The Tosa (Tosa-Ken, Tosa-Token, Tosa-Inu, Japanese Mastiff), was bred for, and has been used for many years; as a fighting dog. Historically, the tradition of dog fighting was popular in many Japanese districts, but especially in the Tosa district of Shikoku. The product of thoughtful eugenic manipulation by the Japanese; the Tosa dogs active in fighting, originally; were not the present-day incarnation. The primogenitor of the modern day Tosa was the medium sized Nihon-Inu; the indigenous Japanese dog which was originally bred to hunt wild boar, and the incorporation of Occidental breeds. In 1854, the Japanese Government repealed the National Isolation Policy, this reversal began the steady influx of foreign tourism. Increasingly, traditional Japanese dog fighting began pitting the European dogs against the indigenous, Japanese Nihon-Inu. The smaller Nihon-Inu began routinely loosing against the substantially larger Occidental breeds.
These losses were devastating for the Japanese, who viewed any defeat as dishonor. Gradually, Tosa district breeders attempted to develop a larger, more truculent fighting dog, by incorporating European breeds such as: the Mastiff, Great Dane, Bulldog, Bull Terrier, and Pointer. In 1876, the German Pointer was incorporated into the breed because of their concordant temperament, and highly developed olfactory sense; which is fundamental for predation. The Mastiff (1874), was introduced because of their exceptional musculature, and the enormity of their cranial structure. However, this incorporation produced a ponderous specimen, so Great Danes(1924), were introduced to mitigate the prodigious size with dexterity and athletecism. Fundamentally, the Bulldog(1872), was sought for its’ punitive bite, powerful front-end, and truncated-stop; while the Bull Terrier(date unknown), increased tenacity.
These losses were devastating for the Japanese, who viewed any defeat as dishonor. Gradually, Tosa district breeders attempted to develop a larger, more truculent fighting dog, by incorporating European breeds such as: the Mastiff, Great Dane, Bulldog, Bull Terrier, and Pointer. In 1876, the German Pointer was incorporated into the breed because of their concordant temperament, and highly developed olfactory sense; which is fundamental for predation. The Mastiff (1874), was introduced because of their exceptional musculature, and the enormity of their cranial structure. However, this incorporation produced a ponderous specimen, so Great Danes(1924), were introduced to mitigate the prodigious size with dexterity and athletecism. Fundamentally, the Bulldog(1872), was sought for its’ punitive bite, powerful front-end, and truncated-stop; while the Bull Terrier(date unknown), increased tenacity.
