During the Edo period (1603 - 1867), the Akita region was ruled by the Satake clan of the Kubota Domain.

[17] It is not known exactly how Akita Inu became larger, but according to a "discussion on dogs by old people" held in 1931 in the then Ōdate Town, a famous dog named "Moku" was kept at the Jō'ō-ji Temple (浄応寺) in Ōdate, commonly known as Naka no Tera Temple (中の寺), in the late Edo period (1603-1867).

Moku was a purely Japanese dog with erect ears and a curly tail, sesame (goma) in color, and long hair.

[18] If this theory is to be believed, Akita Inu had become larger by the end of the Edo period at the latest.

According to one Japanese judge, the greatest difference between Japanese- and American-bred Akitas is that the latter still show much evidence of the Dewa strain.

Kongo-go (from the Heirakudo Kennel of Eikichi Hiraizumi) is considered to be the most influential dog of that line.

[30][citation needed] The story of Hachikō helped push the Akita into the international dog world.

[19] On May 25, 1925, when the dog was 18 months old, he waited for his master's arrival on the four o'clock train, but Professor Ueno had suffered a fatal brain haemorrhage at work.

[19] His vigil became world-renowned when, in 1934,[32] shortly before his death, a bronze statue was erected at the Shibuya train station in his honor.

[32] Each year on March 8 since 1936, Hachikō's devotion has been honoured with a solemn ceremony of remembrance at Tokyo's Shibuya railroad station.

[33][34] Eventually, Hachikō's legendary faithfulness became a national symbol of loyalty, particularly to the person and institution of the Emperor.

[40] By 1939, a breed standard had been established and dog shows had been held, but such activities stopped after World War II began.

[citation needed] Keller wrote in the Akita Journal: If ever there was an angel in fur, it was Kamikaze.

By 1939, a breed standard was established, and dog shows began to be held, but this development was interrupted by World War II.

[43] During this time, US servicemen serving as part of the occupation force in Japan first came into contact with the Akita.

The breed so impressed them that many service members chose to bring an Akita back home with them upon completion of their tour.

[citation needed] Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1955, the Akita was placed in the Miscellaneous class.

[40] As a spitz breed, the appearance of the Akita reflects cold-weather adaptations essential to their original function.

[47] Characteristic physical traits of the breed include a large, bear-like head with erect, triangular ears set at a slight angle following the arch of the neck.

[47] Additionally, the eyes of the Akita are small, dark, deeply set, and triangular in shape.

[49] Mature American-type males measure typically 26-28 in (66–71 cm) at the withers and weigh between 100 and 130 lb (45–59 kg).

[53] The Japanese Akitas, as per the breed standards, are restricted to red, fawn, sesame, brindle, and pure white, all with urajiro markings - whitish coat on the sides of the muzzle, on the cheeks, on the underside of jaw, neck, chest, body, and tail, and on the inside of the legs.

[54][55] The long coat, also known as moku, is the result of an autosomal recessive gene and may occur phenotypically only if both sire and dam are carriers.

[citation needed] The breed has been defined in some countries' breed-specific legislation as a dangerous dog.

70% of all human directed aggression involved a visitor on the Akita's territory, highlighting the defensive nature of the breed.

[90] Predecessors of the modern Akita were used for hunting bear, wild boar, and deer in Japan as late as 1957.