The Japanese Spitz originated in Japan from the Siberian Samoyed. This breed should not to be confused with the American Eskimo that is believed to be a descendant of the German Spitz. The Siberian Samoyed was bred for smallness. Beginning in the late 1800's the Japanese Spitz seemed to be a small version of the Siberian Samoyed. They became very popular in the 1950's in Japan and more recently in Europe and North America.