Definition of Akita

Babylon English

akita
n. Japanese breed of dog

Akita
n. city and port in Japan; Japanese breed of large muscular and powerful dog; name of a prefecture in Japan

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Akita definition was found in categories: Science & Technology(4) Government(1) Encyclopedia(1)

Akita Definition from Science & Technology Dictionaries & Glossaries

CIA World Factbook 2005

Japan: Government

Country name:	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Japan
Government type:	constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government
Capital:	Tokyo
Administrative divisions:	47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gumma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi
Independence:	660 BC (traditional founding by Emperor JIMMU)
National holiday:	Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933)
Constitution:	3 May 1947
Legal system:	modeled after European civil law system with English-American influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:	20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:	chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989) head of government: Prime Minister Junichiro KOIZUMI (since 26 April 2001) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister elections: Diet designates prime minister; constitution requires that prime minister commands parliamentary majority; following legislative elections, leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition in House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister; KOIZUMI's term as leader of the LDP is scheduled to end in September 2006; a new prime minister may be chosen at that time; monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch:	bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors or Sangi-in (242 seats - members elected for six-year terms; half reelected every three years; 144 members in multi-seat constituencies and 98 by proportional representation) and the House of Representatives or Shugi-in (480 seats - members elected for four-year terms; 300 in single-seat constituencies; 180 members by proportional representation in 11 regional blocs) elections: House of Councillors - last held 11 July 2004 (next to be held in July 2007); House of Representatives - last held 9 November 2003 (next election by November 2007) election results: House of Councillors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LDP 115, DPJ 82, Komeito 24, JCP 9, SDP 5, others 7; distribution of seats as of October 2004 - LDP 114, DPJ 84, Komeito 24, JCP 9, SDP 5, others 6 : House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - LDP 49.38%, DPJ 36.88%, Komeito 7.09%, JCP 1.88%, SDP 1.25%, NCP 0.84%; seats by party - LDP 237, DPJ 177, Komeito 34, JCP 9, SDP 6, NCP 4, others 13 note: distribution of seats as of December 2004: LDP 249, DPJ 177, Komeito 34, JCP 9, SDP 6, others 3, vacant 2 (2004)
Judicial branch:	Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the monarch after designation by the cabinet; all other justices are appointed by the cabinet)
Political parties and leaders:	Democratic Party of Japan or DPJ [Katsuya OKADA, leader; Tatsuo KAWABATA, secretary general]; Japan Communist Party or JCP [Kazuo SHII, chairman; Tadayoshi ICHIDA, secretary general]; Komeito [Takenori KANZAKI, president; Tetsuzo FUYUSHIBA, secretary general]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Junichiro KOIZUMI, president; Tsutomu TAKEBE, secretary general]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Mizuho FUKUSHIMA, chairperson; Seiji MATAICHI, secretary general]
Political pressure groups and leaders:	NA
International organization participation:	AfDB, APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP, EBRD, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA, MIGA, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMOVIC, UNRWA, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:	chief of mission: Ambassador Ryozo KATO chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 238-6700 FAX: [1] (202) 328-2187 consulate(s) general: Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Agana (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, and Seattle consulate(s): Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)
Diplomatic representation from the US:	chief of mission: Ambassador Howard H. BAKER, Jr. embassy: 10-5 Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420 mailing address: Unit 45004, Box 258, APO AP 96337-5004 telephone: [81] (03) 3224-5000 FAX: [81] (03) 3505-1862 consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya
Flag description:	white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center

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PETsMART.COM

Akita

Akita in a show pose.
Photo: Pet Profiles - Isabelle Francais

Height: 24-28 inches
Weight: 75-110 lbs.
Life Span: 10-12 yrs.
Breed Group: Northern
Overview
Akitas look like warm, cuddly dogs but they are aloof with outsiders. Obedience training is a must, and exposure to a lot of people at an early age is recommended. Some get along well with children, especially if introduced at an early age, but others do not. They bark when they perceive a threat.
Appearance
Akitas come in all colors and can be solid or have patches of two or more colors, such as white and brindle. The medium-length outercoat is stiff; the undercoat is soft, fine, and dense. The Akita has a strong, broad muzzle and a bearlike expression. The tail is held high and curls forward.
Grooming & Exercise Needs
The Akita's coat is easily cared for with weekly brushings. Akitas need a moderate amount of exercise, such as a few long walks and some playtime daily.
Origins
The Akita descends from a spitz-like dog that existed about 5,000 years ago. It was named for the province of Akita on Japan's Honshu Island, where it was used by noblemen to hunt large game.
Special Alerts
The Akita is not suitable for inexperienced dog owners. It can be especially aggressive with other dogs.
Breed-related health concerns: hyperthyroidism (overproduction of thyroid hormones), hypothyrodism, pemphigus foliaceous (an autoimmune skin disease causing ulcers and scabs to develop on the skin), hip and elbow dysplasia, sebaceous adenitis (skin disease resulting in scabs, hair loss, and predisposition to bacterial skin infections).