Fans of the Akita dog Wasao will be in for a treat for another year as the canine, who has gained nationwide fame with his unique looks, was reappointed Sunday as "tourism stationmaster" in a town in northeastern Japan.
The big white furry dog with squint eyes is widely known as busa kawaii, a combination of two Japanese words --- busaiku, which means ugly, and kawaii meaning cute. The canine became an online sensation through blog articles and eventually rose to TV stardom.
Wasao will be working again through March 31 next year at JR Ajigasawa Station in the town of Ajigasawa, Aomori Prefecture. In promoting the town, Wasao will be joined by wife Tsubaki, serving as the deputy stationmaster, while daughter Chome will be a trainee.
Wasao has held the post of tourism train stationmaster since 2011. In the same year, he was appointed as a special ambassador for World Heritage-related activities.
The popular canine, estimated to be about 11, also has a movie titled after him. The 2011 film is about his past as an abandoned dog taken in by a woman who runs a broiled squid shop.
