About JACA
In the mid-1990s, the debate in English-speaking North America on whether or not to split the Akita breed was raging over internet forums, e-mail lists, at ringside and just about every other place Akita fanciers might gather; it was bitter and there was no solution in sight. Lines were drawn between the pro-split side and the anti-split side.
History
In April of 1997, Akita breeders Pat Szymanski, Ben Herrera and Jim Sjoberg attended an Akita-inu Hozonkai (AKIHO) Headquarters show in Odate, Japan, where they spoke to well-known and respected AKIHO judges and breeders. In addition, they were able to observe for themselves over 200 Japanese Akitas at one show. These Japanese Akitas were, in fact, very different from the Akitas in North America. It became obvious to the breeders from the US that, in the course of development over previous decades, the Akita had indeed become two separate breeds: the Japanese and the American. This situation was not taken lightly by the Szymanskis (Pat and Rich), Herreras (Ben and Melanie) and Sjobergs (Jim and Carol) as they all had experience with both American Akitas and Japanese Akitas and had struggled with the split issue themselves. But with the irrefutable evidence in front of them and with the knowledge that the Japan Kennel Club (JKC) was pushing to split the breed internationally, they had what Oprah Winfrey refers to as an “a-ha moment.”
Shortly after their return and after much more discussion with friends in the fancy, they decided to make a commitment to work towards the split, to breed only Japanese Akitas and to improve and preserve the breed as set forth by the country of origin, Japan. Little did they know the separation of the Japanese Akita and the Great Japanese Dog (American Akita) in most of the rest of the world would happen so soon after that trip to AKIHO Headquarters and that the World Union of Akita Clubs (WUAC) would be formed.
Internationally, various members of the Japanese Akita fancy stated that the breed would need a representative club in the United States, and there was a growing worry that the AKC would stall the split on behalf of a particular group within the Akita Club of America.
And so, in May of 1997, with the encouragement from board members of the JKC, AKIHO, and Japanese Akita clubs in Europe, the Japanese Akita Club of America, Inc. (JACA), was founded by the Szymanskis, the Herreras, the Sjobergs, Cindy and Jim Hicks, Mike and Laurie Shannen, Francis Connor, Akira Miyabayashi and Hope Yoneshige.
Since our formation in a country that still does not recognize two breeds, JACA’s role in the international Japanese Akita fancy has spoken volumes. For instance, JACA was the ONLY Akita club from the United States to be invited by the JKC to participate in their very first Akita Judges’ Special Seminar held in Tokyo in January of 2001. The delegates from JACA enjoyed meeting Akita judges from around the world and the seminar itself proved very educational and informative on a variety of subjects. We have also been a presence at the World Akita Conferences held by WUAC and have maintained great working relationships and friendships with our counterparts in Japan and across Europe and Latin America.
Because the Japanese Akita is not recognized in the AKC ring, JACA has held its own conformation shows since 1998, most often in conjunction with the AKIHO Los Angeles Branch.
JACA has proudly retained its close ties to the JKC, AKIHO and WUAC. We have also had the privilege of being recognized as the representative club for the breed in America by many Japanese Akita clubs overseas. In fact, our membership spans across several continents as our international friends support our efforts here in the US.
It is important to note that with the exception of the US and Canada, every other nation has split the breed. The membership of JACA is committed to splitting the breed and to obtaining recognition for the Japanese Akita as a separate breed in the United States. But first and foremost, we dedicate ourselves to improving and preserving the Japanese Akita.