In Photos: Looking back on the life of 'ugly but cute' Akita dog Wasao

Popular Akita dog Wasao and his owner Setsuko Kikuya are seen smiling with a new snack that was developed in collaboration with the pair in the city of Tsugaru, Aomori Prefecture, on June 12, 2009. (Mainichi/Hidenori Yazawa)

Popular Akita dog Wasao and his owner Setsuko Kikuya are seen with a new doghouse that Kikuya made, in the town of Ajigasawa, Aomori Prefecture, on March 24, 2009. (Mainichi)

Akita dog Wasao and his owner Setsuko Kikuya, second from left, are seen at a press conference for the release of the movie "Wasao," at Warner Mycal Cinemas Hirosaki in the city of Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, on Feb. 26, 2011. Yoshinari Nishikori, director of the film, left, and Hiroko Yakushimaru, who plays the role of Kikuya, are also seen. (Mainichi)

Akita dog Wasao, popular among customers at a grilled squid shop run by his owner Setsuko Kikuya, is seen in the town of Ajigasawa, Aomori Prefecture, on Sept. 9, 2008. (Mainichi/Koichiro Tezuka)

Akita dog Wasao, who was appointed as a special ambassador by the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan, is seen in the town of Ajigasawa, Aomori Prefecture, on Jan. 23, 2011. (Mainichi/Hidenori Yazawa)

Popular "ugly but cute" Akita dog Wasao is seen in the town of Ajigasawa, Aomori Prefecture, in September 2018. (Mainichi/Kimitaka Takeichi)

Akita dog Wasao, who was appointed as a "stationmaster," left, is seen at JR Ajigasawa Station in the town of Ajigasawa, Aomori Prefecture, on April 1, 2018. (Mainichi/Kaho Kitayama)