Early in this topic, I stated there are some who are "breed historians" and then there are also some that work dogs. In almost ALL CASES...the two groups are mutually exclusive. Of course there are some that REALLY work dogs that over a lifetime become "historians" of breeds, but in most cases...those that dedicate their lives to studying book knowledge about dogs seldom have much true dog experience and common sense around dogs. What we are witnessing here is obviously a case of someone with little common sense of how dog people actually work. To think one group is going to control all Tosa in Japan, China, Korea, and the Phillipines is ridiculous...actually more along the lines of absurd. Next, Swinford was not the only person involved in the original Swinford program. He had several partners in the project. These people bred Swinford bandogs for over a decade after Swinford died (again, he died in October of 1971). Next, I don't for one minute think that Swnford had "connections" with organized crime in Japan. I don't think he had any interest in such...but of course this is pure speculation on my part. What I know though is Tosa had been used in the Swinford project LONG BEFORE I used it in our program. I did have the idea to cross the APBT and Tosa...and to breed offspring resulting from such back with my Swinford dogs, but I was not the first to think of such. It had been done before. What does this mean about "organized crime in Japan?" Nothing. The Japanese didn't invent matching up dogs. In fact, there is no doubt (amoung those with any sense) that the Japanese added the APBT into their program to improve their dogs. If they had money (which of course they did), then they wouldn't just buy any crap APBT that someone wanted to get rid of. They would have went to quality stock. To get good dogs, they would have to come up with the money and develop the right connections in the USA. Of course Swinford himself would have NEVER been such a connection as he didn't even keep APBT's on any regular basis. But my point was the Tosa has been outside of Japan. Again, how else would China, Korea, or the Phillipines have the Tosa? Obvoiusly, just as today...if someone has the money they can get what the want. The entire idea of this though is rather humorous...because the truth of it is...although the tosa was used and I have used it...and it can be a successful breeding...there are other quality breedings as well...AND, the primary component was APBT x EM...so, I think the topic has gotten "stuck in the mudd" because some get hung up on illusions.