraq War.
If you are interested in helping cool dogs, documentaries, and good people doing good work, one of my coworkers is doing a documentary on the Hokkaido Ken and is running a funding campaign. Please share and check it out if you're interested!
seedandspark.com/fund/hokkaid...
seedandspark.com/fund/hokkaid...
Hokkaido Ken: Japan's Unknown Treasure - Film and Storytelling | Seed&Spark
The Hokkaido Ken is one of the oldest breeds in the world. They are beloved family companions, historic partners to the Ainu people, and a Living Natural Monument of Japan. Meet the Hokkaido Ken and t...
seedandspark.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:45 PM
If you are interested in helping cool dogs, documentaries, and good people doing good work, one of my coworkers is doing a documentary on the Hokkaido Ken and is running a funding campaign. Please share and check it out if you're interested!
seedandspark.com/fund/hokkaid...
seedandspark.com/fund/hokkaid...
I kinda teared up when I made the connection. So many revered animals, even domestic ones like Akitas and Hokkaido Ken (which were the Ainu hunting dogs originally) didn’t fare well in Japan thanks to hunting, government, and war. What they’ve done in this game is beautiful.
October 17, 2025 at 8:51 PM
I kinda teared up when I made the connection. So many revered animals, even domestic ones like Akitas and Hokkaido Ken (which were the Ainu hunting dogs originally) didn’t fare well in Japan thanks to hunting, government, and war. What they’ve done in this game is beautiful.
www.redbubble.com/i/canvas-pri...
#hokkaido #Ainu-ken #Ainudog #hokkaidojapan #japanese #canvasprint #artwork #samurai
#hokkaido #Ainu-ken #Ainudog #hokkaidojapan #japanese #canvasprint #artwork #samurai
"HOKKAIDO SAMURAI 2" Canvas Print for Sale by truthtopower
The Hokkaido (北海道犬, Hokkaidō Inu, Hokkaidō-ken) is a breed of dog originating from Japan. Other names for the breed include Ainu-ken, Seta, Ainu dog, and (in Japan) its name is sometimes shortened to ...
www.redbubble.com
August 11, 2025 at 4:19 AM
www.redbubble.com/i/canvas-pri...
#hokkaido #Ainu-ken #Ainudog #hokkaidojapan #japanese #canvasprint #artwork #samurai
#hokkaido #Ainu-ken #Ainudog #hokkaidojapan #japanese #canvasprint #artwork #samurai
"HOKKAIDO SAMURAI" Canvas Print for Sale by truthtopower
The Hokkaido (北海道犬, Hokkaidō Inu, Hokkaidō-ken) is a breed of dog originating from Japan. Other names for the breed include Ainu-ken, Seta, Ainu dog, and (in Japan) its name is sometimes shortened to ...
www.redbubble.com
August 11, 2025 at 4:13 AM
www.redbubble.com/i/canvas-pri...
#hokkaido #Ainu-ken #Ainudog #hokkaidojapan #japanese #canvasprint #artwork
#hokkaido #Ainu-ken #Ainudog #hokkaidojapan #japanese #canvasprint #artwork
"HOKKAIDO DOG 4" Canvas Print for Sale by truthtopower
The Hokkaido (北海道犬, Hokkaidō Inu, Hokkaidō-ken) is a breed of dog originating from Japan. Other names for the breed include Ainu-ken, Seta, Ainu dog, and (in Japan) its name is sometimes shortened to ...
www.redbubble.com
August 11, 2025 at 3:26 AM
www.redbubble.com/i/canvas-pri...
#hokkaido #Ainu-ken #Ainudog #hokkaidojapan #japanese #canvasprint #artwork
#hokkaido #Ainu-ken #Ainudog #hokkaidojapan #japanese #canvasprint #artwork
"HOKKAIDO DOG 3" Canvas Print for Sale by truthtopower
The Hokkaido (北海道犬, Hokkaidō Inu, Hokkaidō-ken) is a breed of dog originating from Japan. Other names for the breed include Ainu-ken, Seta, Ainu dog, and (in Japan) its name is sometimes shortened to ...
www.redbubble.com
August 11, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Today’s entry in “Living with Hokkaido/Ainu Ken” is a doozy: I watched Umma follow Ayako - who was wearing flip flops - and watch for multiple steps before gleefully stepping on the back of a flip flop and causing Ayako to trip! 😱 And then Umma grinned!! Our dog is a practical joker!!
May 29, 2026 at 3:02 AM
Today’s entry in “Living with Hokkaido/Ainu Ken” is a doozy: I watched Umma follow Ayako - who was wearing flip flops - and watch for multiple steps before gleefully stepping on the back of a flip flop and causing Ayako to trip! 😱 And then Umma grinned!! Our dog is a practical joker!!
Ainu Ken are not known for giving space or moving delicately, yet Umma and Fuchi ALWAYS wait in line for the water dish. If Umma is there first, Fuchi will politely wait her turn and vice versa. So calm, so polite. It’s adorable.
January 26, 2026 at 4:14 AM
Ainu Ken are not known for giving space or moving delicately, yet Umma and Fuchi ALWAYS wait in line for the water dish. If Umma is there first, Fuchi will politely wait her turn and vice versa. So calm, so polite. It’s adorable.
Hers a warning to anyone wanting an Ainu Ken: They are strong and they fight medication like no other breed I’ve seen. One shot wasn’t enough, so they gave her another one.
January 21, 2026 at 4:41 AM
Hers a warning to anyone wanting an Ainu Ken: They are strong and they fight medication like no other breed I’ve seen. One shot wasn’t enough, so they gave her another one.
Kind of sad though not surprising, but all the differences are geared directly towards becoming a better pet rather than preserving what an Ainu Ken has been traditionally. I 100% admit sometimes the hunting characteristics drive me insane, but I’m sad there won’t be Ainu Ken like Umma ever again.
December 29, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Kind of sad though not surprising, but all the differences are geared directly towards becoming a better pet rather than preserving what an Ainu Ken has been traditionally. I 100% admit sometimes the hunting characteristics drive me insane, but I’m sad there won’t be Ainu Ken like Umma ever again.
Another in my periodic observations on the difference between hunting line (Umma) and show line (Fuchi) presenting Ainu Ken: Fuchi’s tongue is smoother and it takes her twice as long to lick an oatmeal bowl (don’t ask) clean than Umma. Umma’s tongue isn’t rough, just exponentially more effective.
December 29, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Another in my periodic observations on the difference between hunting line (Umma) and show line (Fuchi) presenting Ainu Ken: Fuchi’s tongue is smoother and it takes her twice as long to lick an oatmeal bowl (don’t ask) clean than Umma. Umma’s tongue isn’t rough, just exponentially more effective.
Ainu Ken make the best cats.
November 28, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Ainu Ken make the best cats.
I did this when my Ainu Ken had puppies! There were only five of them, but they are...less gentle...than golden retriever puppies. 😂
August 26, 2025 at 5:40 PM
I did this when my Ainu Ken had puppies! There were only five of them, but they are...less gentle...than golden retriever puppies. 😂
I joke with Ayako all the time that this is probably how I’ll die: accident caused by dog. And also while we absolutely love our two Ainu Ken, looking towards our next decade they can be just a little too much dog sometimes. 😂
August 21, 2025 at 2:33 AM
I joke with Ayako all the time that this is probably how I’ll die: accident caused by dog. And also while we absolutely love our two Ainu Ken, looking towards our next decade they can be just a little too much dog sometimes. 😂
Fuchi sat here staring at my little bowl of watermelon for at least five minutes while I got the rest of dinner together. Such a good, patient pupper. And so respectful of the dish even though it’s within reach.
July 17, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Fuchi sat here staring at my little bowl of watermelon for at least five minutes while I got the rest of dinner together. Such a good, patient pupper. And so respectful of the dish even though it’s within reach.
I think we all need some of this tonight.
June 22, 2025 at 3:52 AM
I think we all need some of this tonight.
I don't know if all dog owners experience this or if its just a Nihon Ken thing, or maybe just a Hokkaido/Ainu Ken thing, but it always surprises me (and offends, kind of?) how dumb my dogs think I am. They really don't think humans are very smart.
June 16, 2025 at 8:53 PM
I don't know if all dog owners experience this or if its just a Nihon Ken thing, or maybe just a Hokkaido/Ainu Ken thing, but it always surprises me (and offends, kind of?) how dumb my dogs think I am. They really don't think humans are very smart.
They made a Japanese remake of Unforgiven in 2013 with Ken Watanabe set in the early Meiji period on Hokkaido, which was quite undeveloped & peopled by the Ainu, a non-Yamato indigenous group who were cruelly repressed.
It's awesome, but can't exceed the original
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unforgi...
It's awesome, but can't exceed the original
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unforgi...
Unforgiven (2013 film) - Wikipedia
en.m.wikipedia.org
May 26, 2025 at 12:31 AM
They made a Japanese remake of Unforgiven in 2013 with Ken Watanabe set in the early Meiji period on Hokkaido, which was quite undeveloped & peopled by the Ainu, a non-Yamato indigenous group who were cruelly repressed.
It's awesome, but can't exceed the original
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unforgi...
It's awesome, but can't exceed the original
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unforgi...