About
The filmmakers are owners of a Hokkaido who are dedicated to the conservation of this historic breed. We are members of the Hokkaido Association of North America. This film is being produced with the support of the Hokkaido Inu Hozonkai, the breed preservation society in Japan.
Hokkaido Ken
The Hokkaido Inu (commonly called Hokkaido Ken; also Seta or Ainu Ken) is one of the Nihon Ken—Spitz-like dogs native to Japan—sharing the designation with familiar faces like the Shiba Inu and Japanese Akitainu. It was traditionally raised by the Ainu people in Hokkaido and is a designated “Living Natural Monument” of Japan. With deep affection for their family and the courage to defend against bears, the Hokkaido Ken was a valuable working dog and companion in Ainu villages. Their disposition makes them well suited to a variety of sports and activities—like hiking, lure coursing, agility, sledding, and even hunting. Today, the Hokkaido is in steep decline and facing the threat of extinction, but breeders across Japan, Europe, and the United States are dedicated to their conservation.
The Movie
Hokkaido Ken: Japan’s Unknown Treasure is a feature-length documentary film currently in production. The film centers on the Hokkaido Ken, and the dedicated preservationists acting to prevent its extinction. Our film is an attempt not only to raise awareness of the Hokkaido Inu and to share its unique charms with the world, but also to document and immortalize the efforts of those individuals who have dedicated their lives to the preservation of Ainu culture and the Hokkaido Inu itself.
There are estimated to be only 5,000 living Hokkaido Inu, and the dog is at imminent risk of extinction if we are unable to support populations across diverse geographic locations. Meanwhile, the champions of the breed in Japan are aging, retiring, and passing away, often without sharing their invaluable experience. This parallels the broader situation of Ainu cultural heritage, which has historically diminished and only recently enjoyed a resurgence. It is our urgent mission to document and share this institutional cultural knowledge before it disappears.
Created by a cross-cultural team of American and Japanese film professionals, the film is a celebration of how global cooperation and understanding can help keep cultural heritage alive. It tells a story about preserving and sharing beloved traditions, and offers rare insight into Ainu cultural promotion, the challenges facing Japan's regional populations, and how passionate communities in Japan and the United States can come together to achieve a shared vision. Through their shared love of dogs, dog owners in America are forming bonds with small communities in Hokkaido. We are working together to save the Hokkaido Inu, but at the same time, we are forging connections across cultures, countries, and generations. The documentary will be fully subtitled in both English and Japanese and is intended for festivals and audiences in both countries.
Our sincere hope is that our film will inspire curiosity and interest in Japan beyond mainstream tourism, encouraging viewers to delve into the history and culture of Hokkaido, the Ainu, and the Hokkaido Inu. Ultimately, we wish to contribute to the longevity of both the Hokkaido Inu and Ainu culture more broadly, and we ask viewers to consider what we stand to lose when traditions and unique cultural knowledge disappear. If audiences come away wishing to meet a Hokkaido Inu, visit small towns in Hokkaido, learn about Ainu art or language, or engage with preservation campaigns and cultural institutions, we will consider that a step towards success.
The Process
The project has already begun production, and we have already completed initial filming with many of our subjects in Japan, so access to our story is already guaranteed. In May and June of 2026, we attended the Headquarters Exhibition of the Hokkaido Inu Hozonkai (一般社団法人 天然記念物 北海道犬保存会) in Eniwa, Hokkaido, and traveled across Hokkaido to interview our subjects in remote parts of the island. We also collected footage in the United States in July of 2026. At this time, we have approximately ten hours of interview footage with subjects in Japan, as well as two hours of interview footage with subjects outside of Japan.
Some of the subjects integral to our film are Hokkaido Inu breeders across Hokkaido, including those who have been instrumental in fostering connections outside of Japan, and Mr. Kadowaki Yuji, the current chairman of the Hokkaido Inu Hozonkai, who has welcomed overseas members to the Hozonkai in recent years and without whose help this film would not be possible. Hokkaido Association of North America interviews include members who are actively building networks for connection with Japanese-speaking breeders. We have collaborated with Ainu cultural institutions at Nibutani and Upopoy to document Ainu craft and performance, as well as collecting personal anecdotes from Ainu elders, including renowned sculptor Kaizawa Toru, about their experience living with Hokkaido Inu and sharing their traditions with local and international audiences. Mr. Kaizawa in particular provides a touching and optimistic view on the renewed global attention to Ainu culture and how mutual understanding allows tradition to thrive.