Journeys in Japan : Odate, The Land of the Akita Inu The statue of Hachi the Dog sits near Shibuya's famous scramble crossing. Hachi was an Akita Inu, a breed designated as a national natural monument. The breed originated in Odate City, Akita Prefecture in northern Japan. Odate thrived on mineral mining and forestry from the beautiful forests of Akita Sugi, a type of cedar. But today, it's especially known as the birthplace of the Akita Inu. On Michael Keida's travels around Odate he meets the famed dog and gets a glimpse into locals' everyday lives. He also takes part in the Amekko Festival, which dates back 400 years. Narrator : Bill Sullivan Camera: Masayuki Takizawa Sound: Tsuneo Atsuta Sound Effects: Koichi Inomata Script Advisor: Kate Klippensteen Director: Natsumi Nagaoka Producer: Katsuya Takeuchi Executive Producer: Yukihiro Shibata Reporter: Michael Keida