May 04 (NHK) - People in northern Japan have unveiled an Akita puppy, which will be sent to Olympic figure skating champion Alina Zagitova as a gift.
A group dedicated to the breed's preservation held a news conference on Thursday in Odate City, Akita Prefecture.
The red-haired female puppy was born in February.
Zagitova chose her from 5 candidates and has said she will call the dog "Masaru."
In a video message, Zagitova said she's looking forward to the arrival of the puppy.
The group organized the gift to honor Zagitova's gold medal at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
The skater said she fell in love with the breed while training in Japan.
The group plans to hold a presentation ceremony in Moscow as early as late this month. A preservation group in Russia is expected to advise Zagitova about how to raise the dog.
The current owner, Masami Hamada, said he was pleased that his puppy was chosen. He added that he hopes Zagitova will love the dog.
Source: ANNnewsCH
