標高１０００メートル越えの長野県川上村。レタスの生産高日本一。専業農家の年商が４０００万を超えることでも有名です。川上村に入ってくると、トラクターや各種農耕機が新品ピカピカ。いかにも高そうであるのが印象的です。
Kawakami Village in Nagano Prefecture, with an elevation of over 1000 meters. It is famous for having the highest lettuce production in Japan and for the fact that the annual revenue of full-time farmers exceeds 40 million yen. When you enter Kawakami Village, you can see brand new tractors and various agricultural machinery, which gives the impression that they are indeed expensive.
超希少種である川上犬に会ってきました。以前は村役場の隣にある交流館に１０頭以上も飼育されていたそうですが、現在では動物愛護団体の勧告等で全て村民に預けられており、残念ながら簡単には見ることができなくなりました。
I met the rare Kawakami Inu, which is an extremely rare breed. It was said that previously more than 10 of them were kept in the community center next to the village hall, but now they are all entrusted to the villagers due to recommendations from animal protection organizations, and unfortunately, it is not easy to see them anymore.
日本オオカミ（大神）の末裔と言われる川上犬。眼光が鋭く、そこはかとなく気高い狼的雰囲気を醸し出しております。（写真だと、ただただ可愛く映りますが）
The Kawakami Inu, said to be a descendant of the Japanese wolf (Ookami), has a sharp gaze and exudes a noble, wolf-like atmosphere.
かつて猟犬としても優秀であり、飼い主には一生忠誠を誓うそうです。私などサクッと無視。そのクールさも魅力です。
It was said to be an excellent hunting dog in the past and is said to pledge lifelong loyalty to its owner. It ignored me easily, and that coolness is also attractive.
メスとオスの違いがわかりやすいのも川上犬の特徴だそう。手前がオス。奥の二匹はメスです。
It is said that one of the characteristics of Kawakami Inu is that it is easy to distinguish between males and females. The one in the front is male, and the two in the back are females.