Hachikō (ハチ公), an Akita dog born on November 10, 1923, in Ōdate, Akita Prefecture, Japan, became a national symbol of loyalty and devotion.
In 1924, a professor of agriculture at Tokyo Imperial University, Hidesaburō Ueno, adopted a golden-furred Akita puppy from the snowy prefecture of Akita. The dog was named Hachikō—“Hachi” meaning eight (a number of good fortune in Japan) and the suffix “-kō” as a term of endearment.
Hachikō quickly formed an unbreakable bond with Professor Ueno. Each morning, they would walk together to Shibuya Station, where Ueno boarded the train to work. And every evening, at precisely the same time, Hachikō would return to the station to greet him.
The Wait That Never Ended
On May 21, 1925, tragedy struck—Professor Ueno suffered a sudden cerebral hemorrhage during a lecture and never came home. Hachikō, unaware of his master’s death, went to Shibuya Station that evening as usual.
And he went again the next day.
And the next.
Commuters and workers at Shibuya Station began noticing the dog waiting day after day in the same spot. Curious at first, they soon learned of his story. Many were deeply moved and started bringing him food and water.
He became a beloved fixture at the station and earned the nickname “Chūken Hachikō” (忠犬ハチ公) which means “Faithful Dog Hachikō.”
For nearly ten years, until his own death in March 1935, Hachikō returned to the station every evening at the exact time his master’s train was due. In sun, snow, or rain, the loyal dog waited, a living embodiment of devotion.
From Local Wonder to National Symbol
Hachikō’s quiet vigil captured the hearts of commuters and the nation alike. In 1932, a former student of Professor Ueno wrote an article about Hachikō in one of Tokyo’s major newspapers.
The story captured the hearts of the Japanese people, turning Hachikō into a national icon. His loyalty became a moral lesson, especially admired during a time when traditional values were being challenged by modernization.
He became a national sensation—symbolizing loyalty, love, and perseverance. School children were taught about him; visitors came to Shibuya to see him waiting.
In 1934, a bronze statue of Hachikō was unveiled at Shibuya Station—with Hachikō himself present at the ceremony. Today, that statue is one of Tokyo’s most beloved landmarks, a meeting point where people say, “Let’s meet at Hachikō.”
Although the original statue was melted down during World War II, a new one was commissioned and reinstalled in 1948, where it still stands today as one of Tokyo’s most beloved landmarks.
Legacy
Hachikō passed away near Shibuya Station. His death made front-page news, and people across Japan mourned. His body was preserved and is on display at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo, while a portion of his remains were buried next to Professor Ueno at Aoyama Cemetery, reuniting them at last.
His unwavering faithfulness is remembered each year on Hachikō Memorial Day (April 8), when admirers gather by his statue to honor the dog who waited for love that never returned—but never gave up.
Hachikō’s life whispers a simple truth:
“Love knows no goodbye. Some bonds endure beyond time itself.”
In 2015, on the 80th anniversary of Hachikō’s death, a new bronze statue was erected at the University of Tokyo, showing Hachikō joyfully jumping up to greet Professor Ueno.
“He waited every day, no matter the weather, for a man who would never return. That’s not just loyalty—it’s love in its purest form.”
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
“They called him a dog. But his loyalty made him more human than most.”