The word Samurai originates from 'saburau', meaning a person who serves a master.

A person who is born into the warrior class and has a master is called a samurai.

Therefore, warriors of the warrior class who do not have a master are called Ronin.

In other words, among the warrior class, there were samurai and ronin.

Among influential landowners, there were a few who were permitted to have surnames and wear swords just like warriors, but they were merely influential local figures and not warriors class.
There were masters of the sword and martial arts outside of the warrior class, but they were called swordsmen or masters, and could not become members of the warrior class.

“To maintain a static state like a forest when waiting“

The Kai Ken standard recognizes only brindle (Torage) coats. Their coat, which seems to melt into the silence of deep forests, has three distinct and beautiful variations:

Kuro-tora (Black Brindle): Red stripes on a pitch-black background.

Aka-tora (Red Brindle): Black stripes on a red background.

Cyu-tora (Medium Brindle): Amber stripes on a walnut (dark brown) background.

These three coat colors serve as the ultimate camouflage, perfectly blending into the shadows and light of trees within Japan's rugged mountainous regions and deep forests.

Combined with their "quietness without unnecessary barking" and "odorless constitution," the Kai Ken completely assimilates into the forest as if standard-equipped with "canine optical camouflage."

Maintaining a static posture like a forest grove during times when they should not move, and wearing a noble silence—this is precisely the reason why they are called "Ninja Dogs."

It is my private speculation that the three brindle variations of the Kai Ken (Kuro-tora, Aka-tora, and Cyu-tora) completely synchronize with the seasonal mountain landscapes of Japan as they transition from fresh greenery to autumn foliage and winter dead trees, and that former hunters may have used different coat colors of their partners depending on the season.

This is an illustrative image created by processing a picture of my own dog so that everyone can easily understand.

　　

“To maintain a static state like a forest when waiting“

The Kai Ken standard recognizes only brindle (Torage) coats. Their coat, which seems to melt into the silence of deep forests, has three distinct and beautiful variations:

Kuro-tora (Black Brindle): Red stripes on a pitch-black background.

Aka-tora (Red Brindle): Black stripes on a red background.

Cyu-tora (Medium Brindle): Amber stripes on a walnut (dark brown) background.

These three coat colors serve as the ultimate camouflage, perfectly blending into the shadows and light of trees within Japan's rugged mountainous regions and deep forests.

Combined with their "quietness without unnecessary barking" and "odorless constitution," the Kai Ken completely assimilates into the forest as if standard-equipped with "canine optical camouflage."

Maintaining a static posture like a forest grove during times when they should not move, and wearing a noble silence—this is precisely the reason why they are called "Ninja Dogs."

It is my private speculation that the three brindle variations of the Kai Ken (Kuro-tora, Aka-tora, and Cyu-tora) completely synchronize with the seasonal mountain landscapes of Japan as they transition from fresh greenery to autumn foliage and winter dead trees, and that former hunters may have used different coat colors of their partners depending on the season.

This is an illustrative image created by processing a picture of my own dog so that everyone can easily understand.

Yesterday evening, a major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 and a maximum intensity of 7 struck Kumamoto, Japan.

Coming at a time when the region had still not fully recovered from the previous major earthquake, this disaster has caused severe damage.

Kumamoto Castle, a famous fortress built by Kiyomasa Kato, was never conquered in war, but it has suffered considerable damage from the previous earthquake and now this latest major one.

I pray that everyone waiting for rescue will be saved as quickly as possible, and I offer my deepest condolences to those who have lost their lives. Rescue operations are continuing amidst ongoing aftershocks, fires, and extreme heat. I am praying for the safety of everyone affected.

　　

"Fu Rin Ka Zan"「風林火山」

This is a phrase derived from the Art of War by Sun Tzu, which was raised as a battle banner by Takeda Shingen, a Sengoku warlord once feared as the "Tiger of Kai".

The "Province of KAI" governed by Lord Shingen corresponds to modern-day Yamanashi Prefecture, spreading around Mt. Fuji. The Kai Ken was born in this land, surrounded by rugged mountains and rich nature. While "Tora-ge" is translated into English as "brindle coat," its meaning in Japanese is "tiger-striped coat".

It is said that Lord Shingen frequently used Kai Ken, which shared the same tiger pattern as his own "Tiger" epithet, for hunting.

Kaze no gotoku (As fast as the wind): Move as swiftly as the wind when it is time to act.

Shizukanaru koto hayashi no gotoku (As silent as the forest): Maintain a static posture like a forest during standby times when you should not move.

Shinryaku suru koto hi no gotoku (As fierce as fire): Advance like raging fire when you finally take action.

Ugokazaru koto yama no gotoku (As unmoving as the mountain): Stand firm like a mountain when it is time to defend.

This is a phrase indicating movements in the event of war, meaning: move as swiftly as the wind when acting, maintain a static state like a forest when waiting, advance like raging fire when executing a move, and stand firm like a mountain when defending.

“To move with the speed and swiftness of the wind”

I truly understood what this meant when my Kai Ken went head-to-head in a running battle with a Saluki—one of the world's oldest and fastest hound breeds.

Facing a Saluki with overwhelming speed, everyone present initially thought, "She probably won't be able to keep up." However, once they started running, although the Saluki pulled away on the straightaways within the limited space of the dog run, every time they approached a corner, my Kai Ken closed the gap and kept up her fierce pursuit.

This was to the point where the opposing Saluki couldn't help but look back with an absolute "Σ(￣ロ￣lll) ｶﾞｰﾝ" expression.

The reality was that all the owners present burst into laughter upon seeing the Saluki's face.

Shocked as if to say, "Wait, what was that?!", the Saluki went into full-throttle mode and accelerated even further. It was like a shot of NOS had been ignited. Even so, the Kai Ken wasn't left behind.

This battle lasted for 3 laps around the dog run, making it a nail-biting showdown right up to the very end.

It was such an epic match that even the owners in the neighboring small dog section grabbed onto the fence to watch.

When I checked the ground at the corners afterward, solid "star-shaped claw marks" were left behind. This gripping power of five toes (including the dewclaws) firmly grabbing the dirt is the secret behind the dog-version drift run—allowing her to enter corners without killing her speed and take the turns without being flung outward by centrifugal force. It was the moment I became convinced that this is the true essence of the Kai Ken, which tears through rugged mountain terrain like the wind.

I’m planning to share this story across 4 parts. I hope you enjoy it!

The Samurai Philosophy Seen Through Japanese Kai Ken Dogs.

"I wrote these based on actual events from my life living with my girl (dog). I used AI translation to help with the English, but it's a 100% original story. Please note: The opening passage about Furin Kazan and Takeda Shingen includes some quotes, but since historical facts cannot be changed, I appreciate your understanding"

"Fu Rin Ka Zan"「風林火山」

This is a phrase derived from the Art of War by Sun Tzu, which was raised as a battle banner by Takeda Shingen, a Sengoku warlord once feared as the "Tiger of Kai".

The "Province of KAI" governed by Lord Shingen corresponds to modern-day Yamanashi Prefecture, spreading around Mt. Fuji. The Kai Ken was born in this land, surrounded by rugged mountains and rich nature. While "Tora-ge" is translated into English as "brindle coat," its meaning in Japanese is "tiger-striped coat".

It is said that Lord Shingen frequently used Kai Ken, which shared the same tiger pattern as his own "Tiger" epithet, for hunting.

Kaze no gotoku (As fast as the wind): Move as swiftly as the wind when it is time to act.

Shizukanaru koto hayashi no gotoku (As silent as the forest): Maintain a static posture like a forest during standby times when you should not move.

Shinryaku suru koto hi no gotoku (As fierce as fire): Advance like raging fire when you finally take action.

Ugokazaru koto yama no gotoku (As unmoving as the mountain): Stand firm like a mountain when it is time to defend.

This is a phrase indicating movements in the event of war, meaning: move as swiftly as the wind when acting, maintain a static state like a forest when waiting, advance like raging fire when executing a move, and stand firm like a mountain when defending.

“To move with the speed and swiftness of the wind”

I truly understood what this meant when my Kai Ken went head-to-head in a running battle with a Saluki—one of the world's oldest and fastest hound breeds.

Facing a Saluki with overwhelming speed, everyone present initially thought, "She probably won't be able to keep up." However, once they started running, although the Saluki pulled away on the straightaways within the limited space of the dog run, every time they approached a corner, my Kai Ken closed the gap and kept up her fierce pursuit.

This was to the point where the opposing Saluki couldn't help but look back with an absolute "Σ(￣ロ￣lll) ｶﾞｰﾝ" expression.

The reality was that all the owners present burst into laughter upon seeing the Saluki's face.

Shocked as if to say, "Wait, what was that?!", the Saluki went into full-throttle mode and accelerated even further. It was like a shot of NOS had been ignited. Even so, the Kai Ken wasn't left behind.

This battle lasted for 3 laps around the dog run, making it a nail-biting showdown right up to the very end.

It was such an epic match that even the owners in the neighboring small dog section grabbed onto the fence to watch.

When I checked the ground at the corners afterward, solid "star-shaped claw marks" were left behind. This gripping power of five toes (including the dewclaws) firmly grabbing the dirt is the secret behind the dog-version drift run—allowing her to enter corners without killing her speed and take the turns without being flung outward by centrifugal force. It was the moment I became convinced that this is the true essence of the Kai Ken, which tears through rugged mountain terrain like the wind.

I’m planning to share this story across 4 parts. I hope you enjoy it!

"I wrote these based on actual events from my life living with my girl (dog). I used AI translation to help with the English, but it's a 100% original story. Please note: The opening passage about Furin Kazan and Takeda Shingen includes some quotes, but since historical facts cannot be changed, I appreciate your understanding"