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Hachiko was a dog known for his infinite loyalty and love for his owner. Its owner was a professor at a university and the dog was waiting for him at the train station every day until he returned, even after his death.
This show of affection and loyalty made the story of Hachiko become world famous, and even a film was made telling his story.
This is a perfect example of the love a dog can feel for its owner that will make even the toughest person shed a tear. If you still don't know the story of Hachiko, the faithful dog grab a pack of tissues and keep reading this article from Animal Expert.
life with the teacher
Hachiko was Akita Inu who was born in 1923 in Akita Prefecture. A year later it became a gift for the daughter of a professor of agricultural engineering at the University of Tokyo. When the teacher, Eisaburo Ueno, saw him for the first time, he realized that his paws were slightly twisted, they looked like the kanji that represents the number 8 (八, which in Japanese is pronounced hachi), and so he decided his name, Hachiko.
When Ueno's daughter grew up, she got married and went to live with her husband, leaving the dog behind. The teacher had then created a strong bond with Hachiko and so decided to stay with him instead of offering it to someone else.
Ueno went to work by train every day and Hachiko became his faithful companion. Every morning I accompanied him to Shibuya station and would receive him again when he returned.
the teacher's death
One day, while teaching at the university, Ueno suffered a cardiac arrest that ended his life, however, Hachiko kept waiting for him in Shibuya.
Day after day Hachiko went to the station and waited for hours for its owner, looking for his face among the thousands of strangers who passed by. Days turned into months and months into years. Hachiko tirelessly waited for its owner for nine long years, whether it rained, snowed or shined.
The inhabitants of Shibuya knew Hachiko and during all this time they had been in charge of feeding and caring for him while the dog waited at the station door. This loyalty to his owner earned him the nickname "the faithful dog", and the film in his honor is entitled "Always by your side’.
All this affection and admiration for Hachiko led to a statue in his honor being erected in 1934, in front of the station, right where the dog was waiting for its owner daily.
Hachiko's death
On March 9, 1935, Hachiko was found dead at the foot of the statue. He died because of his age in precisely the same place where he had been waiting for his owner to return for nine years. The remains of the faithful dog were buried with those of their owner at Aoyama Cemetery in Tokyo.
During World War II all bronze statues were fused to make armaments, including the one of Hachiko. However, a few years later, a society was created to make a new statue and put it back in the same place. Finally, Takeshi Ando, the son of the original sculptor, was hired so that he could redo the statue.
Today the statue of Hachiko remains in the same place, in front of the Shibuya station, and on April 8th of each year, his fidelity is celebrated.
After all these years the story of Hachiko, the faithful dog, is still alive due to the demonstration of love, loyalty and unconditional affection that moved the hearts of an entire population.
Also discover the story of Laika, the first living being to be launched into space.
