Japanese Symbol for
犬inu
dog · loyal · faithful
Readings
Meaning
Dog. 犬 (inu) is one of the twelve zodiac animals. Dogs symbolize loyalty and protection in Japan. Hachikō the Akita — who waited for his owner at Shibuya Station for nine years after his death — is Japan's ultimate symbol of canine devotion.
Example words
忠犬
chūken
faithful dog, loyal dog
犬年
inu-doshi
Year of the Dog
番犬
banken
guard dog, watchdog
愛犬
aiken
beloved dog, pet dog
犬猿の仲
ken'en no naka
like cats and dogs (dog-monkey relation)
秋田犬
Akita-inu
Akita dog (Japanese breed)
忠犬ハチ公 (Chūken Hachikō — Loyal Dog Hachiko) is so iconic that his bronze statue outside Shibuya Station is one of Tokyo's most visited landmarks and a famous meeting spot. Japan also has traditional native dog breeds: the Shiba Inu (柴犬), Akita (秋田犬), and Hokkaido dog (北海道犬), all prized for loyalty and hunting ability.
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