Kishu Ken Dog Names

The Kishu Ken has been accepted into the American Kennel Club’s Foundation Stock Service (AKC FSS), however, they are still not a well-known breed within the United States and Canada. They are best known in their native Japan, but are recognizable throughout Asia and Europe. Akari Duma Kara, or Akari for short, is one Kishu Ken that has earned a bit of notoriety through her success in the conformation show ring. Akari was born in September of 2015 and in 2016 she was named the European Junior Kishu Ken winner as well as earning her Croatian Junior, Slovakia Junior, Polish Junior, and Czech Junior championships. By the time she was a year old, Akari had already earned four championships in four different countries. Akari continued winning in the Kishu Ken ring in 2017 and became the 2017 World Dog Show Best of Breed Winner. She also won her International Beauty Champion (CIB) title. As a mature Kishu Ken, Akari was shown in conformation in several different countries and she earned her Croatia, Hungarian, Czech and Slovakia championships. She went on to earn a Czech grand championship. Akari was still shining in 2018 by winning the Slovakia Grand Prix for Kishu Ken. Akari’s conformation resume is impressive and includes 14 best of breed wins, 17 best of opposite set wins, 13 best of juniors wins, 21 Certificat d’Aptitude au Championnat International de Beaute (CACIB) wins, 31 Certificat d’Aptitude au Championnat wins (CAC), 4 reserve CACIB wins, 13 Certificat d’Aptitude Junior au Championnat (CAJC) and is also a multiple Regional winner throughout Asia and Europe.

Because the Kishu Ken is not well-known in the United States, there are not many being exhibited in shows. Since the Kishu Ken was accepted into the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA) there have been a handful competing in ARBA shows. Kishu Ken-nel, owned by Carleen Newman, in Rockport, Texas is the foundation breeder of the Kishu Ken breed in the United States. Kishu Ken-nel was founded in 1993 and has produced several American and International champions as well as earning numerous performance titles in agility and obedience. Newman finished the first Kishu Ken to an ARBA championship. ARBA Champion Dairyu Go Toyohashi Fujiwara Kensha earned a place in Kishu Ken history by being the first American Champion and also holding one of the first performance titles in America for Kishu Ken. Today, there are a handful of dedicated Kishu Ken breeders in the United States working to preserve and promote this primitive breed.