Hachicko

In history, Japan has had many things occur. But the most heartwarming story of them all is the love of a dog for his master. He’s an Akita Inu named Hachiko and his story is truly one to remember. Now, this dog wasn't just any Akita Inu. This dog sticks out from all the rest. He was better in so many ways. The most special part about Hachiko is his loyalty to his owner. Hachiko was born on November 10, 1923. It was on a farm near the city Odate, Akita Prefecture. His owner was Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor in the agriculture department at the University of Tokyo. He took Hachiko in as his pet. Each day, Hachiko would go with his master to the nearby Shibuya Station to say goodbye to him as he left to go to work. Then, at four o’clock, Hachicko would return to the station. There, he would greet his master as he got off the train. They continued this routine every day. That was until Professor Ueno died after leaving the station. He died on May 21, 1925 after having a stroke at the university. Hachiko, who was only two years old at the time, had no idea that his master had died. After Professor Ueno’s death, Hachiko moved in with the professor’s former gardener. That didn’t stop him though. He’d leave the gardener’s house and go back home to his master’s old house. When he realized that his master no longer lived there, he went back the train station to wait once more for his master. He continued to wait for his master to return every day. Hachiko had thought that his master would one day return. For the next nine years, Hachiko would walk over to Shibuya Station and wait for the train to come around four, searching threw a sea of faces to find his best friend. While waiting at Shibuya Station those nine years, Hachicko would always wait in the same spot. People, who would go to the Shibuya Station every day, would give Hachiko treats and food. Some people had seen Hachiko with his professor before he died. Even the station master started setting out food for Hachiko. He even placed a bed at the station for Hachiko. But this don’t not change who held Hachiko's loyalty. Hachiko’s loyalty to his master soon caught the eye of one of Professor Ueno’s former students. Hachiko sparked an interest in Akitas for the student. He then went on to lean more about Akitas and found out that there are only thirty pure-breed Akita Inus left in Japan, one of the thirty being Hachiko. The student began to write articles about Hachiko to raise people’s awareness. One of the articles the student wrote made national news. Hachiko is famous everywhere for his loyalty to his master now. Before Hachiko dies, the people wanted to recognize his loyalty to his master. They decided on making a statue resembling Hachiko. The bronze statue was placed at Shibuya Station in April of 1934. One year later, March 8, 1935, Hachicko died at the age of eleven at Shibuya Station. The poor dog had cancer and a heartworm infection. His bones were buried next to his master grave. He was finally reunited with his master at last. Later, his coat persevered and then stuffed. During World War II, his statue was recycled for scarp metal. Later on, Takeshi Ando, the son of the sculptor who made the first Hachiko statue, made a replica of the statue to honor the loyal Akita. The statue was placed at Shibuya Station on August 15, 1948. Today, you can see the golden brown Akita with cream color on his face at the National Science Museum of Japan in Ueno, Tokyo. His stuffed mounting is displayed standing on all fours, eager to greet his master. You can also visit Shibuya Station to see his statue. He's still waiting and looking off in the distance to find his master. If your there on April 8th, you’ll even be able to go to the ceremony of remembrance they hold every year for Hachiko. Many dog lovers go to the station in honor of his memory and his loyalty. The station also has bronze paw prints where Hachiko stood and waited nine years and ten months for his master to come home.