Kaz Hosaka

Kazuhiko "Kaz" Hosaka (November 22, 1958 – June 23, 2024) was a Japanese-American dog breeder, trainer, and handler. Two of his miniature poodles won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Hosaka died on June 23, 2024, at the age of 65.

Early life Kazuhiko Hosaka was born on November 22, 1958, in Kamakura, Japan. His father, Kazuhito, was an executive at a manufacturing company; his mother, Teruyko, was a homemaker. Hosaka was their only child. When Hosaka was ten, his mother died. His father gave him two dogs, a Cocker Spaniel and a dachshund, to provide companionship and comfort. These were not the only dogs in the family; Hosaka's uncle owned a successful kennel that showed working and sporting dog breeds, He showed a dog at Westminster that year, and every year from then on until his retirement in 2024. He was known for being able to "achieve a rapport with his dogs", and for being "quiet, modest and unfailingly kind and generous".