Author(s): Martha Sherrill

Biography

Martha Sherrill brings us to a world that Westerners know very little about - the snow country of Japan during World War II. In a mountain village, we meet Morie Sawataishi, a fierce individualist who has chosen to break the law by keeping an Akita dog hidden in a shed on his property. During the war, these magnificent and intensely loyal Japanese hunting dogs were donated to help the war effort, eaten, or used to make fur vests for the military. By the time of the Japanese surrender in 1945, there were only sixteen Akitas left in the country. The survival of the breed became Morie's passion and life - almost a spiritual calling. Due in part to his perseverance and passion, the Akita breed strengthened and became wildly popular, sometimes selling for millions of yen. Yet Morie won't sell his spectacular dogs. He only likes to give them away. At ninety-four years of age, Morie still raises and trains the Akita dogs that have come to symbolise his life.