About The Nihon Ken Shop
The Nihon Ken Shop is a passion project dedicated to celebrating Japanโs six native dog breeds: Shiba Inu, Akita Inu, Kishu Ken, Shikoku Ken, Kai Ken, and Hokkaido Kenโcollectively known as the Nihon Ken. Our goal is simple: to create a space where enthusiasts from around the world can find high-quality, breed-specific products all in one place.
Weโre still in the early stages, and our product range is just starting to grow. But weโre excited about the future and are committed to becoming the ultimate destination for Nihon Ken-inspired creations from artists and creators worldwide!
How it’s made
Our shop operates with a print-on-demand model, which has some great benefits for you and the planet. Instead of producing items in bulk, each product is made only when you order it. This means:
๐ฏ No waste from unsold products.
๐ย Faster shipping and lower costs since items are produced closer to where you live.
๐ฑ A smaller carbon footprint compared to shipping it from one warehouse.
It also allows us, as a small startup, to offer a wider variety of designs and products than we otherwise could.
The shop is based in Norway, but our production partners are located worldwide, ensuring that you can enjoy faster, more affordable shipping no matter where youโre located.
With this approach, weโre able to provide you with unique products that you can feel good about ordering.
Weโre still learning as we go and doing our best to make the buying process as smooth as possible. That said, weโre always open to feedbackโif thereโs something youโd like to see or a way we can improve, weโd love to hear from you. Your support and patience as we grow mean the world to us.
Thank you for being here from the start. Together, we can create something awesome for the Nihon Ken community worldwide ๐ซถ
Letโs collaborate!
Creators & Artists
Do you create art or designs inspired by Nihon Ken breeds? Whether youโre just dipping your toes into creating or youโve been at it for years, weโd love to hear from you!
Weโre always looking to collaborate with artists and makers who share our passion for these incredible dogs. You donโt need to have physical products or invest in anything upfront. We make it easy to bring your designs to life and into the hands of people who will love them.
Even if youโre not sure where to start or donโt have a finished piece yet, reach out anyway. Weโre all about working together, supporting creativity, and making cool things happen. If you do have handmade items, weโre happy to chat about that too!
Ambassadors
Weโre always looking for passionate content creators who share our love for Japanโs native dog breeds to help spread the word about our products. Itโs not about follower countsโweโre more interested in working with people who genuinely care about these amazing dogs and whose values align with ours.
If you have an active online presence and want to collaborate, weโd love to hear from you! Send us a message with a bit about yourself and your social channels, and letโs see if weโre a good fit.
Breed Clubs
Are you part of a national Nihon Ken breed club and looking for an easy way to offer apparel and other products to your members and fellow enthusiasts? Weโd love to partner with you!
We make it simple to turn your ideas into products that your community will love, and we handle everythingโfrom helping with designs (or connecting you with talented artists) to producing and shipping the final products. Your club wonโt need to worry about admin, inventory, or upfront costs.
Everything goes through The Nihon Ken Shop, and we take care of the hard stuffโprinting, fulfillment, and ensuring your products reach a global audience. Itโs risk-free, hassle-free, and gives your club the profits while we handle the rest.
Contact us to learn more and see if we can create something special for your clubโand as an added bonus, for the worldwide Nihon Ken community too!
Businesses
Are you a business looking to collaborate? Whether youโre interested in buying our products in bulk, distributing them in your physical store, or selling your own Nihon Ken-inspired products through our platform, weโre open to exploring the possibilities.
Weโre passionate about connecting with like-minded businesses to celebrate Japanโs native dog breeds. We offer flexible options to suit your needs, whether itโs stocking your shelves with our products or providing a space for your unique creations to reach a global audience.
Get in touch to discuss how we can work together to bring more Nihon Ken-inspired products to enthusiasts everywhere.
Behind the shop
My name is Mika Josefine, and Iโm a preservationist and breeder of the Shikoku Ken in Norwayโbut Iโm passionate about all six Nihon Ken breeds. I started The Nihon Ken Shop to create something I wished existed: a place where enthusiasts could find high-quality products that truly honor and celebrate these incredible breeds.
For years, I struggled to find items that represent the Japanese breeds with the respect and quality they deserveโespecially the medium-sized breeds. Thatโs why this shop means so much to meโitโs for Nihon Ken lovers, by a Nihon Ken lover. My goal is to create a space where beautiful and authentic designs and creations come together to honor these amazing breeds and the people who love them.
The idea became a reality after I wrote The Shikoku Compendium on behalf of the Norwegian Nihon Ken Club. It needed to be accessible to an international audience, but the high costs of global shipping and the risks of managing inventory made it extremely challenging. Thatโs when I realized this shop could be the solutionโnot just for the compendium, but for so much more.
The Nihon Ken Shop is still in its early days, but itโs more than just a shop to meโitโs a way to connect and support a global community of enthusiasts who share the same passion for these breeds. Iโm so thankful youโre here!
Mika Josefine B. Hรฆtta