Hachi had been waiting for his master after his death.
This became a famous story and it was made into Japanese and Hollywood films and many books were published.
By the way, did you know?
Actually, Odate city is Hachi’s very home.
The faithful dog, Hachikō
He was born in November 1923 at Mr. Giichi Saito’s home in Ooshinai in Odate City. At that time, Dr. Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor of agricultural science of Tokyo Imperial University, was looking for a pure Japanese dog. Then, his student, Chiyomatsu Yomase came up with the idea to get a dog from Reizou Kurita’s friend, Mr. Saito. So then in January 14th 1924, fifty-days-old dog was sent to Dr. Ueno. And he was much loved by the new owner and named him Hachi.
In a short time, Hachi had grown into a splendid Akita dog. And he started to take Dr Ueno to and from the train station and created a strong bond between eachother.
However on 21st May, Dr. Ueno suddenly died during his lecture in a faculty meeting. Hachi was fed during the funeral, but he didn’t eat anything after that.
Even after Dr. Ueno’s death and even though Hachi had moved to Asakusa, Hachi running towards Shibuya station which was 8km away was often seen. It continued for a year. Kikusaburo Kobayashi, who lived in Yoyogi, sympathised with Hachi and he took care of him.
But every time as soon as Hachi finished his dinner, he wandered around his old house in Ueno which was 700 to 800 meter away. Later, he sat still in front of a ticket gate of Shibuya train station. And he kept doing that every day; on the hot days, rainy days, and even on snowy days.
Hachi was never violent to anyone or any other dogs. But his left ear was bitten by a dog and since then it has been hanging from his head.
Seeing the circumstances of Hachi, a lot of people including the staff of Shibuya station showed compassion and started to take care of him.
In 1935, Hachi was introduced overseas and his story was made into film becoming famous. However, he got filarial disease on 5th of March and he ended his 11 years of life (almost 70to 80years old in human years) three days later on the 8th March. Now Hachi rests in peace with Dr. Ueno in Aoyama cemetery.
11th Dec 1923: | Hachi was born in Giishi Saito’s home in Oshinai in Odate city. |
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14th Jan 1924: | He was 50days-old and was sent to Dr. Ueno. He named him, Hachi. |
21st May 1924: | Dr.Ueno had passed away suddenly and Hachi kept waiting for him at Shibuya station (for 10 years). |
3rd Nov 1933: | Hachi became popular in the dog’s exhibition that was held in Tokyo Ueno park. |
Jan 1934: | A prospectus for bronze statue of Hachi was made and fund was raised and collected from all over Japan. |
21st April 1934: |
The construction of bronze statue was completed.
The widow of Dr. Ueno, celebrities and Hachi attended the ceremony
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March 1934: | The story of Hachi was published in elementary school student’s textbook. |
8th March 1935: |
Hachi found dead due to filarial disease in a lane near Shibuya station. An autopsy was held at the Tokyo Imperial University and he was stuffed and preserved at the Ueno science museum.
He was buried near Dr. Ueno in Aoyama cemetery.
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8th July 1935: | The unveiling ceremony of bronze statue of Hachi in front of Odate train station. |
1944: | Shibuya’s bronze statue of Hachi was collected by the government in response to the Metal Collection Act during the pacific war which started in 1942. |
1945: | With the same Metal Collection Act, the statue of Hachi in Odate is also collected. |
1948: | The committee for reconstruction of Hachi’s bronze statue was formed. They raised fund and it was reconstructed again in front of the Shibuya station. |
May 1964: | A group statue of Akita dogs including Hachi in the centre as a young dog was constructed in front of Odate train station. |
14th Nov 1987: | The bronze statue of Hachi was reconstructed in front of the Odate train station and the unveiling ceremony took place. |
Memorial Service for Hachiko | April | In Front of Odate Station | Enquiries: the bronze statue of Hachi and Preservation of Akita Inu Statue Association. [ Tel 0186-42-2502 (Akita Inu Preservation Society)] |
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Birth of Hachiko Festival | Second Sunday of October | In Front of Odate Station | Enquiries: the bronze statue of Hachi and Preservation of Akita Inu Statue Association. [ Tel 0186-42-2502 (Akita Inu Preservation Society)] |
The statue of Hachiko
~Statue in front of Shibuya station~
~The statue of Hachi in front of the Odate train station~
Presently, there is a stone monument of Hachi’s birthplace in front of the house of Hichirouemon Saito in Odate, Ooshinai.
~ The Statue in front of Akita Inu Hall (Hachi longing for his home)~
The basement of Hachi statue was left after the collection of metal act, and it was preserved at the head quarter of Akita dog’s preservation society. In October 2004, Hachi’s statue was finally reconstructed for the first time in 60 years. It was titled as “Hachi longing for his home” was constructed in the square of Akita dog hall.
This version of the statue has a motif of Hachi longing for his home and giving out an impression as if the dog is waiting for his owner to come back with a kind expression. It is said to be Hachi had never bitten or barked to any humans and puppies. But he was bitten once. Since then his left ear was hanging and it was shown in the statue too.
The faithful dog, Hachi is an Akita dog
Hachiko has a large body and a calm character.
In 1630’s, the landlord of Odate, Satake recommended a dog fight. It is said to be an Akita dog was a hybrid between Japanese traditional hunting dog and the local dog.
Dog fight was a major scene during Meiji and Taisho era. But the fight was prohibited because of its overheating popularity.
In May 1927, Mr. Izumishigeie, the mayor of the Odate town established a preservation of Akita dog society. This happened because crossbreed was becoming popular with turning Akita dog into fighting dogs. There are pictures of Akita dogs in Akita Inu Hall and they seemed to have different figures from early Showa era and today’s Akita.
In July 1931, Akita dog were designated as the natural monument among the other Japanese dogs. From 1934, Akita Inu Preservation Society started to register the dogs. In 1938, the standard of Akita dog were set and there were the exhibitions held too but it was suspended for a while because of the pacific war.
In the aftermath of the war, there was a difficulty in the preservation of the Akita dogs. But dozens of the Akita dogs had good pedigrees with the effort by the dog lovers. Quick reproduction of the species was seen and bred all over Japan again. In 1977, 'Akita-Inu Hall' was established in order to celebrate the 50th anniversary since the foundation of the Akita Inu preservation committee. It is valued very much because it is the only museum out of all the Japanese dog breeding organisation.
Akita Dog's Examination standard / Akita Inu Hall (Akita Inu Preservation Society) HP Click here
Akita dog’s town, Odate
There are many Hachi or Akita dog themed monuments other than the bronze statue in front of Odate Station and the statue in front of Akita-Inu hall, in Odate city.
We’ll introduce some here but maybe there are more?
[ In front of Odate station, Hachi’s bronze statue behind ]
[ Odate city, Ooshinai, in front of Saito’s house ]
[ Odate Platform 1 ]
Inherited story of Akita-Inu in Odate City
Sadaroku and Shiro’s story: ‘Old Dog Shrine’