Tosa is without doubt one of the most fascinating yet misunderstood breed, as is the culture that has its origin originile.Tara Tosa breed is Japan, specifically the island of Shikoku, the smallest of the 4 islands of Japan. Whether they reflect many of the attributes Japanese culture and mentality.

The breed was named after the area was designed, old Tosa province, a province which today is known as Kochi Prefecture. At that time as today, Tosa province was one of the most popular areas of influence of two dogs fighting in Japan, Akita Prefecture is the other area, located in the northern part of Honshu island. At first, Akita breed was stronger than Tosa, but slowly, the situation began to change because of breeding with other breeds Tosa European breeds that attack Tosa took enormous power and enormous courage. Between Tosa and Akita have also done mating, resulting Shin Akita.

Tosa Inu literally means "Dog Tosa." Another variant of this name is Tosa Ken, both Inu and Ken means dog in Japanese, not another word, but just a matter of pronunciation in different areas of Japan. Both are correct, but Tosa Ken is widely used in spoken language.
Tosa are known as Mastifi Japanese or Japanese fighting dogs, according to Japanese Tosa Tosa Touken or token, which means Tosa fighting dog. Token has an "o" in Japanese long, so the transcription is correct in Romanian or Token, or Touken.

Since the fall of Meiji Restoration (1866 - 1869) and ended Japan's isolation policy and becoming more and more foreigners have begun to enter the country with unknown breeds to date, the Japanese were impressed by their size , the strength and endurance as a result, have begun to breed their race with the Western new entrants. To create Shikoku Tosa Ken mated with Bulldog (1872), with mastiful (1874) German Pointer (1876), Great Dane (1924), Bull Terrier and Saint Bernard, all these breeds have been used to improve skills Tosa by sequential mating .

Please note that the Great Dane in those days was not as big as the English Bulldog and today as fundamentally different from bullterrier specimens showed today. In a short time, the Japanese have managed to create a race to concentrate all the attributes and characteristics Sumo fighters. In 1925 the race was already very well defined and in 1930 an association was founded to preserve and spread the breed.

Tosa - the traditional Japanese brave, prudent, temperate, and docile. Overflows enormous power and incredible resistance to pain.

It is the only race in the world that is still used to fight legally. But the Japanese have developed especially for Tosa fighting style that has nothing in common with those in other parts of the world.

In Japan, dogs are bred and trained with care, and fighting is accompanied by strict rules holy rituals. Fights between Tosa are never cruel or bloody and never ends with the death of one of the participants. Battles are made to last long, so the dog fight that ends with a quick victory is not necessarily considered a specimen of Sumo wrestling bun.Similar dogs incerarca to put on the floor and to take as much time there. If dominated more than 3 minutes (or 5 if the fight lasted 30 min) the dog is declared the winner. A dog barking, yelping or Mara is considered loser. So it is considered the dog who returns back to the opponent or make 3 steps back when attacked. Even if none of the two combatants not prove superior to the other, the fight will end after 30 minutes anyway. Unlike other traditional breeds Tosa gladiators one is aware of the symbolic value of struggle, fight and opponent to comply.

Like sumo wrestlers, fighters are listed Tosa Inu in a strict hierarchy as you collect points from fighting. Tosa Inu The greatest fighters receive the title of Yokozuna, just big sumo wrestlers.

Twice in the twentieth century all Japanese breeds were endangered. The first case was the global food crisis and the Allied invasion of World War 2 and the second case was an epidemic causes nearly led Tosa Inu the brink of extinction. Tosa breed care Association decided to save the most representative examples of the breed and they have led in northern Japan in Aormi province, which was less involved in the war. Copies of those copies descended most of today Tosa Inu.

The appearance of a Tosa-INU must be a solid but also dynamic and flexible, with a large head and wide muzzle strong and visible light chain (not very pronounced). Contrary to Japanese Canine Club (JKC) and the International Kennel Federation (FCI) that race and color Tosa-Inu defining redhead lit dark Tosa breeders in the traditional Kochi Prefecture accept a variety of colors (black, white - red, brindle, spotted, black spots or colorful).

It is very hard to find outside Japan a Tosa Inu breeders with the qualities sought by the Japanese: a dog calm and quiet, but alert and aware of their own power and a strong sense of prudence, which will react only in case of emergency, demonstrating a high unmatched courage and strength.

Even in Japan, things are changing. Many influential people in specific circles do not want to promote positive and humble qualities of Tosa because they fear that if the race is seen otherwise than as a fighting breed will enjoy increased popularity among ordinary people.

Those wishing to purchase a genuine copy Tosa Inu must be very careful to look for and find a responsible breeder and redutatbil, which increases their dogs in the original spirit of the traditional Tosa.