This is Hachiko, the famous and loyal dog in Japan. Hachikō was an Akita, a large and powerful dog breed. He is known in Japanese as chūken Hachikō (忠犬ハチ公) or "faithful dog Hachikō". Hachi is a Japanese word which means "eight" and kō which means "affection."
Hachikō died on March 8, 1935, that’s eighty three (83) years ago at the age of 11 on a street in Shibuya. He was the dog whom Hidesaburō Ueno, a Tokyo University professor, adopted as a pet.
Hachiko would leave the house and greet the professor every afternoon at the Shibuya station. The routine continued for almost a year when Ueno, while giving a lecture in the university, suddenly died due to cerebral hemorrahge resulting into not ever returning to the train station in which Hachikō would wait.
His loyalty is unconditional and immeasurable.
The dog was recognized and considered not just in Japan, but throughout the world, as a symbol of loyalty whose fidelity is unimaginable.
The statue of Hachiko was unveiled at a grand ceremony in front of Shibuya train station last 1934 and Hachiko himself was present as the main guest.
The National Science Museum in Ueno, Tokyo now displays Hachiko’s replica.
