Tosa Inu or Tosa Ken

Japanese mastiff

Inu and ken are both Japanese words meaning dog.  The tosa inu originated in the south of Japan, though the Japanese dogs may have been mated to imports in order to introduce new qualities to the breed. The name Tosa comes from Tosa province, now known as Kochi prefecture.

They are massive dogs - mastiffs - athletic & muscular. They make intimidating guard dogs. They like to live indoors with their family. A dog who lives indoors, sees the house as its territory, and will protect it. 

Tosas are used for dog-fighting in places where it is legal. It is more a wrestling match than a fight - drawing blood is frowned upon - the dogs must try to hold each other down. The dogs are not allowed to kill each other. It is done with ceremony. The fighting is done quietly. They are a quiet breed with calm temperament. The victor is often draped with ceremonial robes, like a Sumo wrestler.

They may fight with other dogs. Training is essential for all large breeds.

Grooming is minimal, as tosas have short coats.

Early development of breeds of dogs

Japanese fighting dogs are self-disciplined and fight with self-control.  They don't go mad like other fighting breeds. We should be self-controlled too. "For we must not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. We have divine power to demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against God. And we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10, 3. Let's wrestle with our bad thoughts & subdue them!