Rare Photos Of Hachiko Patiently Waiting For His Owner Have Surfaced And It’s Heartbreaking To See
Hachikō is a dog that probably needs no introduction. A symbol of loyalty and neverending love, Hachikō went on to become a cultural phenomenon, an icon not only in his native Japan but to the whole wide world as well. The golden-brown, pure-bred Akita was born back in the late fall of 1923 on a farm in Ōdate, Akita Prefecture, Japan. A year later, Hachikō was adopted by a professor, Hidesaburō Ueno, who took him in to live in Shibuya, Tokyo. Hidesaburō Ueno was a professor in the agriculture department at Tokyo Imperial University. The man would take the train to his work only to be greeted by his loyal dog on his way back. At the end of each day, the smart dog would leave the house to wait for his owner at Shibuya Station. Then, sadly, on May 21, 1925, Hidesaburō Ueno did not return. He had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while giving a lecture and died without ever returning to the train station where Hachikō waited for him. And now, we can finally share some rare photos on the beloved Akita with you.
Hachikō’s name is known by people from all around the world
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He went down in history as the most loyal pet
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This went on for the next nine years, nine months, and fifteen days—Hachikō would patiently wait for his owner at the same train station every day. Each day, at the same time, that Hidesaburō Ueno’s train was due at the station.
After his owner’s death in 1925, Hachikō would still wait for him every day at the train station
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Hachikō would go there every day at the same time that his owner would have come back after work
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Naturally, the commuters quickly took notice of the adorable dog. Many of them had seen the loyal furry friend and his owner Hidesaburō walk home together from said station. Not everybody was friendly, at least not until October 4, 1932, when the first article on Hachikō was published—after that, Hachikō gained national attention, and people would often bring the famous dog food and treats. You can see the loyal Akita immortalized in the vintage photos from several publications of the time.
This went on for nearly a decade
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In 1932, the first article was published about the loyal pet in a national newspaper
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The article was written by one of Hidesaburō Ueno’s former students. The student was writing a thesis on the Akita breed of dogs and upon seeing one of such at the station, he followed Hachikō home—to Kuzaboro Kobayashi, the former gardener of the late professor. The student learned the life story of Hachikō from Kuzaboro and shortly thereafter published a documented census of Akitas in Japan. According to the research, only 30 purebred Akitas remained living in Japan, one of whom was Hachikō from Shibuya Station.
After that, Hachikō became known nationwide
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People would come to Shibuya Station to pet Hachikō and bring him treats
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The story goes that the former student visited Hachikō frequently and, over the course of years, published several articles on the dog and his remarkable loyalty. Soon enough, Hachikō became a nationwide sensation. The Japanese were deeply impressed and touched by Hachikō’s everlasting love and loyalty. Across the country, Hachikō became the prime example of family loyalty, as taught by teachers and parents to kids.
The ever-loving dog was used as an example of loyalty for children
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Hachikō became a national treasure
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In 1934, the devoted Akita Hachikō was immortalized in the form of a bronze statue sculpted by noted Japanese artist Teru Ando. Sadly, during World War II, it was used up for metal. However, in 1948, due to the efforts of the sculptor’s son, a second statue of the loyal Akita emerged and still remains standing. Today, the entrance to the station next to the statue is named “Hachikō-guchi,” which translates roughly as “The Hachikō Entrance/Exit.”
In 1934, a bronze statue for Hachikō was built
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Sadly, a year later, the good boy died
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After waiting for his owner’s return for a decade, Hachikō died on March 8, 1935. At the time, the loving dog was 11 years old. Only in 2011 were scientists able to finally determine the cause of Hachikō’s death—apparently, the good boy had terminal cancer and a filaria infection.
He was 11 years old at the time
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He was buried next to his owner
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After the death of Hachikō, his remains were cremated and his ashes buried in Aoyama Cemetery, Minato, Tokyo. The loyal friend was placed next to the grave of his beloved owner Professor Ueno. The good boy’s fur was preserved and stuffed to appear on permanent display at the National Science Museum of Japan in Ueno, Tokyo.
His fur was stuffed to appear on permanent display at the National Science Museum of Japan
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Share on FacebookThey stuffed his fur and they buried him next to his owner... Soo... they skinned him and then buried him?
I'm not a crier... but that movie hit me so hard that I couldn't stop crying when Richard Gere had that heart attack... I just knew that beautiful dog was gonna wait every day and I was like NO... OMFG... MY HEART! I was bawling.
Load More Replies...This is so heartbreaking. It just goes to show how loyal a dog can be. 😭 ❤🐕
Correct it was even during WW2 one of the worst wars even
Load More Replies...This is the statue of Hachiko outside the train station in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, where the 2009 film Hachi: A Dog's Tale was filmed. 140-3-9389...82730b.jpg
There is a similar story of a dog in the 1930's who waited for his owner, who had passed away, at a train station in Montana. Shep saw his body being loaded in a casket and for the next 5 years greeted every train in the hope of his owner returning. He was sadly killed by a train when he failed to jump off the tracks in time. We really don't deserve dogs: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shep_(American_dog)
Just in case you might want to stop by their grave, here's the site show you how to get there. Aoyama Cemetery, Minato. And just in case you couldn't find the location here's another link https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6135228/eisaburo-ueno and https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5951810/hachiko-ueno Very touching story, nobody can say that animals have no feeling.
What really depressing about this is how you couldn't tell him that his owner passed away, that no matter how long he waits he wouldn't be with his owner again. If only we can communicate with them so that we can explain them the situation.
Reminds me of the super sad Futurama episode about Fry's dog waiting for him outside the pizza shop. One of their best episodes.
That episode, Jurassic Bark, was in fact inspired by Hachiko's story. And, eyp, it was super sad.
Load More Replies...Every time I read about him, I cry. I love his story so much and his ongoing legacy
I cried like a baby over this movie! Richard Gere was amazing with the dog!
I think they soul allowed to see the proffessor's body for realize reality to hatchiko...
i watched the movie and read the book ,and now looked at this im almost cryin mates.
This is so heartbreaking. It just goes to show how loyal a dog can be
He is like the Greyfriars Bobby of Japan, and a very good boi. here is a picture of Bobby's statue if you haven't seen. goodboi-5e...660f58.jpg
It is sad.....But i proved there was still good in the world......( Even if it was a dog) But it was also during WW2 so you know......that was one bad war.
Also it was a cool story ( even sad) also the movie wad sad.
Load More Replies...They stuffed his fur and they buried him next to his owner... Soo... they skinned him and then buried him?
I'm not a crier... but that movie hit me so hard that I couldn't stop crying when Richard Gere had that heart attack... I just knew that beautiful dog was gonna wait every day and I was like NO... OMFG... MY HEART! I was bawling.
Load More Replies...This is so heartbreaking. It just goes to show how loyal a dog can be. 😭 ❤🐕
Correct it was even during WW2 one of the worst wars even
Load More Replies...This is the statue of Hachiko outside the train station in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, where the 2009 film Hachi: A Dog's Tale was filmed. 140-3-9389...82730b.jpg
There is a similar story of a dog in the 1930's who waited for his owner, who had passed away, at a train station in Montana. Shep saw his body being loaded in a casket and for the next 5 years greeted every train in the hope of his owner returning. He was sadly killed by a train when he failed to jump off the tracks in time. We really don't deserve dogs: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shep_(American_dog)
Just in case you might want to stop by their grave, here's the site show you how to get there. Aoyama Cemetery, Minato. And just in case you couldn't find the location here's another link https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6135228/eisaburo-ueno and https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5951810/hachiko-ueno Very touching story, nobody can say that animals have no feeling.
What really depressing about this is how you couldn't tell him that his owner passed away, that no matter how long he waits he wouldn't be with his owner again. If only we can communicate with them so that we can explain them the situation.
Reminds me of the super sad Futurama episode about Fry's dog waiting for him outside the pizza shop. One of their best episodes.
That episode, Jurassic Bark, was in fact inspired by Hachiko's story. And, eyp, it was super sad.
Load More Replies...Every time I read about him, I cry. I love his story so much and his ongoing legacy
I cried like a baby over this movie! Richard Gere was amazing with the dog!
I think they soul allowed to see the proffessor's body for realize reality to hatchiko...
i watched the movie and read the book ,and now looked at this im almost cryin mates.
This is so heartbreaking. It just goes to show how loyal a dog can be
He is like the Greyfriars Bobby of Japan, and a very good boi. here is a picture of Bobby's statue if you haven't seen. goodboi-5e...660f58.jpg
It is sad.....But i proved there was still good in the world......( Even if it was a dog) But it was also during WW2 so you know......that was one bad war.
Also it was a cool story ( even sad) also the movie wad sad.
Load More Replies...
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