However, because this could lead to it being confused with the Tosa Fighting Dog, and the breed was also found in other prefectures, from around 1932 it was referred to as the Shikoku Ken.

They are typical of other Japanese spitz-type hounds with a dense and harsh coat, erect ears, and a tail that is held over their back.

They are a nimble and spirited dog with sharp senses and a keen intuition capable of becoming an ardept hunter, watchdog, or companion.

These markings lie along a similar pattern to tan points on a black dog: in the eyebrow, on the side of the muzzle, on the cheeks, on the underside of the jaw, on the paws and the inside of the legs, and under the tail.

Out of the reconstruction effort, three distinct lines of the Shikoku were developed: the Awa, the Hongawa and the Hata all named after the area they originated from within the Kochi prefecture.