My name is Ellen Platteau, and long before Kireina Takara had a name, dogs were already at the heart of my life.

I was born and raised in a family of dog lovers and breeders. My parents were well-respected dog groomers and bred American Staffordshire Terriers for many years, which meant that growing up surrounded by dogs was simply my normal.

Dogs taught me from an early age about responsibility, dedication and the incredible bond that can exist between people and animals. Breeding was never something mysterious that happened somewhere in the background. I grew up around it and saw both the beautiful moments and the responsibility that comes with bringing new lives into the world.

And then there was the Akita.

Dog shows have been part of my life since childhood, and it was there that I first encountered the breed that would eventually change the course of my life.

There was something about the Akita that immediately drew me in. Their quiet confidence. The intensity of their expression. Their dignity, independence, intelligence and courage. They didn’t need to demand attention; their presence alone was enough.

I was fascinated.

By the time I was a teenager, fascination had already turned into a dream: one day, I wanted to have Akitas of my own and become a breeder.

But before owning one, I wanted to understand them.

So I started reading. And reading. I studied pedigrees and bloodlines, learned about the breed’s history and development, and became increasingly interested in the health challenges found within different lines. The more I learned, the more I realised how much there still was to learn, something that remains true to this day.

In 2011, I finally felt ready to take the first real step and joined the waiting list of a breeder abroad.

Then, in September 2012, the wait was over.

My very first Akita was born.

What had existed for years as a dream suddenly became real. Although I could never have imagined where that first Akita would eventually take me.

The years that followed brought extraordinary moments, but also lessons that could never have been learned from books alone. Experience taught me to look deeper, to question more and to continuously refine my understanding of the breed. With every dog, every pedigree, every generation and every new experience, my perspective evolved and my standards became more defined.

Breeding is a journey in which learning never truly ends. What seems clear in theory often gains new depth through experience, and I believe that remaining open-minded, critical and willing to learn is an essential part of being a responsible breeder.

The Akita has taken me far beyond anything that little kid standing beside a show ring could have imagined.

What began with admiration for a beautiful Japanese breed gradually became something much deeper: a lifelong commitment to understanding it, preserving it and doing my part to contribute positively to its future.

And although much has changed since that first Akita was born in 2012, one thing hasn’t.

I am still every bit as fascinated by this breed as I was in the beginning.

Perhaps even more so.

Because today I don’t only see their beauty. I understand more of their complexity, their history, their strengths and their vulnerabilities. With every generation, every dog and every lesson, my respect for them continues to grow.

Kireina Takara is the result of that journey.

Not something that appeared overnight, but something built slowly; through dreams, experience, lessons learned along the way, unforgettable dogs and, above all, an enduring love for the Akita.

And the journey is far from over.