Who is Hachiko?
Dogs are often known as man’s best friend. They are known to be loyal, friendly and great companions.
Hachiko was a cream-white Akita. The ‘Akita’ breed of dog is one of the most popular dog breeds in Japan. Hachiko was born in 1923 in Japan. He would have been 100 years old this year.
When Hachiko was just a newborn puppy, he was adopted by Hidesaburo Ueno. Ueno was a professor in Shibuya city of Japan.
What is Hachiko’s story?
Professor Ueno had three dogs, including Hachiko. The professor would take the train to go to work every day. His three dogs would follow him to the train station. They would wait all day for him to come back.
But in 1925, Professor Ueno suddenly died. Hachiko had been in his care for just 16 months. Even after his owner’s death, Hachiko would go to the train station every day. He would sit there and wait for his master to return. He did this for the rest of his own life.
Hachiko becomes Japan’s most loved dog!
At first, station workers thought Hachiko was annoying. He showed up at the station and stayed there all day! Children and vendors would mistreat him. But one day, a journalist wrote about Hachiko in his newspaper. The story got published about how Hachiko waited for his master even 9 years after he had died. Hachi became famous all over Japan!
The train station began to receive donations of food for Hachiko. People would come to the Shibuya train station from far away just to see the loyal dog. Two years later, Hachiko even got his own statue!
How is Hachiko remembered today?
Hachiko died in March 1935. Thousands of people came to visit his statue outside the Shibuya station. Hachiko became so popular that there were books and movies written about his life!
Every year on 8th April, thousands of people who loved Hachiko gather outside Shibuya train station to remember him. Hachiko’s story is so touching that it has become a lesson in loyalty. Japanese school children are taught about Hachiko and his obedience.
Do you know of any dogs (or any other animals) as loyal as Hachi? Tell us in the comments!
