Hachiko, a dog of the Akita Inu breed, has become a symbol of devotion and loyalty throughout the world. He attended the opening of his own monument, which was installed in the most important place for Hachiko - the Shibuya railway station in Tokyo. Today this monument is very popular with tourists and city residents who make appointments here.
The life of a wonderful dog
In November 1923, puppies were born to a farmer in Akito Prefecture. One of them was presented by the farmer to a friend of a professor at the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Tokyo, Professor Ueno. The professor named the little gift Hachiko, which means "eighth", because before Hachiko he already had seven dogs.
In 1931, the unique Japanese breed of Akita Inu dogs was recognized as a natural monument of Japan.
Growing up, the puppy followed the owner everywhere, escorted him to the train in the morning, which the professor got on at Shibuya station to go to the university. At three o'clock in the afternoon, Hachiko again came to the station in order to meet the owner and go home with him.
But one day Hachiko did not wait for the owner at the usual time. The dog stayed at the station until the evening. He could not have known that Professor Ueno had died of a heart attack right at the university. The next day the dog settled down in its usual place at the entrance to the station. He looked to where the owner usually came out. Since then, Hachiko has not missed a single day for nine years.
Friends and relatives of Professor Ueno tried to find Hachiko new owners, but the dog always ran away and returned to the station. At night he came to the old house of the owner and settled down to sleep on the porch. Gradually, everyone recognized the dog's right to wait for its owner. The traders and workers at Shibuya Station fed and looked after Hachiko.
On March 8, 1934, Hachiko was found dead on the street next to the train station. He died of filaria, a parasitic heart disease, at the age of 11 years and 4 months.
National treasure of Japan
The whole of Japan learned of the dog's extraordinary loyalty after an article in the Asahi News newspaper, "A loyal old dog awaits the return of his master, who died seven years ago." People came to the station to see Hachiko and to be with him.
On April 21, 1934, next to a living, waiting Hachiko, his bronze counterpart appeared with the inscription "To the faithful dog Hachiko." A year after the death of the dog, mourning was declared in Japan.
During World War II, the metal of the monument was needed for the needs of the army, but in 1948 the Japanese restored the monument in its original place.
After the release of the film "Hachiko: The Most Loyal Friend" in 2009, the Akita Inu breed became popular all over the world, and the name of the beautiful dog became synonymous with the breed.
In March 2015, it is planned to open another monument to Hachiko in the courtyard of the faculty of the University of Tokyo, where Professor Ueno taught. This time the dog will be depicted together with the owner at the moment of the meeting, which he never stopped waiting for all his life.
