Kochi Fighting Center Japan 2003

Kochi Fighting Center Japan 2003

It has taken me some time to cool off and regroup from this trip to Japan. In this trip we ventured out to Kochi. I have been told my whole Tosa career that this is the place to be, if you are involved with the Tosa. So, I was in much anticipation for what I was about to see. This is to be the center of all the things for the Tosa in Japan. Well at least this is what I have been told for years.

This was not to be. I have not been so disappointed in all of my LIFE. First, we must drive and travel over 3 hours one way. Now mind you every time I have been to Japan and even mentioned the fighting center in Kochi the Japanese that I have been dealing with they have laughed. I have been blessed with whom I am associated with in Japan. I have much respect for Yoko, Hiroki, Sudo San and the many other Real Tosa owners. I had to see for myself what they were talking about when they laughed and said Kochi does not have real Tosas there. I now know what they were laughing about.

We are now finally there at the fighting center in Kochi (which I and StoneWall are in NO way affiliated with on any level). We pull up to have to pay $10 just to park. Now at all the tournaments I have been to you NEVER have to pay for parking or to enter to watch. We get out and I look around and there is only maybe four or five cars in the parking lot. We go up and there are little shops with trinkets and things to buy. Then you can go into the center it self. While in the center over the microphone they make an announcement "The tournament is about to begin". Hiroki, Yoko and myself look around and do not see any Tosas out side or that many people. So, it is fare to say we were a little confused.

We go to the desk and they say you must pay $20 per person to see the so called tournament. The money was paid and we go up the stairs in to a room with bleachers and a ring. There was about 10+ people in there as well. We were laughing at first then they said they were going to bring out a titled Yokozuna in the ceremonial robes "This was a joke". I will bet the farm that was not a titled Yokozuna. They take him away and bring in a red Tosa with his tail tucked between his legs looking over his shoulder like he knew what was about to happen. Fresh wounds were obvious on his legs and body. They had been using the same pair of Tosas ALL day. At this point I felt discussed. I was to leave the fighting center in Kochi sick at my stomach at what I witnessed.

Then they bring the other Tosa out, this was obviously 10+ pounds heavier. This would never be a fight in a REAL tournament in Japan. At the center in Kochi, Japan they started this mock fight and the people that worked there were laughing in the back ground while the dogs were making noise. In a real tournament you MUST be quite and respectful when you are around the ring, you do NOT laugh, crack jokes, etc. This mock fight would have been stopped in a real tournament. The Tosas were growling and the lesser Tosas was even yelping. At this point Hiroki got up and left in discuss. Mainly because he did not want people to think that this is what really happened at a real Tournament. They timed the mock fight for 5 minutes. When the fight ended the lesser dog even had a main artery broke and hopefully will not see another day in that ring.

After the mock fight we were told to go up the stairs to the next room where they had dancers. Then you could go and see the kennel. This was like adding insult to injury. You will see below what they were calling Tosas. I and no one else that deals with Tosas would even recognize them as any but a mastiff cross. There was even a white and brown, I can not even bring myself to call it a Tosas there. This dog and the puppy with it were both shy and regressed.

Now this is for anyone to see, ANYONE that pays $10 to park and $20 to enter. At a real tournament you must be invited to even watch, then it is free.

This is the building of the mock fights, trinkets and a few Tosas

Michelle, Hiroki and Abu in front of the center

This is the stamp on the back to verify your ticket

This is the ticket that ANYONE can buy

Better view of the Tosa

Dog house

Tosa crate

Tosa Flags

1a)This is a cross between a chicken and a present. It is a breed here in Japan. The life is deplorable due to the length of the tail. They must live their whole lives on a perch.

In the back ground you will see sheets of rice paper with script on it. These are printed out once a year. They are the year end rankings for All Tosas in Japan. This is done by the Sudo Family.

A closer view. I will be selling some year end ranking posters on E-Bay soon to support the Tosa club.

Some old pictures

Ceremonial Robes, these robes will have the kennel name embroidered on them along with the symbol of the kennel

Hiroki beside two statues, also you will see the collars. These are hand made by the Sudo family

Abu on the statue with Hiroki

This is one of the dogs they called a Tosa in their kennel.

This was after they closed you will see that the two white so called Tosas live together

If you pay $5 you can play with the Tosa.

A red Tosa at the fighting center in Kochi

another Tosa at the fighting center in Kochi

Last one.

I hate to sound so abrasive about this part of my trip. I have been so blessed and will always hold my Japanese friends in the highest honor. I just have such a passion for the real Tosa people and the breed it self I hate to see something like this at the fighting center in Kochi Japan. Now the fighting center did not always use to be like this. 15+ years ago it was owned by the Hiroshi family. The center is now owned by the city of Kochi. When it was owned by the Hiroshi family they did have some really nice Tosas, I believe those days are long gone now.

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