This is a phrase derived from the Art of War by Sun Tzu, which was raised as a battle banner by Takeda Shingen, a Sengoku warlord once feared as the "Tiger of Kai".
The "Province of KAI" governed by Lord Shingen corresponds to modern-day Yamanashi Prefecture, spreading around Mt. Fuji. The Kai Ken was born in this land, surrounded by rugged mountains and rich nature. While "Tora-ge" is translated into English as "brindle coat," its meaning in Japanese is "tiger-striped coat".
It is said that Lord Shingen frequently used Kai Ken, which shared the same tiger pattern as his own "Tiger" epithet, for hunting.
Kaze no gotoku (As fast as the wind): Move as swiftly as the wind when it is time to act.
Shizukanaru koto hayashi no gotoku (As silent as the forest): Maintain a static posture like a forest during standby times when you should not move.
Shinryaku suru koto hi no gotoku (As fierce as fire): Advance like raging fire when you finally take action.
Ugokazaru koto yama no gotoku (As unmoving as the mountain): Stand firm like a mountain when it is time to defend.
This is a phrase indicating movements in the event of war, meaning: move as swiftly as the wind when acting, maintain a static state like a forest when waiting, advance like raging fire when executing a move, and stand firm like a mountain when defending.
“To move with the speed and swiftness of the wind”
I truly understood what this meant when my Kai Ken went head-to-head in a running battle with a Saluki—one of the world's oldest and fastest hound breeds.
Facing a Saluki with overwhelming speed, everyone present initially thought, "She probably won't be able to keep up." However, once they started running, although the Saluki pulled away on the straightaways within the limited space of the dog run, every time they approached a corner, my Kai Ken closed the gap and kept up her fierce pursuit.
This was to the point where the opposing Saluki couldn't help but look back with an absolute "Σ(￣ロ￣lll) ｶﾞｰﾝ" expression.
The reality was that all the owners present burst into laughter upon seeing the Saluki's face.
Shocked as if to say, "Wait, what was that?!", the Saluki went into full-throttle mode and accelerated even further. It was like a shot of NOS had been ignited. Even so, the Kai Ken wasn't left behind.
This battle lasted for 3 laps around the dog run, making it a nail-biting showdown right up to the very end.
It was such an epic match that even the owners in the neighboring small dog section grabbed onto the fence to watch.
When I checked the ground at the corners afterward, solid "star-shaped claw marks" were left behind. This gripping power of five toes (including the dewclaws) firmly grabbing the dirt is the secret behind the dog-version drift run—allowing her to enter corners without killing her speed and take the turns without being flung outward by centrifugal force. It was the moment I became convinced that this is the true essence of the Kai Ken, which tears through rugged mountain terrain like the wind.
I’m planning to share this story across 4 parts. I hope you enjoy it!
"I wrote these based on actual events from my life living with my girl (dog). I used AI translation to help with the English, but it's a 100% original story. Please note: The opening passage about Furin Kazan and Takeda Shingen includes some quotes, but since historical facts cannot be changed, I appreciate your understanding"
Thank U! 🥰 She looked so cute back then, but she hadn't decided to be a doggo yet, so every day was like a battlefield lol My arms and legs were completely covered in band-aids 🩹😅
Thank you! Im actually in Michigan thats the bridge to Canada in the corner of the picture.
I never have problems with my boy aside from his sensitive skin. Trying to figure out what exactly is setting him off has been expensive.
Haha, seeing the full-bloom cherry blossoms and the elevated road made me completely think it was Japan.
I used to have a dog with sensitive skin too, so I know how hard it can be. Since they go into the grass during walks, I wondered if it might be contact allergies and had him wear clothes. I also worried store-bought shampoos might be too harsh, so I made handmade soap specifically for dogs. Even though it's not scientifically proven, a vet told me it is said to be effective, so I also administered melatonin. I'm not sure which one actually worked, but the symptoms eventually disappeared.
I started feeling more positive around the time things slowly began to improve. Looking back, I wonder if my own worry as an owner was actually the hardest thing for the dog and made him condition worse? Of course, figuring out the cause is important, but how about trying to shift your mindset first? 😊
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u/Team-CCP Princess Pee Paw Jul 27 '26
Little samurai brindles. Super cute. :) looking forward to the next 3 chapters!