Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin is a manga series about dogs created by Yoshihiro Takahashi that was published between 1983–1987, which Toei Animation adapted into an anime series in 1986. The story follows Gin, a striped Akita puppy with a fiery and determined personality. In the story, Gin joins a pack of dogs whose goal is to defeat Akakabuto, a monstrous bear terrorizing the area. As the story progresses, the impulsive puppy grows into a respected leader of the pack.
The manga began publishing in Finnish in 2010 (Punainen Jättiläinen), and by late summer 2011, it became the best-selling manga series in Finland. The anime arrived in Finland in 1989, dubbed into Finnish and condensed into four VHS tapes, censoring the most violent scenes. In Finland, Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin has been exceptionally popular, even more so than in Japan.
In Finland, even a musical about Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin has been made, which was performed at Tracon in 2011 and updated for Animecon in 2012. In Finland, merchandise from the series, such as plush toys, mugs, posters, and keychains, is very popular.
