Meet the Silkie Chicken Family and Akita Dog Trio at Lake Tazawa

Kyoei Paresu has been introduced as a souvenir shop where you can meet some Akita Dogs. It is also a place where you can see some rare chiken like Akita's Hinai-dori. Ukokkei (Silkie) is another type of chicken you can observe at this place. We heard there are many chicks in the cages now, so we stopped by to take a glimpse!

As we approached the cage, the mother chicken was hiding all the little chicks! They are so tiny and very adorable :)

The Akita Dog Trio Updates:

Across the chicken cages is where you can find the Akita Dogs! Nana, the one which joined the group most recently, is no longer small now! She is 7 month old and almost as big as Hachi but as playful as a puppy could be even in this hot and humid weather.

You might think they look rather energyless and sad to be placed in the cages, but they are not! You will know it when the caretakers are around! They are loved and taken care of very well. Even one of the caretakers tried show us how Nana dances to his singing....

Nana dances!

Well, ... Not today! Nana wasn't feeling like it on this day, but he promised to show us someday soon!

Akita dogs are definitely not made for hot humid weather... The adult dogs were laying flat on the ground motionless, while Nana remained moving and being mischevious to interupt  the cleaning, tirelessly!

If you want to see more detailed updates, go to Kyoei Paresu's official blog.

Gon and Hachi laying flat on the ground, while Nana is trying to get attention from the caretaker.

An Akita Puppy Just Arrived at Kyoei Paresu

An Akita puppy has just arrived at Kyoei Paresu (共栄パレス) at Lake Tazawa!

The souvenir shop / restaurant have been taking care of two Akita Dogs, Hachi and Gon. It has been the only location where you can observe the Akita dogs. They also keep different birds designated as preserved species of Akita Prefecture.

"Ganbaro Tohoku! Please come to see Akita Dogs!"

Kyoei Paresu Staffs with Gon (left) and Hachi (right)

A Puppy Has Arrived!

Kyoei Paresu’s most recent acquisition a 4-month old puppy named Nana!

A care-taker staff updates their official blog with updated stories about the shop and the Akita dogs. From there we have been enjoying and learning that Hachi, the female brown Akita, seems to be a big-sister to the other male dog, Gon.

The new puppy has been introduced last Friday. In the blog, a staff writes, “Nana just arrived today. The three Akitas were so excited, so it was difficult to take a picture of them. We keep her separate from the others for now until they are used to one another.”

A few days later, he updated: “Nana is so friendly; she tries her best to spread her tiny body and try to jumps onto us. She likes to play and lick our hands. She is full of energy – she eats a lot of food so quickly! Also, she moves so much and often out of breath!”

He recalls in the latest post: “We have been trying to tame Nana. But she does not remain still! We remember Hachi used to be full of energy as a puppy, but Nana is even more restless than Hachi was! We wonder when she will learn to ‘sit’ and ‘shake hands.’”

The arrival of new Akita puppy has been great news for us all! We are looking forward to meeting her soon....

The Only Location to Meet the Akita Dogs:

Although Akita dogs are quite popular in its hometown, you would realize that it is not so easy to meet one on your travel.

Kyoei Paresu offers you a rare opportunity, since the manager, Mr. Kikawa, has been permitted to create such facility for his previous career. Today a complicated procedure and a special license are required to make such facility.

So, do not miss your chance to meet meet them at Kyoei Paresu! If you are lucky, you might catch them out of the cage as well.

Gon and Hachi says "Welcome. Ask us anything you don't know. Let's be good friends."

Nana replies, "My name is Nana. Nice to meet you." (All Photos/Kyoei Paresu)

Become a Grand Millionaire – At Least in a Card Game !

Daifugo (“The Grand Millionaire”) is a popular Japanese card game, whose basic concept and rules are similar to The Great Dalmuti or President in the Western culture.

In the basic rules, your objective is to get rid of your cards by placing a stronger one than that of your previous player. Joker is the strongest after two and three is the weakest. When a revolution is erupted by placing four cards of the same number (Jokers could be substitute to make up a full set. e.g. 3 Kings and 1 Joker), three becomes the strongest after jokers and two becomes the weakest.

This game is common in all over Japan; it could also be called “Daihinmin” (The Poorest) or played on different rules. So, why could not the cards be designed specifially for playing Daifugo while reflecting the regional culture?



Daifugo Toranpu (大富豪トランプ）by Daifugo-kenkyujo



These unique cards have been much talked-about in the local area. It was designed by a design company in Akita City, Daifugo-kenkyujo (Lit, “Daifugo Research Institute”). The product has been featured in newspapers and TV shows for its humorous concept. It is now available at 25 locations in Akita Prefecture. Within  a few months after its debut in last September, the company have sold more than 1,000 sets – a big commercial success for a deck of cards!

Let’s Become a Grand Milionaire!

According to Excited News, designers has previously (in 2006) produced a localized version of Monopoly, Akita version of Monopoly. The creaters were inspired by the idea that Monopoly is said to have developed in the midst of the Great Depression in 1920s America. The unemployed youngsters came up with its concept by wishing to get rich - if not in reality, at least in the virtual card game. Today our Japanese economy is suffering again, but we could at least feel rich while playing this game.” (Excite News)



Akita's Local Specialties featured in the Playing Cards

Akita Featured in the Cards:

Many local specialties from Akita Prefecture are humorously featured in the cards: Hinai-jidori Chicken in place of Hearts, Akita-sugi (Cedar) in Spades, Akita Rice in Diamonds, and Akita-fuki (Butterbur) in Clubs. The face has illustrations of Namahage and Akita Dogs. The card with number 8 (which plays a key role) strikes you with Akita’s #1 standout, Kiritanpo!

Fun and Good to Play With:

The cards were not designed only for the fun to play. The designers spent a year on painstaking trials to test  its quality and functionality. The company organizes monthly tournament events for community members. The company comments: “Most participants are adults in between 20s and 40s. They are strangers at first meet there for the first time, but they all have a blast as if it brings back their childhood again. Playing a game is a good way to remember the importance of communication.”

Daifugo Toranpu (大富豪トランプ）is sold for 1,050 yen at 25 locations in Akita Prefecture.

Find more information from the link below!

Meet Akita Dogs at Kyoei Paresu

Akita Dog （秋田犬）is designated as a protected species of Japan. The true story of Hachi (”Chuken Hachi-ko”), an Akita dog which waited for his master for 9 years at Shibuya Station in Tokyo without knowing his master’s death, had made the dog internationally known for the loyal nature.

With the innocent but tough quality, Akita dog is one of the most popular dog species in Japan—not to mention, Akita Prefecture is where they are most commonly found.

However, as a traveler with limited time, you might not get a chance to see an authentic dog.

Here is where you can find them in Tazawako—Kyoei Paresu　（共栄パレス）!

Photos Courtesy of Kyoei Paresu

This is the only place where you can observe Akita dogs in Semboku City. The white one is Hachi （ハチ）and the brown one is Gon　（ゴン）. They arrived as puppies a few years ago. They are kept in the back of the Kyoei Paresu building across from the cages of three types of bird species also designated as a protected species of Japan.

Akita dogs may come in various combinations of colors, white, black, and yellow. To show you more variety of Akita dogs, Kyoei Paresu is planning to have more Akita dogs in other hair colors. Soon we might see some puppies!

Access to Kyoei Paresu:


From JR Tazawako Station, take a local bus bound for Nyuto Onsen-kyo or Lake Tazawa. Take a stop called “Tazawako-han” in Shirahama Area.

Meet Akitas (Dogs) at Kyoei Paresu

‘Akita’

When you hear the word, what comes into your mind first? Most people overseas probably think of a breed of dog, Akita.

Perhaps the story of Hachi made Akita Dogs known for the loyal attributes: Hachi, an Akita, brought to Tokyo by a new owner who died after a year and half. Believing that the owner would return, Hachi waited everyday at Ueno Station for nine years.

This true event was made into a film in Japan: In 2009, Hachi even made it to Hollywood: (Hachi:A Dog's Tale)

Needless to say, Akita dog is the prefectural dog of Akita. It has been serving as our symbol and even employed as the official character for the promotional campaign for the tourism website in Taiwanese.

His name is 米香 (“bee-pan”).

While you are traveling in Akita, you might see Akita dogs walking around. At Kyoei Paresu(共栄パレス), you can make sure you take a glimse of it, closely!

Hachi and Gon]

Their photos are published internationally!

Fluffy, thick ears are so adorable.

Well-tamed.

Kyoei Paresu is a large souvenir shop on Tazawako Lakeshore off "Tazawakohan" bus stop. Next to the dogs, birds that are designated as protected species can be seen as well. The Akitas, Hachi and Gon, are in the back of the souvenir shop. If you are lucky, you might catch them out of the cage!