My sister had a beautiful HUGE male dobe(still, the 2nd biggest i've ever seen) and was gonna breed her to a nice female and promised me pick pup. Well my significant other at that time, who was a case study in Jeckyl&Hyde Syndrome btw, was terrified that I would get a 'big dog'. Could NOT convince the airhead that they start small(hello!) and end up being whatever you raise them into when the are fullgrown. Now I dont care much for little dogs (she wanted a 20# one or so) and she knows how strongwilled I am, so she starts researching breed books looking for something I'll like better than a dobe and she wont be afraid of (good luck). So she reads the section about the Akita one night. I say, duh, isnt that bigger than a dobe? Well, i guess that had slipped her mind (I later realized this was just another ploy to be the controlling bitch she is, ie, by controlling the dog I would get). But I liked what I heard so we call up the local Akita Club president and go visit them. I heard my 1st Akita before I ever saw one as I was inadvertantly staring at a cage one was in and he let out this low grumble (not a growl, but more like an earthquake). I quit that, owner lets him out and he was the perfect host, playing with his guests. I was sold.
Went to the first litter that had pups that I could find (I AM a hard learner. I dont remember the speech I KNOW the breeder must have given on byb's. I was too impressed with the dogs). Rest is history.
Now I have always been a dog person. Had mutts and hunting dogs growing up. Always. But Akitas are something else. Kind of like a combo of dog and human friend. Hard to explain, but Akita owners understand.