THE STORY OF LOVE, DEDICATION AND ATTACHMENT - HACHIKO

HACHIKO
(Nov. 10, 1923 to Mar. 8, 1935)
Resting at National Science Museum of Japan in Ueno, Tokyo

In January 1924, Dr. Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor in the agricultural department at he Imperial University in Tokyo, brought home a two-months old Akita puppy. Dr. Ueno named the pup Hachiko.

The following year was a wonderful time for Hachiko and his new master. Normally Akitas are big dogs and Hachiko grew to be over 90 pounds. This beautiful golden dog accompanied Dr. Ueno every morning to the Shibuya train station to bid his master goodbye while the professor was heading to the university. And every evening, when Dr. Ueno returned home, Hachiko would be waiting for him at the train station and the two would go home together. The strong bonding between them was a familiar sight to the commuters.

HACHIKO (left) AND PROFESSOR UENO (right)

If things had continued like this, then this story would be among one of the amazing faithfulness of a dog and his master. But, the twist came on May 21, 1925.

It was like any other day for the pair. In the morning, professor Ueno left Hachiko in the Shibuya station. In the evening, Hachiko returned to the station to welcome his master home, But professor was nowhere to be seen. Though Hachiko waited, Professor never returned.

Dr. Ueno had died from a stroke earlier that day.

The very next day, Professor Ueno's relatives took Hachiko to another area of Japan. They probably hoped that the dog would make a new family very soon as Hachiko had spent only a little over a year with Dr. Ueno. But, proving them wrong, Hachiko ran away from the family and returned to the train station for his master to return. The family realised that it is impossible to keep this big Akita from heading to the Shibuya train station everyday. So they gave Hachiko to Dr. Ueno's old gardener who still lived in that area.

Hachiko evening, Hachiko was found waiting for Dr. Ueno to get off the 6 O'clock  train and everyday he was disappointed. Still, he never missed a day of hoping that his master would return to him.

Months passed, then years. Still Hachiko kept his vigil. Basically Hachiko lived as a stray, fought other dogs and ate scraps and handouts. He became an old, scarred dog with one ear up and one ear down and no longer looked like a purebred Akita, that actually he was.

On March 8, 1935, Hachiko finally died from terminal cancer and filaria infection. The old Akita was found dead in a Shibuya street. He waited for his master's return for almost ten years, which was probably not even done by Dr. Ueno's family members.



Hachiko's story of loyalty touched the hearts of many people throughout the world. To commemorate his loyalty, a bronze statue of Hachiko was erected at Shibuya station, which is still a very popular meeting place. Every year, on 8th. April, there is a ceremony in the honour of Hachiko's loving memory.

                                                                 

A MONUMENT HAS BEEN ERECTED
IN MEMORY OF HACHIKO, BESIDE
DR. UENO'S GRAVE 

BRONZE STATUE OF HACHIKO
AT SHIBUYA TRAIN STATION 

HACHIKO: A DOG'S STORY (2009)

A Japanese movie, Hachiko Managatari, was made in 1987 and was considered a smash hit. Inspired by it, another block-buster, Hachiko: A dog's story, was released on July 8, 2009, under the direction a Lasse Hallstrom.










                 

FOREST
  He played the role of Hachiko in the movie
                                                

RICHARD GERE
Born: Aug. 31, 1949.
He played the part of Dr. Ueno
in the movie.

                                 
                                        A video from HACHIKO: A DOG'S STORY


please follow the link to find another wonder bird...The White Vision