Japanese city appoints Akita dogs as airport directors

By Minh Nga May 20, 2025 | 10:55 pm PT

Akita dogs Rensui (R) and Ruka are appointed as heads of Odate-Noshiro Airport on May 18, 2025.Photo from the airport’s Facebook page

Officials in Odate, Akita Prefecture, have appointed two Akita dog siblings as directors of Odate-Noshiro Airport to raise awareness of this iconic dog breed.

Ishida Kensuke, mayor of Odate and chairman of the Odate-Noshiro Airport Operation Promotion Council, held a ceremony on May 18 to appoint the two Akita dogs as airport directors, The Mainichi reported.

The ceremony for the three-year-old male dog Rensui and female dog Tsukika took place on the airport lawn and attracted many locals who came to celebrate the new directors.

During the event, Mayor Kensuke handed the appointment letter to Masato Chiba, 67, owner of the dogs. The new directors were also given scarves designed to resemble the airport staff uniform.

"I expect them to bring warmth and excitement to visitors at the airport and promote the charm of the region," said the mayor.

The appointment marks the 10th anniversary of the program that features Akita dogs welcoming visitors at Odate-Noshiro Airport, according to a post on the airport’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

Akita dogs, native to Akita Prefecture, are known for their calm demeanor, intelligence, and unwavering loyalty. They are famously associated with the story of Hachiko, an Akita who loyally waited for his owner at Shibuya Station for nine years after the owner's death.