2 comments about Book of the Akita.

1. This book is a must for both the potential and actual owners of the Akita. Joan McDonald Brearley has given the reader an enormous amount of information most valuble to the understanding of the breed. From puppyhood to adulthood one can see the progression of a small "teddybear" face puppy to the most regal of all canine faces. Changes not only to the physical aspects but to the mental attitude of the adult dog. This is disgussed thru out the book. She also has supplied the reader a much larger than normal amount of photographs of high quality.This in my mind, is most valuable if one is to compare for breeding stocks, types from other countries, and or just for the pleasure of viewing such beautiful animals. After ten years of owning this book I still am unable to refrain from looking at it if not for the written information or maybe the photographs alone. The author has provided a wonderful service to both the Akita breed and their owners/admires by sharing her knowledge with us.



2. There are a few editions that seem to have been released only for being placed somewhere along the library shelves or on a coffee-table. This is one of them. Ms. Brearley seems to have never got any closer to an Akita than to a cat or a lion - as far as specific knowledge is concerned. If one is looking for information on Akitas rather than a second class cofee-table book, do refrain from buying the so-called "Booh of the Akita".

5 comments about "Akita-Treasure of Japan (Volume II).

1. If you're like me and wanted to experience a different breed of dog, then the Akita is for you. Like me I thought they were the same as any other large breed dog...boy was I wrong. I purchased Akita - Treasure of Japan for insight and knowledge of this very majestic dog. It turned out to be the most informative, detailed and easy to read guide. I loved reading about the history of the Akita, it helped to explain how their temperment and courage came to be. I also loved the section on nutrition which I believe is very important to help keep this breed healthy and the kinds of diseases and illnesses they are prone to. I now feel like an Akita expert.



2. I now have volumes I and II of Ms. Bouyet's books. I have Akitas and rely heavily on the information in the book(s). However, ANY dog owner will benefit from much in the book. It has the most detailed and comprehensive information on diseases, nutrition, and just about any topic the Akita / dog owner would need to know. Kudos! Fabulous book! --- And a VERY reasonable price.



3. i love anything about akitas... "Dog Man: An Uncommon Life on a Faraway Mountain" is great book for Akita lovers



4. This book was a gift for my brother who is going to buy an Akita so I really can't write much about it, but he informed that it is a very good book and will be helpful to him buying and owning an Akita.



5. you only need one book if you want to know about Akita's.
   this is it, all you need to know and more.
   this book is the update and has more pages and more infor then before.

5 comments about A New Owner's Guide to Akitas (JG Dog).

1. lots of info for its price. Good valu



2. A lot of information for a small price. Excellent



3. The original book written by Barbara Andrews is expensive in the hardcover edition. But, I am so thankful that I sacrificed and purchased it when I saw a copy in Petsmart. It has gone out of print, just when the Akita is hitting stride as a household pet that can be maintained by the average pet lover. Ms. Andrews put her heart and soul in the first book and it shows. The second book is not as far reaching in the kinds of information revealed in the original. I have had three Akitas and the original "The World of the Akita" has been the saving grace. I will probably always own an Akita, for as long as I can take care of a big pet. And, this book will be a cherished part of my library. I loaned it out once, never again! If you are an Akita owner or plan to be, I seriously suggest acquiring a copy of the original book. If you can't, get the new version, it's better than nothing.



4. If you're thinking about getting an Akita as a pet and need to really learn about the dog-DON'T GET THIS BOOK !!Plenty of info about the origin of the dog,but I need to know if he's the right dog for me. I need more info on tmperment and specific health concerns. This book is mostly a general dog book with some Akita info-now I have to get another book !!!



5. I have been researching akitas for over 2yrs prior to aquiring one. This book contains as much information as at least 3 of the other books recommended by searching this site. It is like 3 books in one. B.J. Andrews really knows her stuff and she makes you feel as if you're talking to a breeder as you read.

No comments about Akita 2010 Wall Calendar #10003-10.

3 comments about Akitas (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. I have bought several books about Akita's from Amazon.
   This book was filled with information and was written in a easy
   to read format. I own seven Akita's and have raised two litters.
   Anyone thinking of purchasing an Akita for the first time should
   read this book.



2. I have purchased this book after adopting an Akita.
   The book states not to adopt an older Akita like I did.
   I do not agree. I have a great 2yr old Akita that I adopted from my local animal shelter.
   This book does have some great information until it comes to training.I would suggest a different book if training is what your looking for.



3. The book provides quality information, just keep in mind it is pretty much a general overview of many topics. It does not go in depth on any one topic (i.e. training, nutrition, history). For someone who doesn't know anything about dogs, particularly Akitas, this would be good. I found a lot of the information general dog knowledge.

3 comments about Akita (Comprehensive Owner's Guide).

1. I bought this book because I wanted to learn more about the Akita- and this book was perfect for that. It's very informative, and I learned a lot more about the breed- stuff that I had never heard before, like how there's more than 1 'type' of Akita. This book was also appropriatley discouraging for people who are interested in the breed but are probably not well suited for it.
   This book is a good buy if you're interested in an introduction to the Akita because it offers you training, feeding, breeder and showing tips, as well as a very thorough history of the breed.



2. Save your money and look for a new resource. All this proves is that anyone that can't write can get published. If Ms. Andrews had a true love of the Breed, she would not flitter about from breed to breed.



3. Good book tells u alot about the breed is well written i give it 5 stars

4 comments about Akita: The Tears and Message of Mary.

1. I really cannot express how important this book is - mystical and intangible except for a few facts. A Saint did ask Our Lady why She is "seen" so often weeping...Her reply was this: "Because they do not love My Son." If you are a follower of the events since Our Lady of Fatima at the turn of the last century, you need to read this book. But be prepared, like Our Lady, to weep as well.



2. The sincerity of this writing is striking. I have read about Fatima and was disappointed when the Pope did not reveal the third pronouncement made at that place. I am grateful that this book revealed all the messages of Mary. I am not Catholic but I feel a kindred spirit with these dedicated Nuns who have given their lives to serve by prayer. Even with all the tragedies experienced, they did not falter in daily prayers and work. I am hopeful that in these times ahead we will be able to realize our own inner faith and serve as needed. Beautiful book!



3. More crying from the BVM, this time from Japan. Messages resound that of Fatima in 1917. A renewed call for repentance and reparation. Speculative prophesy on possible holocaust. WWIII is coming!
   
   God's Chastisement of mankind can be averted with much prayer,
   reparation and return to Jesus and the One True Church.
   
   According to History Channel, WWII killed 50 million victims.
   WWIII could wipe out the world!
   
   The "fires from the heavens" as warned by the BVM can either mean nuclear holocausts and/or solar storms. Both of which are very real possibilities in our modern times.
   
   Let's look on the bright side!
   The human race is so evil and degenerated today that it is high time God wipes the slate clean!
   
   
   
   
   Recommended reading:
   
   The Three Days' Darkness: Prophecies of Saints and Seers



4. As Catholics, no one is obliged to believe in Marian apparitions, because they do not have the power of sacred Scripture. Yet, when a Marian apparition has occurred and is later authenticated by the Catholic Church, as say in the cases of La Salette in 1846, Lourdes in 1858 or Fatima in 1917, it can often work as an enhancement to holy Scripture. The water in Lourdes is often taken to be holy water. The lamb in the 1879 Knock apparition in Ireland is viewed as the sacrificial Son of God, Jesus Christ. But there is also an overtone of endearment in the name of lamb, especially in referencing children, i.e. Those children are precious, they are my little lambs; there is a maternal and fraternal love element in using that word. Hence, it has and had a duel meaning of sacrifice and adoration all in one. Apparitions that are legitimate are often filled with rich Scriptural symbolism that express the truths as conveyed in the Bible. Even though by itself, the Word has life, people are not always too swift to understand. It's not a bad thing. It is just that, as people, we're unfortunately limited, even severely so. In special cases, God allows, for whatever His reasoning is, to permit Mary, His beloved daughter, to condescend down to us, to relay a message of vital importance or to imbue into visionaries a message for all of global society. A perfect example is the message of La Salette, whereby an expression of desired personal reformation was conveyed by Mary. Legitimate sightings still continue to occur, most recently in December of 2009 in Cairo, Egypt atop a Coptic Church. There were thousands of witnesses.
   
   The apparition of Our Lady of Akita is a lesser known manifestation, albeit still potent in its meaning. It started on June 12th 1973 in the Convent of the Handmaids of the Eucharist in the mountainous hillside of Yuzawadai, just outside of Akita, Japan. There, a deaf nun by the name of Sister Agnes Katsuko Sasagawa began to experience incidents of a supernatural nature which she did not understand. While praying in the chapel, a strong celestial light-visible only to her-began to emanate from the tabernacle, the ornate receptacle containing the Holy Eucharist, Jesus Christ. Being cautious, she doubted herself and was hesitant to make mention of what she had seen. The more cautious that she was, the more things began to happen, for it progressed to the point that she saw beings of light adoring the tabernacle in addition to a spirit being who resembled her deceased sister who prayed and adored with her. When she asked the entity if it was the spirit of her dead sister, it answered only in the negative, declaring that it only took on the presence of someone whom she had known and loved in order to acclimate her to the supernatural goings-on while also preparing her to be the receiver of the messages of Mary. The entity, her guardian angel, as her superiors and Bishop John S. Ito later declared it to be, was the one who directed Sister Agnes to communicate the happenings instead of keeping it bottled up. She complied. And even though at the onset, to her own admission-both privately and publically- that all that which was happening to her was indeed quite plausiable, it was still outside her box of reality. The visions, the religious communiques, the interior locutions. All of it. But she accepted with humility and obedience.
   
   As time progressed, the community at large was made aware of what was happening, but it was also filtering to the outside world, much to the dismay of the higher-ups. They were not angry, exactly, but there is a lot at stake when manifestations of this nature do happen. Primarily, people of faith must be protected, because the apparition could either be a hoax, could stem form natural or psyhological causes, the phenomenon can't be explained one way or the other or the happening could be diobiolocal, meaning that the event is supernatural but not of heavenly origin. It could be a satanic manifestation in order to ridicule and mock faith. Thus, Church leaders had a lot on their plate in assessing this incident. Soon, the Devil's Advocate or Inquisitor was brought into the scene, and he placed blame squarely on the nun, Sister Agnes Katsuko Sasagawa, declaring her to be a possessor of ectoplasmic abilities, transfering her desires onto the wooden statue of the Blessed Virgin where all this was happening. There was no spite in her actions, because this was all supposidly done outside of her conscienceousness. Her will became a physical reality. To me, it is not a surprising declarition, for there are known documented cases that could confirm such incidents as possible. Duke and other universities have developed reputable parasychology departments on less than what happened here. What the naysayers failed to acknowledge at the time in this Marian apparition was that the messages of Mary were not deviant from Church teaching nor were the private writings of Sister Agnes illustrative of any kind of mania or psychosis. Also, there were more witnesses than just Sister Agnes to the over 100 documentated lachrymations of the wooden statue of Mary. Witnesses included both lay and religious people. Most startling of all, however, aside from the tears, was the manifestation of sweat and blood, the latter emanating from the outstreatched hand of Mary in which a deeply cut cross appeared, slowly oosing blood. To make sure that this was not a hoax, samples of the tears, sweat and blood were sent to The Faculty of Legal Medicine in Akita. And without revealing the source of where these things came from, the scientists declared that it was all human fluid and of human origin, but the anomily was that the blood was of type B and the sweat and tears were of type AB-two different DNA structures which confounded all those who studied and analyzed the saturated gauze. The fact that miracles were happening at or near the statue of the Blessed Virgin, including the medically declared incurable deafness of Sister Agness, only validated that fact that this apparation was a lagit manfestation of divine origin. One element of authenticity of this apparation was that good results were stemming from it, i.e. people were returning to the faith and transforming their lives in and through Jesus Christ. Sick people also were being miricously cured of all sorts of ailments. As it all built up, finally in 1984, this apparation was declared authentic with the Church's seal of approval.
   
   This was a fascining read, inspiring, strengthening, a real story of hope and change in such bleak, bleak times.

5 comments about Dog Man: An Uncommon Life on a Faraway Mountain.

1. This book makes me hunger for more information on the culture and countryside of northern Japan. I own an Akita that in another life could have been Samurai Tiger. This is a compelling book and a must read for the Akita devotee.



2. This is an amazing book. It's name might put people off that are not dog "people," but it's more of a historical piece than anything else. It tells the story of a family struggling during war time in Northern Japan at the end of WW 2. It's fascinating, and a wonderful read. Yes, there is the underlying story of his heroic challenge to keep the famed Akita dogs from becoming extinct. They were being used for food and garments for the soldiers. Anyone that's even slightly interested in that period of history would love this book. I cannot recommend it high enough.



3. I own a Chow Chow and somehow, as I was looking for books on the breed this book came up on an Amazon search. It must be because of the common ancestry the Chows have with the Akita. This book surprised me and I read it in two nights. It is a reflection of post war (WWII) Japan and reveals the culture and struggles people went through during this period. It talks about Morie and how he loves the Akita and brings them back from the brink of extinction to a national treasure. The book looks at the interactions that Morie has with the family, dogs and the natural world around him. The book is full of heartbreak and happiness. Overall the book makes me want to find a cabin in the woods and grow a garden and live a simple happy life.



4. Morie Sawataishi's obsession with dogs began with an Akita puppy he purchased from a taxi driver for 300 yen - at a time when his monthly salary was 50 yen. His overspending on dogs continued most of his life. His dogs, in fact, became his life. And this book documents that life. There is a lot to like in this book. There are touching stories of the dogs this man raised, and many black and white photographs of them. There is also much insight into not only the dogs (their history, breeding, intelligence), but also insight into life in rural Japan during and after WWII. Altogether, a good read. And well written.
   
   Only two things worked against this book for me. First - and this is probably my own error - I had assumed that Morie lived a more isolated life than he did in fact. While, yes, he lived in a rural area, he also worked at Mitsubishi; entered dog shows, and spent evenings drinking with his buddies. The second thing that surprised me was how Morie treated his family. His dogs obviously came first. I probably shouldn't judge. This was a different age and a different culture, and Morie did do many good things for his community. But at times, I was stunned by his apparent selfishness. Throughout the book, his wife expressed her regrets at living so far from the big city. Later in the book, his children even commented on their father's preference for dogs over them. So, for me, it was a little hard to sympathize with this man.



5. I love dogs which is why I bought this book. It's a VERY, VERY interesting book about a very intense dog lover. And I also now know more about Akitas than I ever could have learned from other sources. It's not like any other dog book that I've ever read yet I loved every single page. I highly recommend this book if you have ever been extremely passionate about something.

No comments about Hachiko: The True Story of The Royal Dogs of Japan and One Faithful Akita.

5 comments about Hachiko Waits.

1. It was a truly sad story. I enjoyed the kindness and dedicated love of man,dog and family. It was an easy read even I as an adult truly enjoyed. It was beautiful, everyone should read it. I enjoyed it for another reason. They filmed some of this story for the movie in my hometown of Woonsocket,R.I. I was able to see some of the shoots and re-doing our original train station to resemble the one in the book. It was fantastic. Loved it!



2. There is a statue of a dog in the Shibuya train station in Tokyo. It was first set in place in 1934 to commemorate the loyalty and devotion of an Akita who waited for his master for ten years. The master was a university teacher, who died unexpectedly at work. It was the Akita's habit to wait for his master's return from work then walk home together. Because he could not understand why his master did not return, he faithfully waited until he died in his place at the station, where the statue was erected in his honor. This is the dry version of a true story.
   
   "What a good dog you are. What a fine dog you are. Hachi, you are the best dog in Japan." These are the words Professor Ueno speaks to his Akita everyday at the train station just before he departs for his teaching job at the university. And they are the last words Hachi ever hears the professor say. The dog waits until the station is closed and the train master encourages him to go outside the gate.
   
   A little boy whom the professor befriends, Yasuo and his mother take the dog in, but Hachi is one of those rare one-master-only dogs. He escapes. No one knows where he goes during the day or night, but each afternoon at five minutes until three, Hachi reappears to wait until closing. This continues for ten years.
   
   Meanwhile, people begin to notice Hachi. They pet him, worry about him, feed him, offer to take him, write newspaper stories about him, come from far and near just to see him. He becomes a symbol of the devoted, loyal dog, man's best friend. Through it all, Hachi remains calm, but most importantly, patient. He waits for his master.
   
   Today, Hachi's story is told in Japanese schools all across the country. Each year he is honored during a special ceremony at the Shibuya train station at the foot of Hachi's statue. During his lifetime he was proclaimed Chuken Hachiko (Chuken=faithful dog, -iko, a term of respect), for people loved, respected, and honored him for this total loyalty. Still, this is the dry version.
   
   In a historical novel a writer is allowed a certain freedom or license to get into the story and bring the reader with her. Leslea Newman and artist Machiyo Kodaira take the reader right there on that train station, right there beside Hachido, feeling his extraordinary devotion and dedication. Right there with each person who attends Hachiko. We are right there as Yasuo grows into a man and watch him meet a young woman. Early in the story the train master tells Yasuo that his promise to care for Hachi will bring him an unexpected happy result. And so it does. This is a story not to miss.
   
   Being inside the story with Hachiko and all the people whose lives he touches and influences is the wet version. For there is no way you can escape deep emotion reading this story. The tears will come, but they are cleansing tears. Hachiko will win your heart.



3. Hachiko Waits
   This book is very well written and the illustrations certainly add much. Anyone who appreciates the Akita should consider this required reading. While every breed book typically mentions (briefly) the story of Hachi, the dog who earned his own monument in Shibuya station, this book takes you inside the experience of the legend. A bit of literary license is used (and explained in the book) to make this story truly come alive in a personal way. I am an Akita owner and everyone in my house has read this book and been moved by this incredible story!



4. As an Akita fancier, I have heard this story before, but the author of this book takes appropriate literary license in order to put the reader into the story and explain the nature of the relationship between the professor, the Akita Inu and the young boy who meets them. Anyone who appreciates Akitas for any reason should make this book a must-read, if not a must-have!



5. If you are a pet lover, this story is for you! It is about the faithfulness of a dog to his master and is based on truth. After I read the library edition, I knew I had to purchase it for my collelction plus one for my friend. When I went to the vet with my cat, I found out she had an Akita dog as in the story. She had purchased five copies of the book, one for herself and the rest for other pet owners. You will not be sorry you bought it!