Akitas are courageous, furry giants from the working group. They’re the strong, quiet guardians of the dog world. Of course, Akitas aren’t for everyone. They’re not particularly social animals.

Maru, a young male Akita dog, is visiting the Akita Dog Hana no Sato Station in Yūwa, part of the city of Akita. This is a training and recreational facility for dogs of the Akita breed. Even though ...