The touching story of the loyal dog Hachiko in Japan

November 10, 2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Hachiko the dog.

Hachiko's date of birth is November 10, 1923 and date of death is March 8, 1935. During its 11 years of existence, the Akita Inu dog has become a symbol of absolute loyalty in Japan.

Perhaps, in the country of the Samurai - people who considered their main duty to be loyal to their master - this is absolutely true. But thanks to the movies, the story of Hachiko shocked the whole world. The Hollywood film, in which Richard Gere played Hachiko's owner, brought millions of viewers to tears.

Companion of the Samurai

Hachiko was born on a farm in Akita Prefecture (where the breed is named). Dogs of this breed have been companions of Samurai since the 16th century. They are also involved in dog fighting, which is extremely popular in Japan. But by the 20th century that game had become obsolete.

And Professor of Agronomy at Tokyo Imperial University Hidesaburo Ueno, who brought Hachiko into his home, also had no intention of using this dog as a fighting dog. He was a peace-loving and respected man. He loved dogs and devoted his life to them: Hachiko was his eighth dog. “Hachi” means “eight” in Japanese.

Every morning, Hachiko accompanies Professor Ueno to Shibuya Station, where he sees his boss off to teach at the university. And at 3 p.m., it picked him up again at the station exit. But Professor Ueno and Hachiko were only together for less than a year and a half. In May 1925, the professor had a stroke and died right at the university while giving a lecture.

Hachiko insisted on waiting for his master at the train station. For nine years and nine and a half months, he kept coming there to wait for his master! At first, people thought the dog was just playing around at the train station. But then someone remembered that they had seen the dog with the late professor every day, so they guessed that he was waiting for him. They started feeding Hachiko, giving him water...

And then all of Japan knew about the dog. One of Professor Ueno's students is preparing to publish a publication about Akita Inu dogs. By chance, he discovered Hachiko's existence, he talked to the professor's old gardener and he told the story of the dog's incredible loyalty.

The student was very happy and published several articles about Hachiko. One of those articles appeared in Japan's largest newspaper, the Asahi Shimbun, and the whole country shared the author's admiration...

Family gathering

The admiration for Hachiko has begun. In 1932 and 1934, two bronze statues were erected to commemorate the dog while he was alive - one at Odate Station, the city where he was born, and the other at Shibuya Station. And the death of Hachiko the dog became a tragedy for many people. An autopsy showed that the dog had cancer and was also infected with a dangerous parasite, heartworm disease.

Every year, on the anniversary of Hachiko's death, March 8, a short ceremony is held at Shibuya station to honor the world's most loyal dog.

In 1994, sound engineers managed to collect old recordings of Hachiko's barking and restore them; This recording was broadcast on radio stations throughout Japan.

The exit at Shibuya Station is named after the dog in honor of Hachiko - the same exit where this dog used to wait for his owner. There are also buses running from this station to central Tokyo.

Hachiko's ashes were buried next to his owner. In 2016, the body of Ms. Yaeko Sakano, Professor Ueno's wife, was also placed in the same grave. The whole country celebrates this event, which the press calls "Hachiko Family Reunion Day".

Movies have been and will continue to be made about Hachiko. The first full-length film "The Story of Hachiko" was released in 1987 and became a super hit in Japan.

The second film, with Richard Gere, directed by Lasse Hallström in 2009, became famous around the world.

A third film with a similar plot, China's My Hachiko, was released in recent months.