GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 30-36cm (12”-14”). 
Colour: Pure white.
Coat: Outercoat - straight and stands away from the body. Undercoat should be profuse, soft and dense. There should be a good mane and a well covered tail.
Gait: Nimble, light and active. Fore and hindlegs should move straight and effortlessly.
The contrast between the profuse white coat and the black nose, lips and dark eyes, makes this a most attractive member of the spitz family. Ever alert with its small pricked ears, arched neck and bushy tail curled over its back, the whole appearance is one of flexibility and liveliness.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE 
These bold active dogs are natural herders and thrive on plenty of outings. They make excellent companions for young children and being nimble, they are able to look after themselves. Although wary of strangers at their first meeting, they accept them once their owners do. They are an ideal size for town apartments and have the added value of not barking overmuch.
Grooming needs to be done once a week with a pin brush that reaches through the coat to stop knots forming.
HISTORY 
Descending from the Arctic Spitz group of dogs they are characterised by their foxlike faces, prick ears and bushy tail normally carried over their backs. It is believed that a variety of these Nordic Spitz made their way to Japan with the migrating white Russians. Although they were bred in a number of other countries, it was in Japan where the breed flourished and as a result, took its name.