THE KISHU KEN STANDARD

Per NIPPO, Japanese dogs were standardized in 1934 as "small", "medium" or "large" in type. The Kishu Ken is one of four of the breeds that is shown in the "medium" sized category along with the Shikoku Ken, Kai Ken, and Hokkaido Ken. The breed name, "Kishu Ken" is used over the name "Kishu Inu" due to grammar practices: "Kishu" (紀州) is read using the "on" pronunciation of the kanji, so "Ken" should be used as the "on" pronunciation of the kanji "犬." However, it should be noted "Kishu Inu" and "Kishu dog" (or, simply, "Kishu") are used interchangeably outside of Japan when speaking about the same breed.

The following standard has been written in the AKC template as an example proposal. We encourage visitors view recognized standards posted in the sources.
Right: illustrated standard, published by the Nihon Ken Hozonkai
Note: current standards for the Kishu Ken breed in the UKC (US) and FCI are vague and do not include the NIPPO judging resolutions which help judges best assess type and quality of the Kishu Ken. This is because these judging resolutions exist separate from the standard and some material is only known through hands on experience and study of these breeds. The National Kishu Club has written this standard to the best of their ability to bring these judging resolutions and independent material together in an English-language standard.

Kishu Ken Standard Proposition (First Draft)

Picture
Figure 1
I. General Appearance. The Kishu Ken is a large game hunting dog used in the densely forested mountains of the Kii peninsula. They are spirited, alert, and rustic in appearance, with compact, but well-developed muscles. Kishu Ken are most often white-coated and medium-sized, with erect ears, a tail held over the back, and a keen expression.
II. Size, Proportion, Substance. Height is 20.5 inches for males and 19 inches for females. A deviation of 1.5 inches in either direction for both sexes is permitted. Proportions should be very slightly longer than tall, at a ratio of 10:11. Males should appear more square than females. A Kishu Ken is well-muscled with moderate bone and substance.*
* Kishu Ken are to be shown fit, never with excess weight. Ribs and hips may be especially visible on young dogs or dogs in summer coat (lacking undercoat.) Because there should not be excess weight, ribs and hips may be easily felt on judge exam even if they are not visible,  even on dogs in good condition. Muscle condition of the Kishu Ken is important.
III. Head 
  1. Expression is confident and intense.
  2. Eyes are somewhat triangular and very dark in color. The bottom line of the eye is nearly straight and angled slightly upward from the muzzle to the outer eye. The top line of the eye is like the rounded top of a triangle.
  3. Ears are erect. The inner line of the ear is straight. The outer line is somewhat rounded. The ears are inclined slightly forward from the back of the skull. Hanging or dropped ears which are not related to injuries are a disqualification.
  4. Skull is broad, with a wide forehead.
  5. Stop may be abrupt or shallow, with a slight furrow to the brow.
  6. Muzzle is straight and firm. The shape should resemble a thick wedge to the cheeks.
  7. Nose is black. Flesh colored noses are permitted in white dogs.
  8. Lips are tight and straight.
  9. Bite is strong and substantial and comes together in a scissor. Kishu Ken have a full set of teeth. ​Malocclusion (underbite or overbite) is a disqualification.
IV. Neck, Topline and Body 
  1. Neck is thick and muscular.
  2. Topline is straight from the back of the shoulder to the tail, and strong.
  3. Body is athletic and muscular.
  4. Chest has an ovular shape and should drop to no less than 45% of the total dog height.
  5. Ribs are well sprung.
  6. Underline is slightly tucked up from the chest to the loin.
  7. Loins are strong.
  8. Tail is moderately thick and powerful. It is carried over the back in a sickle or a curl that should not lie directly on the back. Hanging tails that cannot curl over the back and bobtails are a disqualification.
V. Forequarters 
  1. Angulation is moderate.
  2. Shoulders are moderately sloping, and have well-developed muscle.
  3. Upper Arm meets the shoulder at a moderate angle.
  4. Elbows are held close to the body.
  5. Legs are spaced at the same width as the body, are straight, and parallel.
  6. Pasterns are strong, set at a moderate angle.
  7. Feet and toes are tight, with strong grip.
  8. Pads are thick and flexible.
  9. Nails are dark in color. Light nails permitted.
VI. Hindquarters 
  1. Angulation is moderate, to match the front.
  2. Legs are strong, well-muscled, spaced the same width as the waist or lower back, and straight.
  3. Upper Thigh is well-developed, and somewhat long.
  4. Stifle is strong.
  5. Second Thigh is slightly shorter than the upper thigh.
  6. Hocks are tough, strong, and should not appear to turn significantly in or out.
  7. Dewclaws are permitted ('wolf claw') but may be removed.
VII. Coat. The guard hair is hard and coarse and should stand when the Kishu has a dense undercoat. Undercoats are soft and dense when fully grown for the season. Kishu have full seasonal sheds which diminish the undercoat. The tail hair is longer than the body but stands the same. During this time it is not required that dogs be groomed to have healthy sheds. The coat is rustic and natural. Trimming is not permitted. Product is not permitted.
VIII. Color. Kishu have a number of acceptable coat colors. ​
  1. White is the most common coat color, and appears as pure white to a biscuit-like, pale yellow.
  2. Sesame is a wild-type coat color with an even mixture of red, black, and white hair. Sesame is sometimes further divided into Red Sesame for dogs which are sesame but have a predominantly red appearance and Black Sesame which is a sesame dog with a predominantly black appearance. Black hair is distributed evenly over the body no matter how dense or sparse it appears. Sesame coats should always have obvious red pigment, and never appear washed out or grey.
  3. Red is an evenly-pigmented red-orange coat that should not be so pale it appears yellow, or so dark it appears “burnt.”
  4. Black is a predominantly black coat with tan marks in a pointed pattern. Black dogs should have a rust-colored or brownish appearance to the fur and undercoat; it is not to be "blue" in the light or solid black. Tan points appear as a spot over each eye, the sides of the muzzle and cheeks, as a bib under the jaw, down the insides of each leg, on the paws, and under the tail.​​ Note: Black coats are exceedingly rare and the color may be "extinct" in Kishu.
On all but White coats the undersides are clearly paler than the body color especially on the chest, the cheeks, and the underside of the tail (“urajiro”). Pinto markings (white markings that interrupt the body color by reaching up over the shoulder of a dog or form a collar) are faulted. Black masks that interfere with the expression of the required urajiro markings are not desired. 
IX. Gait. The Kishu is a sharp and nimble dog. The gait is elastic and light.
X. Temperament. Bold and dignified, but affable in nature. The Kishu is exceptionally alert, noble, and a keen observer who appears ready for a challenge but is amenable when approached and faithful to their handler. Shyness is faulted. Handler-targeted aggression of any kind is a disqualification.

​Traditionally, all of the Japanese native breeds are described in three words by the original Nihon Ken Hozonkai standards. Kan'i is daring. The Kishu Ken courage and spirit. The Kishu Ken is always appears on their toes and ready for a challenge. They are confident and self-assured. Ryosei is a good-natured disposition. The dog is deeply devoted and never aggressive with its handler. Soboku is simplicity. The Kishu Ken is a rustic dog and natural dog in both temperament and appearance; a Natural Monument of Japan. Kishu Ken can further be described by the phrase subarashii yaseimi​ or having a "wonderful wildness" to their character. These traits can collectively be called Rinsei - the visible character of the dog.

​Note: This is a working boar hound bred for centuries to be able to quickly address threats and hold large game. When performing a judging exam, the spirited and alert nature which makes the Kishu Ken an ideal boar hound may cause novice dogs to become uncomfortable. Common behavior issues during judging exam for even well socialized and trained dog are a Kishu Ken that becomes fidgety, or may not want to stand still, and even may evade the exam. It is against the very nature of the Kishu Ken not to address people and animals in their environment. We strongly encourage exhibitors to advocate for their dogs and encourage judges to approach the dog from the front to "greet" the Kishu Ken. After this, performing the exam by making a constant line of contact from the front to back may help mitigate common issues such as jumpiness as you are no longer fighting the dog's nature. This approach from the front may also let a judge know if the Kishu Ken is correctly approachable without complication from their desire to address potential dangers. The Kishu Ken is an excellent hound and the traits that have seen them excel as hunters should be visible and never bred out.
References.
  1. “Kishu - FCI Standard.” Fédération Cynologique Internationale, 10 Feb. 2017, www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/KISHU-318.html.​
  2. “日本犬標準.” 公益社団法人 日本犬保存会, www.nihonken-hozonkai.or.jp/standard/.​ [Japanese Language]
  3. "Subarashii Yaseimi"​: Knight, J. (2006). Waiting for wolves in Japan: an anthropological study of people-wildlife relations (p. 210-211). Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
  4. Final Illustrations From: Kishū Ken. 誠文堂新光社, 1978. [Japanese Language] [Amazon.com link for purchase]
Photography Credit.
  • Tabby Hanabi (Fig. 1 - Kishu photographed at the 2013 NIPPO Grand National)
  • ​Alexis Amerosa of Boomlay Shiba Inu (Fig. 2, 4 - Kishu photographed at various NIPPO Grand Nationals)
  • C.J. Hammond (Fig. 3, 6 - Kishu photographed in the USA)
  • Coat color graphic: Black coloration donated thanks to "Kukku" the Shikoku by Katie Greene, to help illustrate.
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