Who was Hachiko?
Have you ever heard of Hachiko, the dog? If you ever visit Japan, you’re likely to hear about him.
Hachiko was an Akita dog born on 10th November 1923, in the city of Odate in Akita prefecture, the original home of Akitas. He has won many hearts around the world with his incredible story of loyalty and devotion to his owner, Professor Hidesaburo Ueno. Even after the death of his owner, he kept waiting for him at Shibuya Station for nearly 10 years. Hachiko’s story of loyalty has become a symbol of love, perseverance, and the unbreakable bond between humans and dogs. He’s such a famous dog that several movies have been made about him.
The Story of Hachiko: A Dog’s Unbreakable Bond
Meeting His Master
Hidesaburo Ueno, a renowned agricultural professor, who lived in Tokyo and worked at the University of Tokyo, wanted a special kind of Japanese puppy called Akita. He asked one of his students to find him an Akita breed puppy. Professor Ueno bought an Akita puppy at ¥30 (it was quite a big amount at that time) and this is how the Akita puppy’s journey towards Tokyo started in Train.
The train ride took 20 hours, and it was tough for the little puppy to travel this long. When he reached Professor Ueno’s house in Tokyo on 15 January 1924, the puppy looked so weak that they initially thought he was dead. Professor Ueno and his wife Yae nursed him and took great care of him for the next six months.
Ueno named that puppy Hachi, which means eight in Japanese. Eight is known as a lucky number in Japan.
Hachi and Ueno became very close and the bond between the two grew deeper. Ueno loved Hachi above all and treated him like his son. They were inseparable.
Every morning, Hachiko would walk with the professor Ueno to Shibuya Station to see him off, where he took the train to work. After Ueno left, Hachiko would go back home but return to the station in the evening to pick him up. There, he would patiently wait for the professor to come back from work, always excited to see him. This became their daily routine, showing how loyal and attached Hachiko was to his owner.
A Heartbreaking Day
On May 21, 1925, just two years after Hachiko was born, he was waiting at Shibuya Station for his best friend, Professor Ueno, like he did every day. But this time, the professor didn’t come back. Professor Ueno had passed away suddenly from a brain hemorrhage while at work. He was 53 years old. By that time, Hachiko had been with him for one year and four months.
For the next few months, Hachiko stayed with different families outside Shibuya. But in the summer of 1925, he finally went to live with Ueno’s former gardener, Kikusaburo Kobayashi.
For the rest of his life, for almost 10 years, Hachiko kept going to Shibuya Station every afternoon when the train was supposed to arrive, hoping to see his owner again. He waited there for hours, but sadly, Professor Ueno never came back.
“In the evening, Hachi stood on four legs at the ticket gate and looked at each passenger as if he were looking for someone,”
Professor Itoh wrote this in Hachiko’s biography.
Hachiko’s new home with Kobayashi was in Tomigaya, which was close to where Professor Ueno had lived, so Hachiko could easily walk to the station every day. Unfortunately, people didn’t always treat Hachiko well. Some pedestrians, train station staff, and children would bully or even beat him. But everything changed when Hachiko’s story was published in the Japanese Daily newspaper, and people began to see him differently.
Hachiko Gain Fame And Became A Celebrity
Became A National Symbol
In 1932, a reporter from a major Japanese newspaper shared Hachiko’s story, and soon after, he became famous all over Japan.
People started calling him “Chuken-Hachiko,” which means “Hachiko – the faithful dog.”
The story of the dog that never gave up touched hearts across the country. National media covered his tale, and many people from around the world came to Shibuya Station to see Hachiko and offer him treats. Poems and haikus were written about him. A fundraising event in 1934 to make a statue of him reportedly drew a crowd of 3,000. He became a hero to the Japanese people.
Hachiko’s Final Day: The End of a Loyal Journey
Every day, Hachiko would sit outside Shibuya Station, waiting for his master at the exact time his friend’s train was due. He kept this routine for an incredible nine years, nine months, and 15 days until he passed away on March 8, 1935, at 11 years old.
When Hachiko died on March 8, 1935, it was front-page news in many newspapers. At his funeral, Buddhist monks prayed, and important people gave speeches. Thousands of people visited his statue in the days that followed to honor him.
Hachiko died but people still remember him. A bronze statue was erected in his honor at Shibuya Station and it is still there today. Hachiko died in 1935, but people still remember him. A bronze statue was made in his honor at Shibuya Station, and it is still there today. It reminds everyone of Hachiko’s unwavering loyalty and the strong bond he had with his owner.
This story has inspired books, films, and has become an important part of Japanese culture, teaching the values of loyalty and perseverance. Even Hollywood made a movie called “Hachiko – A Dog’s Story.
Hachiko Memorial Ceremony: March 8
Every year on March 8, the day Hachiko died, a memorial ceremony is held at Shibuya Station to honor him and his loyalty. In 2023, the event was even bigger because it would have been Hachiko’s 100th birthday, and many people came to celebrate.
Statues Of Hachiko
At Present, there are five Hachiko statues and monuments in Tokyo.
The Famous Hachiko Statue at Shibuya Station
The most well-known Hachiko statue is located in front of Shibuya Station in the heart of Tokyo. It was created by Japanese artist Teru Andō and erected in 1934.
The statue was unveiled during a grand ceremony, with Hachiko himself attending as the main guest.
Today, the bronze statue of Hachiko is one of Tokyo’s biggest tourist attractions and a popular meeting spot, especially for young Japanese.
Over the years, there have been two Hachiko statues at Shibuya Station. The original statue was removed and melted down during World War II for its metal. The current statue, made in 1948, was created by Takeshi Ando, the son of the original artist.
If you visit the statue, you’ll see that the station entrance near it is called “Hachikō-guchi,” which means “The Hachiko Entrance/Exit.” It is one of the five exits at Shibuya Station.
Hachiko Mosaic at Shibuya Station
At Shibuya Station, there is a large, colorful mosaic artwork called “Hachiko Family.” It shows Hachiko playing with his parents and siblings. The Japanese artist Ryutaro Kitahara created it, and it was finished in March 1990.
Let’s meet in front of the mural – poem by KITAHARA Ryutaro, 1990
It is a place of hellos and goodbyes
of happiness and sadness
It is the fashionable square where people gather
It is the square where you feel the joy of living
Let’s talk about your and my happiness
Let’s meet in front of the “Hachiko Family”mural
This poem was written to celebrate the completion of the mural.
Stuffed Hachiko at National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo
Hachiko died peacefully near Shibuya Station on March 8, 1935, at 11 years old (November 10, 1923 – March 8, 1935).
Because he was such a strong symbol of loyalty in Japan, Hachiko’s fur was preserved and later stuffed. Only the body of hachiko’s was cremated. You can see him on display at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno, Tokyo.
Hachiko & Professor Ueno Statue at University of Tokyo
At the University of Tokyo, there’s a bronze statue of Hachiko and his owner, Professor Hidesaburō Ueno. This is where Professor Ueno worked and where he died suddenly from a brain hemorrhage, leaving Hachiko behind.
The statue was put up on March 9, 2015, to mark the 80th anniversary of Hachiko’s death. It was created by Japanese artist Tsutomo Ueda and shows Hachiko joyfully jumping and greeting Professor Ueno at the end of the day. It’s a heartwarming statue!
Next to the statue is a small museum with articles, photos of Hachiko, and even his autopsy report. The autopsy showed that Hachiko died of cancer and a filarial infection. They also found four yakitori skewers in his stomach, but they didn’t cause any harm or contribute to his death.
If you’re interested, you can see Hachiko’s liver, heart, and lungs on display at the museum next to the statue, near Ueno Park.
Hachiko Monument near Professor Ueno’s Grave
Hachiko’s fur was kept for the museum, but his body was cremated, and his ashes were buried next to his beloved owner, Professor Ueno. You can visit their graves at Aoyama Cemetery in Minato, Tokyo.
There is also a monument of Hachiko beside Professor Ueno’s tomb at the cemetery.
Movies and Books Inspired by Hachiko
Movie-
“Hachikō Monogatari” was the Japanese movie on Hachi, made in 1987. It was the original film telling the true story of the Akita dog named Hachikō who lived in Japan 1923–1935.
“Hachi – A Dog’s Tale” was made in the year 2009. It was the remake and American Version of the original movie “Hachikō Monogatari”. This movie was filmed in Rhode Island, USA, and to honor Hachiko, a statue of him stands in front of the train station there.
Books-
“Hachiko Waits: Based on a True Story” by Leslea Newman
“Hachi: The Truth of The Life and Legend of the Most Famous Dog in Japan” by Mayumi Itoh
“Hachiko: The True Story of the Royal Dogs of Japan and One Faithful Akita” by Julie Chrystyn
You can find these books on Amazon
Minibus Service on Hachiko Name-
In 2003, a Minibus service (officially called community service) called the “Hachiko Bus” started running in the Shibuya ward. There are four different routes, and passengers can hear the theme song “Hachiko-bus no uta” while riding the bus.
Hachiko’s story shows how loyal a dog can be to his owner. Even after Professor Ueno passed away, Hachiko waited for him every day. This touching story inspires people everywhere. Hachiko is remembered through statues and yearly memorials, reminding us of the special bond between dogs and humans. His story teaches us that true love never ends, making him a beloved symbol in Japan and around the world.
