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Summer Reading: Kids

Excerpt: 'hachiko, the true story of a loyal dog'.

Pamela Turner

Cover detail from Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog . hide caption

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Get more suggestions from columnist John Kelly.

A Cure for Kids' Summer Reading Doldrums

Washington Post columnist John Kelly recommends this title for readers in first through third grades: Hachiko was a fixture in his Tokyo neighborhood, dutifully waiting every afternoon at Shibuya train station for his master to come home from work. Even after his master died at the office, Hachiko kept up his routine-for the next 11 years. Residents erected a statue of the loyal dog, a monument to love and devotion.

There is a statue of my old friend at the entrance to Shibuya Station. His bronze feet are bright and shiny, polished by thousands of friendly hands. There is a sign that says, simply, "Loyal dog Hachiko." I close my eyes and remember the day we met, so long ago.

When I was six years old, my family moved to a little house in Tokyo near the Shibuya train station. At first the trains frightened me. But after a while, I grew to enjoy their power and the furious noises they made. One day I begged Mama to take me to meet Papa as he came home on the afternoon train. She laughed and said, "Kentaro, you have become big and brave, just like a samurai!" Together we walked to the station.

It was spring, and the day was clear and cold. There were tiny carts all around the station, selling snacks, newspapers, and hundreds of other things to the crowds of people rushing by. Ladies in kimonos walked carefully, trying to keep their white tabi socks away from the grime of the streets. Businessmen strode about, hurrying home or to catch another train. Mama and I had stopped near the station entrance when I noticed the dog.

He was sitting quietly, all alone, by a newspaper stand. He had thick, cream-colored fur, small pointed ears, and a broad, bushy tail that curved up over his back. I wondered if the dog was a stray, but he was wearing a nice leather harness and looked healthy and strong. His brown eyes were fixed on the station entrance.

Just then, Papa appeared. He was chatting with an older man. The dog bounded over to the man, his entire body wiggling and quivering with delight. His eyes shone, and his mouth curled up into something that looked, to me, just like a smile.

"Ah, Kentaro! You see, Dr. Ueno, you are not the only one who has someone to welcome him," said Papa. He introduced us to the older man. "Dr. Ueno works with me at Tokyo Imperial University."

"What is your dog's name?" I asked timidly. The dog was beautiful, but his sharp face reminded me of a wolf's. I grabbed Mama's kimono and stepped behind her, just in case.

Copyright Pamela Turner, excerpted with permission from Houghton Mifflin Children's Books

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Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog Who Waited For His Deceased Owner for Ten Years

Hachiko wasn’t just a pet; he was the faithful companion of a university professor, dutifully awaiting his master’s return from work at the local train station each evening.

Tragedy struck when the professor passed away suddenly, leaving Hachiko to continue his vigil at the station for nearly a decade.

Undeterred by the occasional disapproval of the station employees, Hachiko persisted in his daily routine.

Over time, Hachiko’s unwavering dedication touched the hearts of the station staff, transforming him into an international sensation and an emblem of loyalty.

This is the true story of Hachiko, the dog whose devotion made him history’s most loyal dog.

How Hachiko and his owner Hidesaburō Ueno met?

Hachiko, a white Akita, came into the world on November 10, 1923, at a farm in Ōdate, Akita Prefecture, Japan.

Meanwhile, Ueno Hidesaburō, a professor in the Department of Agriculture at Tokyo Imperial University (now the University of Tokyo), was on the lookout for a purebred Japanese dog. A thoughtful student working in Akita secured the dog from Saitō for Ueno.

Akita-inu dogs, renowned for their large size, gentle nature, and thick, fluffy coats, have gained a global following for their unwavering loyalty.

Originating in the 1630s through the cross-breeding of Matagi hunting dogs and local breeds, they were developed for their prowess in combat.

Hachiko with an unknown family.

In January 1924, a 50-day-old puppy set out on a 20-hour train adventure to Ueno Station in Tokyo, cozily bundled in a rice bag to ward off the winter cold.

Shortly after, he was sent to the home of Ueno Hidesaburō, near Shibuya Station.

Despite being childless, the professor showered affection on the pup, letting him snuggle under his bed and joining him for meals.

The name Hachi was chosen for the dog because, when he stood, his front legs formed the shape of the character 八, which means “eight” and is pronounced hachi.

Hachikō at Shibuya station, c. 1933.

Sudden Separation

Every day, Ueno made his daily journey to work, following a familiar routine with Hachiko. In the mornings, the pair would walk to Shibuya Station, where Ueno caught the train to his workplace.

After finishing his classes for the day, Ueno would return on the train, punctually reaching the station at 3 p.m. There, Hachiko patiently awaited his companion, ready to accompany him on the journey home.

This routine continued until May 21, 1925, when Ueno failed to return.

The professor had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while he was giving a lecture to his class, and he died without ever returning to the train station at which Hachiko waited.

Hachiko in 1934.

Despite this disruption in his routine, Hachiko returned the next day at the same time, hoping that Ueno would be there to meet him.

But, of course, the professor didn’t come home. Still, Hachiko, the faithful Akita, never gave up hope.

Even after Hachiko was given away following his master’s passing, he continued to sneak off to Shibuya Station at 3 PM, hoping to meet the professor.

Every single day, for the next 9 years, 9 months, and 15 days, Hachiko made his way to the station, morning and evening, where he would wait outside the ticket gates, rain, snow, or shine.

It seemed he was forever hoping that his master would eventually return. Soon, the lone dog began to draw the attention of other commuters.

Hachiko sits with a train conductor at Shibuya Station.

The Story of Hachiko Became a National Sensation

In the beginning, the station workers weren’t all that friendly to Hachiko, but his loyalty won them over.

Before long, they started bringing treats for the devoted dog and even kept him company from time to time.

As the days turned into weeks, then months and years, Hachiko remained a daily presence at the station. His impact reached far beyond, turning him into an icon in the Shibuya community.

Eventually, Hirokichi Saito, a former student of Professor Ueno and an expert on the Akita breed, got wind of Hachiko’s story.

Shortly after the meeting, Saito conducted a thorough census of Akitas in Japan. His findings revealed only 30 remaining purebred Akitas, among them Hachiko from Shibuya Station.

He returned frequently to visit Hachiko, and over the years he published several articles about the dog’s remarkable loyalty.

In 1932, one of his articles, published in Asahi Shimbun, placed the dog in the national spotlight.

Visitors came from far and wide to meet Hachiko.

His faithfulness to his master’s memory impressed the people of Japan as a spirit of family loyalty to which all should strive to achieve. Teachers and parents used Hachiko’s vigil as an example for children to follow.

Hachiko’s story finally came to an end on March 8, 1935, when he was found dead in the streets of Shibuya at the age of 11.

In March 2011, scientists finally settled the cause of death of Hachiko: the dog had both terminal cancer and a filaria infection.

The last known photo of Hachiko – pictured with his owner’s partner Yaeko Ueno (front row, second from right) and station staff in mourning in Tokyo on March 8, 1935.

The Legacy of Hachiko

After his death, Hachiko’s remains were cremated and his ashes were buried in Aoyama Cemetery, Minato, Tokyo where they rest beside those of Hachiko’s beloved master, Professor Ueno.

Many people, young and old, came to pay their respects, including Yae and Shibuya Station staff.

Hachiko’s pelt was preserved after his death, and his taxidermy mount is on permanent display at the National Science Museum of Japan in Ueno, Tokyo.

Hachiko and train passengers.

In April 1934, a bronze statue based on his likeness sculpted by Teru Ando was erected at Shibuya Station.

The statue was recycled for the war effort during World War II. In 1948, Takeshi Ando (son of the original artist) made a second statue.

The new statue, which was erected in August 1948, still stands and is a popular meeting spot.

The station entrance near this statue is named “Hachikō-guchi”, meaning “The Hachiko Entrance/Exit”, and is one of Shibuya Station’s five exits.

People brought Hachiko food and fed the loyal dog.

On March 9, 2015, the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Tokyo unveiled a bronze statue depicting Ueno returning to meet Hachiko at the University of Tokyo, Japan to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Hachiko’s death.

Each year on March 8, Hachiko’s devotion is honored with a solemn ceremony of remembrance at Shibuya Station. Hundreds of dog lovers often turn out to honor his memory and loyalty.

March 8, 1936, the first anniversary of Hachiko’s death.

Yaeko Sakano: Ueno’s Wife

Yaeko Sakano, often known as Yaeko Ueno, was the partner of Hidesaburō Ueno for about 10 years until he passed away in 1925. Whenever she visited, Hachiko showed a lot of happiness and affection towards her.

Sadly, Yaeko passed away on April 30, 1961, at the age of 76. She wanted to be buried next to Ueno, but her family laid her to rest in a temple in Taitō instead.

This stuffed replica of Hachikō is currently on display at the National Science Museum of Japan in Ueno, Tokyo.

In 2013, a professor at the University of Tokyo named Sho Shiozawa found records showing Yaeko’s wish to be buried with Ueno.

Then, on May 19, 2016, a special ceremony took place at Aoyama Cemetery. Both the Ueno and Sakano families were there.

During the ceremony, some of Yaeko Sakano’s ashes were buried alongside Ueno and Hachiko. Her name and the date of her passing were written on their tombstone. This fulfilled the reunion of Hachiko’s family.

“Putting both their names on the grave helps future generations understand that Hachiko had two special people in his life,” said Shiozawa. “To Hachiko, Ueno was like a father, and Yaeko was like a mother,” added Matsui.

Hachikō’s taxidermied fur exhibited at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno.

Hachiko’s Story in Pop Culture

The story of Hachiko touched hearts across the globe long before the war. Even Helen Keller, the American educator and champion of disability rights, visited his statue in 1937.

She was so taken by Hachiko’s tale that she wished for her own Akita-inu. In 1937, she was gifted one, and after it passed away in 1939, she received another.

The statue in 2013.

In 2009, Richard Gere starred in the American movie “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale,” a remake of the 1987 Japanese film “The Story of Hachiko” by Shindō Kaneto.

Gere, who also produced the American version, admitted that reading the script brought tears to his eyes.

According to Saitō Hirokichi, who dedicated his life to preserving Japanese dog breeds, “When we think of Hachiko’s loyalty at Shibuya Station, it’s like a moving story of faithful service.

But, really, Hachiko’s love for his master was just pure affection. It’s not just Hachiko; all dogs have this kind of unconditional and absolute love.”

A statue depicting Hachikō greeting Professor Ueno, at the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Tokyo.

Hachikō’s grave beside Professor Ueno’s grave in Aoyama Cemetery, Minato, Tokyo.

Hachiko at the train station.

Hachiko’s photos in local newspapers.

(Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons / Pinterest / Flickr).

Updated on: February 6, 2024

Any factual error or typo?  Let us know.

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• Hachikō: A Loyal Dog

By:  Mandy Lover, Gayle Green, Axel Reitzig, Jessica Rodd, and Lynn Williams with Kelly Himeisen, Katherine White, Fran Cohen, Katie Peterson, Linda Katzenmeyer, and Mike Wojczuk

Featured Children’s Literature: Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog,  by Pamela S. Turner (primary), or  Hachiko Waits,  by Lesléa Newman (intermediate)

Lesson (pdf)

Materials (pdf)

Hachikō Photographs Powerpoint (ppsx)

Objectives:

• Students will define  loyalty , using an example from Japanese culture and explaining how loyalty contributes to a good community.
• Students will practice retelling a story in both written and oral formats.
• Students will use art to describe character traits (such as loyalty).

National Content Standards:

• Geography Standard 4:  Students know the physical and human characteristics of places.
• Civics Standard 4:  What are the roles of the citizen in American democracy?

Reading and Writing

• Reading Standard 2:  Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
• Reading Standard 3:  Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.
• Writing Standard 3:  Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.
• Speaking and Listening Standard 1:  Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

Visual Arts

• Visual Arts Standard 2:  Students use knowledge of structures and functions.
• Visual Arts Standard 5:  Students reflect upon and assess the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others.

Plan for Assessment:

• Primary  : Students will create books summarizing the Hachikō story and use the books to retell the Hachikō story to another individual.
• Intermediate:  Students will use their knowledge of a character to expand a story and tell it from that character’s point of view.
• Primary/Intermediate  : Students will discuss the importance of loyalty and depict a character visually to reflect the character’s loyalty.

A checklist is provided for assessing students’ final work; it can be used by the teacher, by students who hear others’ presentations, or by students as a self-assessment tool.

• This lesson has several parts. It can be taught as a daylong lesson or be spread across several days. Under many headings in the  Implementation  section, separate directions are provided for primary and intermediate classes. Teachers leading an intermediate class should skip the primary steps and follow the steps for intermediate classes.
• The stories featured in this lesson are based on the true story of an Akita-breed dog named Hachi, who greeted his owner, Professor Hidesaburō Ueno, at Shibuya Station or the gate of the University of Tokyo campus at the end of each workday. After the professor’s sudden death in 1925, Hachi continued to go to the station and wait for his owner each day until his own death in 1935. The story of this dog’s loyalty gained national fame in Japan after a former student of Professor Ueno published several newspaper articles about Hachi. In Hachi’s honor, Japanese people donated funds, and sculptor Teru Ando created a bronze statue of the dog. This statue was melted down during World War II, but in 1948 a new statue sculpted by Teru Ando’s son Takeshi was erected in its place. Today at Shibuya Station, the north-side exit and plaza are named the Hachikō exit and Hachikō Plaza. People use the Hachikō statue in the plaza as a landmark to meet friends. Also commemorating Hachikō are a mosaic wall-mural of Hachikō’s family and the Hachikō Memorial Museum housed in an old street car, which documents the story.
• Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog,  by Pamela S. Turner ,  or  Hachiko Waits , by Lesléa Newman
• Copies of  A Pet I Have Known  (provided) for all students (Optional)
• Copies of  Retelling Hachikō’s Story Checklist  (provided) for all students
• Hachikō Photographs PowerPoint  (provided)
• Drawing/writing paper, crayons, markers, pencils
• Construction paper, scissors
• Computer, LCD projector, and screen

I mplementation:

Introduction and connections, primary/intermediate.

• Why do we take good care of our pets?
• Why are we so concerned when pets get lost?
• How are we loyal to pets after they die?
• What does a pet do to show it is loyal to its owner?
• How is taking care of a pet important to the community?
• Introduce whichever Hachikō book you are reading as a true story from Japan.
• Develop background knowledge of commuter trains and public transportation in Japan. Help students understand that in Japan’s cities, millions of people ride trains every day from the neighborhoods where they live to the parts of the city where they work, go to school, shop, or take part in other activities; at the end of the day, they ride the train back home again. They walk or bike to a train station, where they can buy a ticket and wait on the platform for their train. Almost two and a half million people pass through Shibuya Station in Tokyo every day. You may want to show some of the images from the  Hachikō Photographs PowerPoint   at this time to give students a visual reference for what the trains, station, and platform look like.
• Discuss the following vocabulary (depending on the knowledge and age of students):  platform ,  kimono ,  newsstand ,  vendor ,  rice balls  (called  onigiri  in Japanese, a rice ball is rice compressed into a ball or triangle around a filling such as a small piece of cooked salmon or pickled plum; rice balls are sometimes wrapped in seaweed; they are a popular food in lunch boxes or for snacks),  professor ,  leather harness ,  samurai ,  tabisocks  (traditional Japanese socks with the big toe split from the other toes for wearing with thonged footwear, such as the traditional Japanese  geta ),  station ,  bronze ,  university ,  stray . You may want to have students make a Vocabulary Book in which they draw or paste pictures that illustrate each of the terms listed.
• Create a vocabulary list while reading the story or doing a picture walk. Revisit the list after reading the story.

Instruction: Read-aloud and Retell

Tell students they will be summarizing the story you read by drawing and writing. Give each student a piece of blank paper. Have the students fold the paper in half twice—first crosswise and then lengthwise—to create a mini-book.

• Introduction to Kentaro, Hachikō, and the train station: Pages 1 through 5 (last sentence: “His brown eyes were fixed on the station entrance.”)
• Introduction to Professor Ueno and Hachikō and Kentaro’s friendship: Page 6 through the end of the first paragraph on page 10 (last sentence: “”When it was cold, I would bury my face in the thick ruff of creamy fur around his neck.”)
• Professor Ueno’s death and Hachikō’s loyalty: Second paragraph on page 10 (paragraph beginning “One day in May…”) through just before the last paragraph on page 18 (last sentence: “’Or perhaps he knows Dr. Ueno is dead, but he waits at the station to honor his master’s memory.’”)
• Hachikō’s death and the Hachikō statue: Last paragraph on page 18 (sentence beginning, “As the years passed. . .”) to the end of the book.

After each section, have each student draw a picture and write a sentence summarizing that section. Tell students to use one new vocabulary word from the story on each page of their book.

• After reading the story, show the  Hachikō Photographs PowerPoint  to help students understand that this really is a true story. Spend time discussing what made the station a special place to Hachikō and why the area around the statue of Hachikō is a special place to people today.

Intermediate

• Tell students they will be summarizing each chapter of the story you read through drawing and writing.
• Read  Hachiko Waits  aloud, chapter by chapter. After each chapter, have the students write and illustrate a summary paragraph. Tell students to use two new words from the story in each paragraph.

Guided Practice: Class Discussion

• Where did Hachikō go during the day? What was special about this place?
• What did Hachikō do that showed he was loyal?
• Did he enjoy his routine?
• Were any other characters in the story loyal?
• What did characters in the story do to make their community a better place?
• Tell the class that they are now going to create an illustration that represents Hachikō. Follow Molly Bang’s example in her book  Picture This,  demonstrating how a small red triangle might represent Little Red Riding Hood while a larger, rounded, light purple triangle could represent her mother.
• Ask the class for ideas about the shape, color, and size that should represent Hachikō. As they give you ideas, students should justify their thoughts by connecting Hachikō’s actions and character traits with the shapes they propose using.
• Ask students what type of shape they feel best represents loyalty. The students do not need to agree. Lead a discussion of how Hachikō showed that he was loyal. Encourage students to talk about why loyalty is an important character trait—how does loyalty help make a good community?
• Give the students construction paper and scissors and have them make their own representations of Hachikō. Tell them they must be able to say why they are making Hachikō the shape, size, and color that they select.
• Give students construction paper and scissors and have them make their own representations of Hachikō. Ask the students to write about why they are making Hachikō the shape, size, and color that they select.
• Ask students to rewrite the story from Hachikō’s point of view, incorporating the idea of loyalty and how people or animals with loyalty contributed to the community in the story; they should also write about what Hachikō might have done before 3 pm each day.
• Have students illustrate one event from their stories, using the construction-paper shapes they made and crayons or colored pencils for the background. Other characters can be represented with construction-paper shapes or can be drawn in crayon or pencil.
• Assign students to use the mini-books they created in the  Instruction: Read-aloud and Retell   section above to retell the story to another individual and use their construction paper shape to describe Hachikō’s character. Use the  Retelling Hachikō’s Story Checklist  to assess student work or to have students self-assess.
• Assign students to show their illustrations of Hachikō to the class or a small group, explain why they chose the shape they did, and read their story from Hachikō’s point of view. Use the  Retelling Hachikō’s Story Checklist  to assess student work or to have students self-assess.

Extensions and Cross-Curricular Ideas:

• Visual Arts:  Assign students to make a mosaic related to the story, using geometrical cutouts as the mosaic “tiles.” Encourage students to convey their ideas about loyalty through their mosaic.
• Character Education:  Compare and contrast the concept of loyalty in Japanese and American culture, using the story of Annie in Fort Collins, CO (or of another local hero dog in your area). Annie’s story is told in  Annie, The Railroad Dog  and, more briefly, on the Colorado Historical Society web site (see  Resources and References ).
• Geography:  Discuss how the Hachikō statue now serves as a meeting place for family and friends in the area. Encourage students to discuss the physical features of the area around the statue (both natural and human-made), as well as the way people react to and use the space. Is there a place in your community with similar features? That people react to similarly?

Resources and References:

Resources for use in lesson.

Newman, Lesléa.  Hachiko Waits . Machiyo Kodaira, illustrator. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2004.

Turner, Pamela S.  Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog . Yan Nascimbene, illustrator. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004.

Resources for Use in Extensions or Cross-Curricular Ideas

Ahlbrandt, Arlene Briggs.  Annie, The Railroad Dog.  Fort Collins, CO: Citizens Printing, 1998.

Harvesting Historical Riches: Colorado and Southern Freight Depot. Colorado Historical Society Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. 

References for Teacher Background

Bang, Molly.  Picture This: How Pictures Work . New York: Sea Star Books, 2000.

The Program for Teaching East Asia at the University of Colorado gratefully acknowledges the support of the  Freeman Foundation  and  Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership  in the development of  Texts and Contexts: Teaching Japan Through Children's Literature .

Created 2010 Program for Teaching East Asia, University of Colorado. 

Text and Contexts

• Poetry Talk
• Grass Sandals: A Mini-Unit on Haiku and Brush Painting
• Comparing Japanese Folktales with American Tall Tales
• Two Homes: Living in Two Cultures
• Telephone  Tanabata

Terms of Use:  Permission is given to reproduce this module for classroom use only. Other reproduction is prohibited without written permission from the Program for Teaching East Asia.

Hachiko: The Legend of Japan’s Most Faithful Dog

The legend of the dog known as Hachiko has become known not only in Japan, but across the world. The adorable Akita dog's unwavering loyalty to his owner earned him the nickname, “Chuken Hachiko,” which means “faithful dog Hachiko."

What kind of dog is Hachi?

First: Everyone is familiar with Hachiko, but what kind of dog was he? Hachiko was an Akita Inu, a Japanese dog breed that has become incredibly popular and famous all over the world in recent years.

A Legendary Friendship

The story began in 1924, when Hidesaburo Ueno , a professor in the agricultural department at the University of Tokyo, adopted a dog which he named Hachiko. The dog was an Akita, a breed originating from the mountainous regions of Japan’s north. Shortly after, they started their famous daily routine, with the dog greeting the professor at the end of each day at Shibuya station, not far from the university campus. Sadly, Professor Ueno passed away in May of 1925, of a cerebral hemorrhage while giving a lecture. Hachiko, not knowing what transpired, continued to return every day to Shibuya station to wait for his owner for the next nine years, nine months, and fifteen days.

Hachiko’s Watch Begins

Most of the commuters at the station first thought that he was just roaming around, but when they realized that he was waiting for his dead master, vendors began giving him bits of food and water. Some, of course, said that he was just coming to get fed by other people. But one of the professor's students was able to document and explain that the dog came back precisely when the train was due to arrive at the station in the evening, at the exact time and place his former companion usually returned.

The Legacy of Hachiko Continues

The former student then published an article in one of Tokyo's largest newspapers, starting the legend of Hachiko. Since then, the story has passed through generations, being immortalized in books, comics, and even a Hollywood film adaptation. However, the most enduring tribute to Hachiko’s devotion is the bronze statue that was erected in 1934 outside of Shibuya Station. The Hachiko statue is Tokyo’s most well-known meeting point, and a famous Shibuya landmark . In February of 2015, the University of Tokyo’s agricultural department erected a new bronze statue on their campus–this time reuniting Hachiko with the Professor.

After being stuffed and displayed at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno , Hachiko was ultimately laid to rest in Aoyama Cemetery, a quiet and peaceful location. He shares his gravesite with none other than his beloved human companion, Professor Ueno .

• Address 2-1, Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-0043 View Map
• Nearest Station Shibuya Station （JR Shonan Shinjuku Line / JR Yamanote Line / JR Saikyo Line / Tokyo Metro Ginza Line / Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line / Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line / Tokyu Toyoko Line / Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line / Keio Inokashira Line）
• Phone Number 03-3462-8311

• Address 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8654 View Map
• Nearest Station Todaimae Station （Tokyo Metro Namboku Line）
• Area Shibuya
• Category Landmarks

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Story of Hachiko: A nation’s best friend

Where the crosswalk goes from red to green and as many as 2,500 people hustle and bustle across the intersection each and every time, at Shibuya Station sits a bronze dog statue. Stoically waiting for his master to come, Hachiko has been immortalized as a symbol of Japanese faith and loyalty. Today, as he waits, thousands upon thousands of Tokyoites will mention his name in text or over the phone as they designate a place to meet with their friends before dinner or a movie. Let us delve into the story of Hachiko : the most faithful companion.

Story of Hachiko and the Akita Breed

Born November 10, 1923, Hachiko was an Akita dog born in Odate, Akita prefecture. In 1924, Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor at the University of Tokyo, adopted Hachiko and formed an unbreakable bond. At the end of every single day, as Ueno got off at Shibuya to make his way home, Hachiko would leave the house alone to greet him at the station. This routine went on every day until May of 1925, when Ueno had a cerebral hemorrhage during a lecture. He died that day.

Hachiko, from that day on, continued for the next nine years to leave the house and wait at the station at the exact time the train was due to arrive. Years went by, and years the dog waited. In 1932, an article in the Asahi Newspaper highlighted his loyalty and thrust him into the national spotlight, where his faith to his master became an example of devotion to which Japanese children could look up to.

Getting its name from Akita prefecture where it’s believed to have originated, this breed goes back to the 1600s, when it guarded royalty as well as aided in hunting large game. The Akita is a strong and devoted dog ; a bit wary of strangers, but completely dedicated to his or her own family. It’s because of these strong characteristics that it became the national dog of Japan. This ended up being very pertinent in the years leading up to World War II, when loyalty to the nation and Emperor became increasingly important.

All things Hachiko

Hachiko’s popularity hasn’t wavered since that time. Nowadays, in places like the Tokyu department store and Shibuya souvenir shops, you can find Hachiko in all shapes and sizes. From stuffed animals, to sweets, even to boxers, it’s all here.

The cuddly Toyoko Hachiko mascot shows up for special events like Christmas , Valentine’s, or concerts, for guests to take pictures with. You know those mascot costumes you were too shy to take pictures with as a kid, or perhaps you just thought they were flat out uncool? They’re all over Japan here. There’s one for each town, and for certain places too. I think they kind of grow on you!—Or maybe it’s that I’m older now and still want to hug something that looks like a giant stuffed animal.

Fun fact: Hachiko’s statue has a floppy left ear that was a huge subject of debate at the time. The artist (who eventually prevailed) sought to depict the real one, though a limp ear didn’t fit the strong and impenetrable image nationalists sought to glorify.

If you want to come to Japan and learn about the story of Hachiko for yourself, get in touch with Go! Go! Nihon today: we’ll help you find the best way for you to come to Japan, and will support you every step of the way.

Hachiko today

Today, Hachiko sits quietly while thousands upon thousands of people sit, chat, and rendezvous around him. Time has passed, clothes have changed, people have come and gone, but the dog will always be there. I wonder what kind of stories he’d tell if he was alive today (oh, and uhm…if dogs could talk, too). It’s neat to have a seat in that area and look over at Shibuya intersection, making up stories about where everyone is going, and what everyone has planned for the day. Perhaps Hachiko wouldn’t care too much about those kinds of things, but more about finally seeing Ueno.

I think what I’m trying to say is that Hachiko loved his family, and he waited on those he loved until the day he died. There’s plenty to be learned from dogs, and this is probably one of them.

Dogs are awesome!

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The True Story Of The World's Most Loyal Dog, Hachiko

Bring up the subject of faithfulness in any discussion, and there's a good chance that the first thing that comes to everyone's mind is the near-legendary loyalty of man's best friend. Over the centuries, dogs have had a reputation for being tremendously loyal to their masters — and interestingly enough, there's scientific evidence that may back up this assertion.

In a 2005 experiment cited by Purina , dogs' brains — specifically, the parts that are "associated with enjoyment and positive emotions" — reportedly lit up in scans after they got a whiff of their owners' distinct scents. This evidence points to canine companions' ability to recognize their owners, supposedly exhibiting what would normally be considered "love" for human beings. Then again, considering how dogs took a different turn on the evolutionary tree from wolves after socializing and bonding with humans across millennia (via National Geographic ), this isn't entirely surprising.

That said, when it comes to loyal dogs, one name stands out among all others: Hachiko, the white Akita who faithfully awaited the return of his dead master at a Japanese train station every day for almost 10 years. Here is the tragic yet heartwarming true story of the pup recognized by many as the most loyal dog in the world.

When Hachiko met his owner

The tale of the famously faithful Hachiko began on November 10 , 1923.  The Japan Times cites "Collection of Hachiko's Materials," a compilation of information about the dog that is said to be "the most detailed record" of his life, and states that his birthplace was a farm in Odate City, in the Akita Prefecture. According to  Time Out Tokyo , Hachiko's father was named Oshinai (after their place of residence), while his mother was named Goma (Japanese for "sesame"). 

About two months after Hachiko was born, a professor and agricultural scientist at Tokyo Imperial University (now the University of Tokyo) named Hidesaburo Ueno acquired the young Akita-inu. While the Japan Times says that Hachiko was "given" to the professor, Time Out Tokyo claims that Ueno actually bought Hachiko for the then-princely sum of 30 yen, as he was actually in search of a pure-bred Akita. Either way, Ueno and his new companion made their way from Hachiko's birthplace to the professor's residence in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo.

Interestingly, per Time Out Tokyo, Hachiko's original name was just Hachi. Ueno reportedly based his name on the number eight, due to its association with fortune and good luck in Japanese culture.

Waiting at the train station every day

Despite being whisked away from his parents and essentially forced to live in an unfamiliar environment, it didn't take long for the young Akita-inu pup to become well-acquainted with his new master's life in Tokyo.

As Hidesaburo Ueno held a teaching position at his university's agricultural department, he had to travel to the university every day via train (per  The Japan Times ). Specifically, Ueno would walk to the railway station in Shibuya. After Hachi came into his care, Ueno started bringing the pup along with him as he traveled to the station. There, he would board the train to work, leaving Hachi behind. At the end of the day, the loyal dog would reappear at Shibuya Station, waiting patiently for his master to alight from the train. Over time, this became the pair's routine (via  Digital Journal ).

Ueno and Hachi's daily trips to the train station went on for a little over a year. Sadly, the pair's everyday habit came to a tragic end on May 21, 1925, after Ueno died mid-lecture due to a cerebral hemorrhage (via Atlas Obscura ).

An almost decade-long wait

As Hidesaburo Ueno died while working, Hachi had no way of realizing that his master's life had already ended and that it would no longer need to greet Ueno at Shibuya Station. 

According to  The Japan Times , since his master was no longer around to care for him, Hachi was given a new home in the Asakusa district. However, it seemed like his love and longing for his master were just too strong, as he would often escape his new house and travel all the way back to Ueno's Shibuya residence. It reached the point where Hachi was eventually placed in the care of a Shibuya-based breeder. ( Time Out Tokyo offers a slightly different story, saying that it was Ueno's former gardener Kikuzaburo Kobayashi who eventually became Hachi's caretaker.)

This also meant that the loyal dog could resume the daily routine he once shared with Ueno — and so, even though there was no longer any reason for Hachi to be there, he continued to show up at the station every day to welcome his master home. This remarkable habit of Hachi's lasted for nearly a decade until his death (per  Berfrois ).

How people initially reacted to Hachiko

Even after Hidesaburo Ueno died and Hachi was transferred to a different household, the dog kept stubbornly returning to the very spot in front of Shibuya Station where he would meet his master after a day's work (via  Time Out Tokyo ). By the time the Akita-inu pup was transferred to the care of someone living in Tomigaya (a district that was quite close to the station), Hachi's trips to Shibuya Station became a regular occurrence. This made it a common sight for the people at the station. Unfortunately, even though his unending loyalty eventually gained Hachi much respect and admiration, this wasn't the case initially.

Per Time Out Tokyo, there were quite a few anecdotes about the loyal dog being "beaten and bullied by pedestrians and even children while he lingered around the station." That said, the situation wasn't totally bad for Hachi, at least according to the  Digital Journal . Apparently (and thankfully), not everyone at the station felt that harassing Hachi was a worthwhile pastime. Some people didn't think much of the pup, assuming that he was merely hanging out there for no good reason. However, when they realized that Hachiko was actually waiting for someone who would never arrive, they became sympathetic to the dog, feeding him and giving him water. While some theorized that Hachiko only showed up there to beg for food, the fact that he arrived at the exact time Ueno's train used to arrive debunks this theory.

Hachiko's rise to stardom

For the next seven years after Hidesaburo Ueno's passing, Hachi continued to show up at Shibuya Station in the vain hope of seeing his master again. It's likely that Hachiko would have simply continued to be a generally unremarkable (albeit regular) sight at the station if it hadn't been for someone who took notice of his unique habit and published a story that almost instantly made the faithful Akita-inu famous.

After Nihon Ken Hozonkai ("The Association for the Preservation of the Japanese Dog") chairman Hirokichi Saito learned about Hachi and his predicament, he published an article in one of Japan's largest newspapers, Asahi Shimbun, featuring the pup's story (per  Time Out Tokyo ). According to  The Japan Times , the piece (which was published in October 1932) bore the headline, "Story of a beloved old dog. Several years eagerly awaiting the return of his now-deceased master." The article became the catalyst for Hachi gaining massive attention from readers, who admired his loyalty to his master. This also led to them adding the "ko" suffix at the end of Hachi's name as an honorific of sorts (via Time Out Tokyo). Two years later, local officials erected a life-sized monument to Hachiko just outside Shibuya Station, per  Berfrois .

On an interesting note, various sources like the  Digital Journal identified Saito as a former student of Ueno's who figured out why Hachi frequented Shibuya Station by observing the dog's behavior and taking note of when he would show up.

Hachiko: a rare purebred Akita

Interestingly, the newspaper article that skyrocketed Hachiko's fame came at a time when Japan had just started to hold its indigenous dog breeds in higher regard (via  Berfrois ). Because of Western influence, native breeds were initially perceived as "vicious and cowardly creatures," which doomed many of them to extinction. However, when Japan grew its own power and influence in the early 1900s, its perception about indigenous breeds — including the Akita — sharply changed. 

The  American Kennel Club describes the Akita breed as "burly, heavy-boned spitz-type dogs of imposing stature" produced by generations of selective breeding. Despite nearly going extinct a few times over the course of Japanese history, the Akita managed to bounce back, in large part due to the government and concerned citizens' attempts to preserve it and other endangered breeds. 

For many dog researchers, Hachiko served as "a good representative of the Akita dog of his day" (via the  Akita Learning Center ). Thus, with the loyal Akita dog's popularity surge came increased awareness about his breed as well.

The death of Hachiko

For three years after the publication of the article that made him a national sensation, Hachiko continued to show up at Shibuya Station every day to wait for his master. As it turned out, only death could put an end to the loyal Akita-inu's quest.

Hachiko breathed his last breath on March 8, 1935 (via Australian Dog Lover Magazine ). The faithful pup's body was discovered on a street in Shibuya, and for a time, people weren't completely sure what caused his death. Some speculated that it was a yakitori skewer that caused a fatal stomach injury (per  The Japan Times ). However, research conducted decades later debunked this idea. In 2011, veterinarians at the University of Tokyo were able to solve the mystery of Hachiko's death after examining his internal organs. While they did find four yakitori sticks in his stomach, veterinarian Kazuyuki Uchida confirmed that they didn't cause the dog's death. Instead, Hachiko actually died because he was infected with filarial worms. Furthermore, he also had terminal cancer.

If it's any comfort, the findings suggest that Hachiko was well-fed and properly cared for until his death. As animal anatomy specialist Hideki Endo explained via  The Japan Times , "Hachiko lived a better life in Shibuya with good care from people in the restaurant area. Finding red lanterns, he went there and satisfied his appetite with grilled chicken he was given."

The reunion of Hachiko's family

In the end, it was Hachiko's passing that would ultimately serve as the catalyst for his reunion with his beloved master (via  Japan Travel ). When the loyal Akita-inu died, his remains were taxidermied, but the rest of him was cremated. His ashes were buried next to Hidesaburo Ueno in Aoyama Cemetery in Tokyo. As  Time Out Tokyo explains, the park-like cemetery also has a shrine to Hachiko next to Ueno's tomb. 

Over four decades after Hachiko's death, he and his master were reunited with his other keeper, Yaeko Sakano. A 2016 article in  The Mainichi  talks about how, despite being a longtime partner and wife to Ueno, she did not take the professor's family name. When she died in 1961, her remains were not buried with Ueno's; instead, they were laid to rest at a temple at the Taito Ward in Tokyo. However, in 2014, a professor at the University of Tokyo named Sho Shiozawa stumbled upon Yaeko's final wish to be buried with her husband. As a result, Shiozawa moved to honor Yaeko's last request by asking for her family's permission to move her remains. 

Shiozawa believes that this was a significant milestone in the story of Hachiko. "By putting the names of both (Hidesaburo and Yaeko) on their grave, we can show future generations the fact that Hachiko had two keepers," he told The Mainichi.

Monuments honoring Hachiko

Hachiko became so beloved by the people who knew his story that even while he was still alive, people started immortalizing him.

Per The Japan Times , sculptor Teru Ando erected a statue of the loyal Akita-inu in April 1934. However, the dog's statue was melted down a decade later due to the Japanese government's urgent need for metals during the war effort (the metals obtained from Ando's masterpiece became part of a locomotive). On August 15, 1948, a replacement statue was unveiled in celebration of the end of the war. Interestingly, it was sculpted by Teru's son, Takeshi. Over time, parts of the statue became discolored due to the sheer number of people attempting to touch the monument. "It is proof that he is loved and touched by everybody," Takeshi said. Just opposite the statue is a mural called the "Hachiko Family Mural," which features "a bit of canine company for the faithful dog" sculpted by artist Ryutaro Kitahara (via  Japan Travel ).

More recently, in 2015, the University of Tokyo came up with its own idea for a statue that honored not just Hachiko but professor Hidesaburo Ueno as well (per Time Out Tokyo ). The statue features the master and his companion finally reuniting after so many years. It was completed with the help of approximately 10 million yen's worth of donation and is now located within the boundaries of the university.

An annual holiday for Hachiko

At the spot near Shibuya Scramble Square where Hachiko used to wait faithfully for Hidesaburo Ueno to come home, those who love the dog and his story of undying loyalty gather around at least once a year to celebrate his life and memory (per  Time Out Tokyo ). Called the Chuuken Hachiko Matsuri, it is celebrated every April 8, which is one month after Hachiko's death anniversary (per  Japan Travel ). On this day, people decorate Hachiko's spot with flowers, and a small, solemn ceremony is held to honor the faithful dog (via YouTube ).

That said, Hachiko and his statue only get attention once a year. In fact, for most of the year, people from different locations travel to this iconic location not just to see the statue of Hachiko for themselves but also to admire the beauty of the place. According to Japan Travel, an estimated 2.4 million people pass by Hachiko's bronze statue daily as they make their way to Shibuya Station.

Hachiko in popular culture

Aside from being immortalized as various statues, Hachiko has also been a steadfast part of literature, films, and other forms of popular culture.

A couple of years after the beginning of Hachiko's rising popularity, government officials in charge of education decided that his story was important enough to be included in one of their primary school textbooks (per Berfrois ). Specifically, it was a textbook for 2nd-graders tackling subjects of morality, and it bore the title "Never forget moral indebtedness," according to  The Japan Times . Possibly because of Hachiko's popularity and the lessons that come from his story, the book that featured him "became required reading for students throughout the Japanese empire," as Berfrois explains. In 2004, a children's book titled "Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog" was published.

Meanwhile, Hachiko was featured on the silver screen in at least two retellings of his life. First was " Hachiko Monogatari ," a film that premiered in 1987. Over two decades later, the Hollywood movie "Hachi: A Dog's Tale" came out, which starred famous Hollywood actor Richard Gere as Ueno's fictional counterpart.

Where is Hachiko now?

While Hachiko's ashes are buried with his owner, there's still plenty of him to see if you want to get to know the loyal dog up close. According to The Japan Times , the taxidermied remains of Hachiko are on display located at the National Museum of Nature and Science, located at Taito Ward's Ueno Park. 

Hachiko has his own spot in the museum — positioned at a relatively low height so that museum visitors are encouraged to kneel exactly like how they would to pat their pets — and is flanked by two other notable dogs in Japanese history (per  Atlas Obscura ). One of them is Jiro, a Sakhalin Husky whose claim to fame was being able to survive the harsh conditions in Antarctica, despite being practically abandoned there for about a year. The other is Kai Ken, and the specimen falls under an extremely rare breed that Atlas Obscura calls "the most ancient and purest dog breed in Japan."

The True Story of Hachiko - The Faithful Dog

See files for Dogs

Hachiko was a dog known for his infinite fidelity and love for his owner, Eizaburo Ueno. This dog is known as the faithful and lonely dog as he waited for his owner at the train station after he returned from work, even after his owner's sudden death.

In this AnimalWised article we're going to tell the tale of this amazing dog, this is the true story of Hachiko, the faithful dog .

Who was Hachiko the faithful dog?

Life with the professor, the death of his master, death of hachiko, the story of hachiko and its legacy.

Hachiko was a dog known for his infinite fidelity and love for his owner, Eizaburo Ueno, a university professor in Tokyo, Japan. Every afternoon, Hachiko (stylized as Hachikō in Japanese) waited at the Shibuya train station until his owner returned from work - even after his tragic sudden death.

This display of affection and loyalty has made Hachiko's story become world famous. It has even made it onto the big screen with a movie.

This is the perfect example of how the love of a dog can be as strong as the love of humans. So let's get into the true story of Hachiko “the faithful dog”, grab some tissues and keep reading this AnimalWised article!

Hachiko was an Akita Inu who was born in 1923 in Akita prefecture, Japan. A year later he became a gift for the daughter of a professor of agronomic engineering at Tokyo University. When the professor, Eisaburo Ueno, saw him for the first time, he realized that his legs were slightly crooked. They resembled the kanji that represents the number 8 (八, which in Japanese is pronounced hachi ), so he decided to name him Hachiko (ハチ公).

When Ueno's daughter grew up, she married and went to live with her husband, leaving the dog behind. The teacher had grown very fond of him, so he decided to keep Hachi instead of giving him away.

Ueno went to work by train every day and Hachiko became his faithful companion. Every morning he accompanied him to the Shibuya train station and in the afternoon he went back to meet him when he returned. This example of true loyalty is what inspired the people of Tokyo at the time and the rest of the world since.

One day, while teaching at the university, Ueno suffered a sudden cerebral hemorrhage which ended his life. However, Hachiko continued to wait for him at the Shibuya station .

Day after day Hachiko went to the station and waited for hours for his owner, looking for his face among the thousands of strangers passing by. These days turned into months and months and eventually into years. Hachiko waited tirelessly for his owner for nine long years. Through rain, snow or sunshine. He would appear at the exact time his master's train awas due in the station.

The inhabitants of Shibuya knew Hachiko and has regular seen him with professor Ueno. Due to the busyness of the station, many found it annoying to have the dog getting in the way. However, when they realized what had happened, they took charge of feeding and taking care of him while he waited in the door of the station. They soon realized the reason he was there was supreme loyalty. This loyalty for his owner earned him the nickname “ the faithful dog ”.

People have shown much affection and admiration for Hachiko and his loyalty. So much so, a statue of him was revealed in 1934 in front of the same train station where he waited for his owner every day.

On March 9, 1935, Hachiko was found dead at the foot of the statue. He was 11 and it appears he died because of old age. It adds poetic resonance to the Hachiko story that he died in the same place where he had waited for his owner's return for nine years. The remains of the faithful dog were buried next to those of his owner in the cemetery of Aoyama in Tokyo.

During World War II all Japanese statues made from bronze were recast to manufacture armaments, including that of Hachiko. Nevertheless, a few years later, a society was created to produce a new dog statue and to put it in the same place. Takeshi Ando, ​​the son of the original sculptor, was hired to rework the statue. This goes to show that the story of Hachiko had endured long after his death. Perhaps such inspiring stories were even more necessary after a war.

Today the statue of Hachiko continues to stand in the same place, in front of the station of Shibuya. Every April 8th a special day is celebrated which commemorates his fidelity .

After all these years the story of Hachiko, the faithful dog is still alive because his love, loyalty and unconditional affection shook the heart of a population. And still continues to do so today. His legacy lives on.

The story of the dog Hachi has continued in the hearts of those who heard it. This legacy is one which is kept alive thanks to the story's retelling. Many people in Japan have told this story to from older generations to younger. However, it is also important to remember that the faithful dog's story was not only popular posthumously.

Hirokichi Saito was one of professor Ueno's students and he grew a strong interest in the Japanese Akita dog breed. He even developed Nippo ( Nipponinu Hozonkai - Japanese Dog Preservation Society) and is more than partly responsible for this dog's regained popularity. In fact, through his research, we learned that Hachiko was only one of around 30 purebred Akita Inu dogs still alive.

Saito's love for Akitas and Hachiko in particular led to him writing various articles which helped to publicize his story. These stories spread so wide that in 1987 the first movie about Hachiko was released. The Japanese language Hachikō Monogatari (‘The Tale of Hachiko’) was the number one movie in Japan at the time of its release. Hachiko's story received the Hollywood treatment in 2009 with the release of Hachi: A Dog's Tale staring Richard Gere as an anglicized version of the real life professor Ueno.

The legacy of Hachiko's story can be seen in diverse ways from children's books to plot lines in episodes of Scooby Doo . One of the most appropriate is the naming of a new minibus in the Shibuya ward ‘ Hachiko-bus ’.

If you want to read similar articles to The True Story of Hachiko - The Faithful Dog , we recommend you visit our Facts about the animal kingdom category.

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Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog

Hachiko is a beautiful, true story about a loyal dog who waits for his owner, Dr. Ueno, outside Tokyo’s Shibuya train station every day. This story is told through the eyes of a fictional boy, Kentaro, who befriends Hachiko in Shibuya station. Even after Dr. Ueno’s death, Hachiko continues to wait faithfully in the same spot for his owner’s return, every day for ten years. After Hachiko’s death, a statue is placed in his honor, which can be visited today in Shibuya Station. School Library Journal has this listed as grades 1-4 and my PK and third grader loved it equally, though appreciated it in different ways. For both girls, it was a good book for discussing human experiences such as love, loyalty, and loss. The book also introduces Japanese cultural terms and vocabulary such as: samurai, tabi socks, and soybean cake. My four year old was able to understand that the story took place in another country and we talked about basic geography such as where Japan, Tokyo, and Shibuya Station is. My third grader was able to delve deeper into some of the information shared at the end of the story, such as the fact that the original statue was melted down during WWII. That initiated an interesting discussion about war, resources, and weaponry. I give Hachiko five stars because I think that it is a great book that speaks to common values and human experiences that children focus on in early years. Though the book is not heavy with Japanese culture or history, the shared human experiences are told through the story of a dog in Japan, and the book opens doors to talk about that specific culture. It gives young students common ground to feel something for Hachiko, the statue that stands in Tokyo, that many other Japanese children also feel. Additionally, ceremonies for Hachiko are held at the time of the cherry blossom festival, which gives more to talk about, in addition to the discussion of smelting the statue during WWII. It is also worth mentioning that there are two films made about Hachiko, one in Japanese and one in English. Hachi-ko Monogatari was released in Japan in 1987 and an English language version of the film, Hachi, was released in the US with Richard Gere in 2009. The latter was filmed in Rhode Island at Woonsocket Depot Square where a permanent replica statue of Hachiko was dedicated during an annual Rhode Island Cherry Blossom Festival.

Heartwarming story of a loyal friend.

This is a heartwarming story of a professor who befriends an Akita dog named Hachiko. Hachiko walks the professor to the train station every day and returns to walk home with him every evening. This process continues every day for a year until the professor doesn't return by train. The professor's absence doesn't deter Hachiko from keeping to his schedule. Every day for nine years Hachiko returns to the station to wait for his master. The public took note of his loyalty and Hachiko became famous. Newspapers write about him and he is memorialized by a bronze statue placed in the exact location that Hachiko waited for his master. This statue can still be seen in Shibuya, Tokyo Japan. I would use this book as a read aloud for students first through third grade. Students 4th through 6th grade could use it in literature circles. There is a movie titled "Hachi:A Dog's Tale" that could be used as an additional resource.

Wonderful dog book

Hachiko By Pamela Turner Review by: Jessica Glenn- Elementary Substitute- Central PA Hachiko is a true story about a dog named Hachiko and his owner Dr. Ueno. Hachiko walks to the train station every morning with Dr. Ueno and waits for him there every afternoon. One afternoon Dr. Ueno does not come back to the station and the dog waits and waits for him to return. The story is told by Kentaro, a fictional young boy who checks on the dog to make sure Hachiko is okay because he knows Dr. Ueno is dead. He becomes Hachiko’s friend. Hachiko shows up at the station faithfully each and every morning for almost ten years until he becomes too old to do so. Hachiko is a beloved figure in Japan, a symbol of a loyal friend. I thought this was a decent story. This story would be great to be used with children in fourth grade. The story is kind of sad at some points so I would make sure that you read the story first and are prepared to deal with these parts. This story would be a great story to a help a student who is going through a loss of a pet or even a family member.

Great Story!

What a wonderful story about the loyalty of a dog to the man who loved him. About a year ago, I'd seen the movie starring Richard Gere, so I was familiar with the story already. However, I still found it just as heartwarming as the movie. I did not know that they held a festival every year at the location where the dog waited every day. How exciting for a nation to celebrate the loyalty of an animal - on a yearly basis! I would recommend reading this personally, as well as to all elementary school-aged children! Excellent lesson in loyalty, devotion, and love! --S. VanKirk

The Story of Hachiko: Japan’s Favorite Dog

Nearly a century ago, a dog named Hachiko won over the hearts of the Japanese nation through his steadfast loyalty to his owner. 

To this day, he is a beloved national icon whose story provides a touching example of just how strong the bond between dog and human can be. 

Adopted by a university professor named Ueno Eisaburo, the pair used to walk to the train station together every morning and return home together every evening. After his master passed away unexpectedly, Hachiko spent the next decade waiting for his arrival.

This is the story of Hachiko, Japan’s most loyal dog.

The Story of Hachiko the Dog

Hachiko was born on a farm in the Odate region of Japan in 1923, but his story begins a year later. That’s when Ueno Eisaburo, who had been looking for a purebred Akita dog like Hachiko, received him as a gift from one of his former students.

However, when Ueno introduced Hachiko into his home, it was a rocky start. 

When Hachiko arrived, it was winter. He was frail and soon developed a fever. Ueno and his wife had to nurse the struggling pup back to health. 

They allowed him to sleep under their bed, wrapped in fabric. Then, they placed ice bags on his forehead to cool him and used bags of hot water to keep his body warm. 

This kind of treatment toward pets was unusual then and showed just how much professor Ueno loved Hachiko.

Over several months, Hachiko eventually grew stronger. But Ueno continued to dote on his furry friend. He brushed his thick fur daily and fed him rich meals of rice with broth, milk, and liver. And he took him on long walks with his other two dogs.

Hachiko soon got into the habit of accompanying his owner to Shibuya station every morning, where Ueno would catch a train to the university. 

While Ueno was teaching, Hachiko would wait patiently for him on the platform. In the afternoon, Ueno would return, and the pair would walk home together. 

This was their routine for years until one day in May 1925, Professor Ueno didn’t get off as he normally did. 

Hachiko waited patiently, as always, watching each train come and go. But his friend never showed up. It turns out that professor Ueno had suffered a fatal brain hemorrhage that morning while teaching classes. 

Hachiko waited as the trains came and went. Finally, it began to grow dark, but still, he remained. The next day, Hachiko returned as usual. He waited all afternoon, but the professor never showed up. 

Ueno’s relatives eventually took him to their home far from the station to continue caring for him. But Hachiko soon found his way back to Ueno’s house and to the Shibuya train station. 

It seemed that nothing would stop him from being there when his friend finally showed up. 

But Professor Ueno never came back.

How Hachiko Became a National Celebrity

It didn’t take long for Hachiko to become a well-known fixture at the train station. Employees fed him occasionally and even kept him company as he waited. 

Eventually, his story got out, and curious people came to the station to see this special dog.

One of those people was Hirokichi Saito, one of Ueno’s former students and an expert on Akita dogs. He decided to follow Hachiko one day and was led to the house of Ueno’s former gardener, Kuzaburo Kobayashi.

Saito wanted to know more about this special Akita dog, and the gardener provided details about his life with Ueno.

Saito then conducted a census of all of the Akita dogs in Japan and found that there were only 30 purebred Akitas. That in itself made Hachiko unique. But his loyalty really fascinated Satio, and he published article after article about him.

When one day in 1932, one of Saito’s articles appeared in the national newspaper, Hachiko became an overnight celebrity. 

People from all over Japan came to see Hachiko while he waited for his deceased master. They regarded him not only as an example of loyalty, but also as a kind of good-luck charm.

Hachiko was no doubt happy to have company, but he didn’t let it distract him from his duty. He continued waiting for nine years and nine months, determined to be there to greet his master when he finally returned. 

One day, some employees found Hachiko’s body slumped over on the side of the road outside the station. At eleven years old, the loyal dog passed away of natural causes.

But he had never stopped waiting.

Hachiko’s Legacy

Ever since his passing, Hachiko’s story has served as an inspiration to many. Among some of the people who found Hachiko’s story to be inspiring have been several filmmakers. 

Most recently, Richard Gere starred in an American version of his life called  Hachi: A Dog’s Life . This 2009 remake was based on the Japanese film called Hachikō Monogatari, which had the top box office hit the year it was released, in 1987.

But Hachiko’s fame extends beyond film. After his passing, his body was taken to the National Science Museum of Japan to be preserved by one of the top taxidermists. 

Anyone who wants to go see him can do so. There’s also a monument to Hachiko right outside his owner’s tomb in Aoyama cemetery in Tokyo.

Fittingly, a bronze statue was also erected in Hachhiko’s honor at the Shibuya train station. He was even present to witness the unveiling in 1934. 

That statue was destroyed during World War II, but a new one was built in its place, which serves as a popular meeting point for locals.

Although the Shibuya statue is undoubtedly the most famous, several other statues of Hachiko are scattered throughout Japan. 

One is located near Hachiko’s birthplace and another in Ueno’s hometown. 

A statue of the pair greeting each other was erected on the University of Tokyo campus in 2015. Hachiko even has a statue in Rhode Island, where the film  Hachi: A Dog’s Tale was  filmed.

The funny thing is that Hachiko wasn’t trying to be noble or to leave a legacy. But perhaps that’s why he’s remembered so fondly today. He is an example of the kind of unconditional love that only a dog can provide. 

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• Biographies & Autobiographies

Hachiko’s Heartfelt Legacy: The True Story of a Loyal Dog

Updated on: June 9, 2023

Andrew Rose

June 9, 2023 / Reading time: 11 minutes

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Table of Contents

The most important in brief

Was hachiko aware his owner died.

It’s hard to know for sure, but Hachiko’s daily visits to Shibuya Station suggest that he may have sensed his owner’s passing. Find out more here…

Who exactly was Hachiko?

Hachiko was an Akita dog known for his unwavering loyalty to his owner, Hidesaburo Ueno, even after his death. More here…

How is Hachiko’s story honored by Japanese people?

Hachiko is commemorated with a statue in Shibuya Station and is celebrated annually on April 8th, known as Hachiko Day. Further information here…

The tale of Hachiko, an Akita dog who exemplified unwavering loyalty to his owner, Hidesaburo Ueno, has captured the hearts of millions. This article will delve into the true story of Hachiko’s dedication and how it continues to inspire people today. We will explore the origins of this incredible bond, the impact of Hachiko’s story on Japanese culture, and how you can honor Hachiko’s legacy.

The Unwavering Devotion of Hachiko

Hachiko, an Akita dog, was born in 1923 in the rural town of Odate, Japan. When he was just a few months old, Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor at the University of Tokyo, adopted him. The bond between Hachiko and Ueno was instant, and they soon became inseparable . Hachiko’s loyalty to Ueno began to manifest in his daily routine, as he would dutifully accompany Ueno to Shibuya Station each morning to see him off to work. In the evening, Hachiko would return to the station and patiently wait for Ueno’s train to arrive, a ritual they shared for over a year.

On May 21, 1925, tragedy struck when Ueno suffered a cerebral hemorrhage during a lecture and passed away, never returning to the train station where Hachiko awaited him. Despite Ueno’s sudden death, Hachiko’s loyalty remained unwavering. Every day for nearly ten years, Hachiko continued to make his way to Shibuya Station, patiently waiting for his beloved owner to return. Rain or shine, Hachiko would be there, capturing the hearts of local commuters who began to recognize the loyal dog and his story.

As Hachiko’s story spread, people from all over Japan traveled to Shibuya Station to catch a glimpse of the devoted dog. They brought food, water, and affection, supporting Hachiko in his vigil. His devotion moved those who encountered him, and his story soon became a symbol of loyalty and love, inspiring people from all walks of life.

Hachiko’s dedication persisted until his own death on March 8, 1935, almost a decade after Ueno’s passing. He was found lying in the same spot where he had waited for his owner for so many years, his heart finally giving out. Hachiko’s unwavering devotion to Ueno transcended the bounds of life and death, demonstrating the depth of the bond that can exist between a human and their canine companion.

Did you know?

Hachiko, the loyal Akita Inu, waited for his owner at Shibuya Station every day for nearly ten years after his owner’s death. His unwavering devotion not only touched the hearts of people around the world but also serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of caring for our canine companions’ physical and emotional well-being, including their joint health.

A Symbol of Loyalty: Hachiko’s Profound Impact on Japanese Culture

Hachiko’s heartwarming story of unwavering loyalty has left an indelible mark on Japanese culture, transcending time and resonating deeply with generations of people. The tale of Hachiko has been retold and celebrated in numerous forms, from children’s books and novels to movies and television shows, each iteration capturing the essence of loyalty, love, and dedication that Hachiko embodied.

In 1934, a bronze statue of Hachiko was erected in front of Shibuya Station, the very place where he had waited for his owner for nearly a decade. This statue, designed by renowned sculptor Teru Ando, has become an iconic symbol of devotion and a popular meeting spot in Tokyo. The original statue was melted down during World War II, but a new statue, created by Ando’s son, was erected in 1948 and continues to stand proudly at the station, reminding passersby of Hachiko’s unwavering love.

Hachiko’s impact on Japanese culture extends beyond the arts and physical tributes . His tale has inspired countless individuals to value the bonds they share with their pets and to strive for loyalty and dedication in their own lives. The story of Hachiko has become a touchstone for teaching the importance of loyalty and commitment in personal relationships, as well as respect and compassion towards animals.

In 2015, the University of Tokyo, where Ueno had been a professor, unveiled a bronze statue of Hachiko reuniting with his owner. This heartwarming scene commemorates the unwavering bond between Hachiko and Ueno and stands as a reminder of the love and loyalty that transcends the boundaries of life and death.

Hachiko’s influence also extends beyond Japanese culture , as his story has been shared and embraced by people all over the world. In 2009, an American film adaptation titled “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale” was released, introducing Hachiko’s story to an even broader audience and further solidifying his legacy as a symbol of devotion.

Hachiko’s Statue: A Lasting Tribute to Unconditional Love and Loyalty

In 1934, a bronze statue of Hachiko was unveiled at Shibuya Station in Tokyo as a fitting tribute to the loyal dog’s unwavering devotion . Designed by renowned sculptor Teru Ando, the statue captures the essence of Hachiko’s steadfast love and dedication, immortalizing the remarkable bond he shared with his owner, Hidesaburo Ueno.

Over the years, Hachiko’s statue has evolved into more than just a memorial; it has become an iconic symbol of unconditional love and the unbreakable bond between humans and their pets. The statue’s significance is highlighted by the countless visitors who flock to the site to pay their respects and appreciate the powerful story of loyalty it represents. Couples, friends, and families often choose the statue as a meeting point, as it embodies the values of dedication and commitment that are cherished in relationships.

In addition to being a popular meeting spot, Hachiko’s statue has also become a focal point for various events and celebrations. Each year on April 8th , a ceremony is held at the statue to honor Hachiko’s unwavering loyalty. The event draws crowds of dog lovers, pet owners, and admirers of Hachiko’s story, all of whom come together to celebrate the enduring spirit of love and devotion that Hachiko exemplified.

A Heartwarming Digression: Inspiring Stories of Loyal Dogs

Hachiko’s story of unwavering loyalty has touched the hearts of many, but it is far from being the only tale of devoted canine companionship. Throughout history, countless stories have been shared that exemplify the remarkable loyalty and devotion of dogs towards their owners. Here are a few notable examples:

• Greyfriars Bobby: In Edinburgh, Scotland, a Skye Terrier named Bobby spent 14 years guarding his owner’s grave until his own death in 1872. Bobby’s unwavering dedication to his beloved owner, John Gray, captured the hearts of the local community, and a statue was erected near his owner’s grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard to commemorate their enduring bond. Today, Greyfriars Bobby’s story continues to inspire and serve as a testament to the power of loyalty and love.
• Capitán : In Argentina, a dog named Capitán displayed an incredible show of devotion by maintaining a vigil at his owner’s gravesite for over six years. After his owner’s death, Capitán refused to leave the cemetery, and the staff eventually took him in, providing food and shelter. The tale of Capitán’s unwavering loyalty even after his owner’s passing has touched the hearts of many and stands as a powerful reminder of the depth of the bond between humans and their canine companions.
• Shep : A loyal American dog named Shep displayed remarkable devotion to his deceased owner by waiting at a Montana train station for six years, hoping for his owner’s return. After his owner’s body was transported by train for burial, Shep remained at the station, greeting every train that arrived, searching for the friend he had lost. Local residents took care of Shep until his death in 1942, and his story of steadfast loyalty has become a symbol of the unbreakable bond between humans and their pets.

The incredible devotion, love and commitment that can exist between humans and their canine companions is highlighted in these heartwarming stories of loyal dogs from around the world, along with Hachiko’s story. Encouraging us to cherish and appreciate the deep bonds we share with our furry friends, these stories serve as a powerful reminder of their unwavering loyalty.

Caring for Your Loyal Companion: Tips for Strengthening Your Bond

To nurture and strengthen the incredible bond between You and Your furry friend, consider these essential tips:

• Spend quality time together: Dedicate time each day to engage in activities that both you and Your dog enjoy, such as walks, playtime, or cuddling on the couch. By spending meaningful moments with your canine companion, you foster a strong emotional connection that lasts a lifetime.
• Train and socialize your dog: Teaching your dog new tricks and exposing them to various social situations can strengthen your bond and build trust. Positive reinforcement training techniques can also help improve communication between You and Your dog, making your relationship even stronger.
• Prioritize their health: Regular vet check-ups, a nutritious diet, and consistent exercise are crucial for maintaining your dog’s overall well-being. By taking care of their health, you show your love and commitment, ensuring that your dog remains a happy and loyal companion.
• Provide mental stimulation: Challenging toys and puzzles can help keep your dog’s mind sharp and engaged, preventing boredom and promoting a healthy mental state. Mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise, so make sure to provide opportunities for mental enrichment daily.
• Be patient and understanding: Recognize that your dog is not perfect, and always strive to approach their behavior with patience and empathy. Understand that every dog has its unique personality and quirks. By remaining patient and empathetic, you demonstrate your unwavering love and acceptance, further solidifying your bond.
• Create a safe and comfortable environment: Ensure that your home is a safe haven for Your dog by providing a cozy space for them to rest, access to fresh water, and a secure outdoor area for them to explore. A safe and comfortable environment allows your dog to feel secure and loved, contributing to a deeper bond between you both.

By following these tips and investing the time and effort to nurture the relationship, you and you faithful companion can develop a bond that will stand the test of time, just like the inspirational stories of Hachiko and other devoted dogs across the globe.

Caring for Canine Companions:

Hachiko’s heartwarming tale serves as a powerful reminder of the deep emotional bond that can exist between humans and dogs. This inspiring story encourages us to prioritize the health and well-being of our canine companions, ensuring they live a comfortable and fulfilling life. In this regard, joint health supplements, like joint tablets for dogs, play a crucial role in maintaining the overall well-being of our beloved pets.

As dogs age, they may experience joint pain and discomfort due to various factors, such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, or general wear and tear. Joint tablets for dogs, containing essential ingredients like glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM, can help alleviate these issues and support overall joint health. By incorporating joint health supplements into your dog’s daily routine, you are actively taking care of their well-being and ensuring they remain active and pain-free.

Hachiko’s unwavering loyalty and devotion to his owner remind us of the incredible bond we share with our furry friends and the responsibility we have as pet owners to provide the best care possible. In this sense, the connection between Hachiko’s story and joint tablets for dogs lies in our commitment to nurturing and protecting the health of our loyal companions, demonstrating our appreciation for the love and loyalty they bring to our lives.

Hint: Create a daily routine for your dog that combines physical activities suitable for their age and physical condition with mental stimulation. This not only strengthens your bond with your furry friend but also keeps their joints healthy and their minds sharp.

Lucky Pets’ joint tablets provide the support your dog’s joints need

Lucky Pets offers high-quality joint tablets from Germany that have been carefully developed together with veterinarians. With 100% natural ingredients and strict quality control, these tablets are exactly what your dog needs.

It’s best to start supporting your dog’s joints at a young age. Lucky Pets joint tablets accompany your dog throughout his life and are therefore suitable for dogs of all ages. You only have to pay attention to the weight of your dog: Dogs up to 20 kg get half a tablet per day, and all dogs over 20 kg get a whole tablet.

You don’t have to worry about your dog eating the joint tablets, as Lucky Pets has taken into account that many dogs are picky eaters. That’s why the tablets taste wonderfully of beef and will most likely be eaten by your dog without any problems.

Revitalizing Canine Joints: A Dive into Essential Joint Health Ingredients

Lucky Pets’ joint tablets are made from the best ingredients possible to ensure your dog’s joint health.

• Green-lipped mussel: Green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) is a shellfish native to New Zealand, known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, this natural ingredient is commonly used in joint health supplements for dogs, helping to reduce joint pain and inflammation associated with conditions like arthritis.
• Glucosamine hydrochloride: Glucosamine hydrochloride is a widely used supplement derived from the shells of crustaceans or synthesized in laboratories. It plays a crucial role in the maintenance and repair of cartilage, promoting joint mobility and overall joint health in dogs.
• MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane): MSM is an organic sulfur compound found naturally in certain foods and also available in supplement form. It has powerful anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties, making it an effective ingredient in joint health supplements for dogs to alleviate joint pain and stiffness.
• Chondroitin sulfate: Chondroitin sulfate is a natural compound found in cartilage and connective tissues. It helps to maintain cartilage elasticity and inhibit the enzymes responsible for breaking down cartilage. When combined with glucosamine, it can provide significant relief from joint pain and improve joint function in dogs.
• Ginger : Ginger is a well-known natural anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving herb. Its active compounds, such as gingerols, can help alleviate joint pain and inflammation in dogs, making it a valuable addition to joint health supplements.
• Devil’s claw: Devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) is a plant native to southern Africa, known for its potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Its active ingredient, harpagoside, can help reduce joint pain and inflammation in dogs, providing a natural alternative to conventional pain-relief medications.
• Frankincense : Frankincense (Boswellia serrata) is a resin derived from the bark of the Boswellia tree, native to India and the Middle East. It contains powerful anti-inflammatory compounds called boswellic acids, which can help reduce joint pain, swelling, and stiffness in dogs, making it an effective ingredient in joint health supplements.

The combination of these key ingredients in a joint health supplement can have significant benefits for dogs suffering from joint pain and discomfort. Incorporating these natural and effective ingredients into your dog’s daily routine will actively support their joint health and overall wellbeing, ensuring a more active and pain-free life.

Tip: Pay attention to any changes in your dog’s behavior, such as limping, stiffness, or reluctance to engage in activities they previously enjoyed. These could be early signs of joint discomfort, and timely intervention with joint health supplements or a visit to the vet could help alleviate their pain and maintain their mobility.

In the Footsteps of Hachiko: A Legacy of Love and Loyalty

Hachiko’s remarkable story of unwavering loyalty serves as a poignant reminder of the profound bond that can exist between humans and their pets. As we celebrate his legacy, let us strive to honor and nurture the relationships we share with our own loyal companions, cherishing the love, devotion, and joy they bring to our lives.

In conclusion, Hachiko’s tale transcends time and culture, serving as a powerful testament to the extraordinary connection between humans and their canine companions. By honoring Hachiko’s memory and nurturing our own bonds with our pets, we can all be inspired by the beauty of unconditional love and loyalty.

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The True Story of Hachiko, History’s Most Loyal Dog And How Japan Honored Him

I f there was ever a dog that epitomized the phrase “Man’s Best Friend”, it was a pooch named Hachiko who lived in Japan nearly 100 years ago.

His story was so inspiring and touching that he is still remembered in Japan today and he even has a statue dedicated to him and his owner.

If you’ve never heard the story of Hachiko before, get your Kleenex ready, because it’s a tearjerker.

Photo Credit: Public Domain

Hachiko was adopted by an agriculture science professor at Tokyo University named Eizaburo Ueno.

The two became inseparable and Hachiko used to watch Ueno depart on the train for work from Shibuya Station every day and then return to the station later to walk home with him.

Man and dog were truly best friends.

When Hachiko was only two-years-old on May 21, 1925, Ueno never came back home from work to Shibuya Station. Hachiko was there waiting for him that day but Ueno had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and passed away suddenly at work.

Hachiko ended up living with a former gardener for the Ueno family, but for the next 9 years, 9 months, and 15 days, the loyal dog went to Shibuya Station every morning and every afternoon in hopes of seeing his master again.

A story about the dog was published in a Japanese newspaper in 1932 and Hachiko became a celebrity in his home country.

People from all over the world would visit Hachiko and give him treats at the train station as he faithfully carried out his vigil.

A statue of Hachiko was unveiled in front of the station in 1934 and the old dog was there to see it himself that day.

Hachiko passed away on the street near Shibuya Station on March 8, 1935 at the age of 11.

His ashes were buried next to Ueno’s grave in Tokyo.

In addition to the statue outside the train station, another statue of Hachiko and Ueno finally reuniting stands at the University of Tokyo.

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Hachiko: the true story of a loyal dog, common sense media reviewers.

Hachiko waits for his master, even after he dies.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Parents need to know that Hachiko's devoted friendship and loyalty will appeal to young children.

Parents Need to Know

Where to read, community reviews.

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• Kids say (3)

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

Kentaro goes to the train station to meet his father, and there gets to know Hachiko, Dr. Ueno's loyal dog. Hachiko walks Dr. Ueno to the station every day, and every day he's waiting there when Dr. Ueno returns in the evening.

But one night Dr. Ueno doesn't return -- he has died at work. Hachiko returns every night to wait for him, even after he is taken miles away. Kentaro, his family, and others bring him food and water. This goes on for years, until finally Hachiko himself dies. And at the spot where he waited so faithfully, the townspeople erect a statue in his memory.

Is It Any Good?

Like a Japanese haiku, this book is as notable for what's missing as for what's present. Based on a true story, it is spare, elegant, without any cloying Western sentimentality -- no tugging at the heartstrings, no anthropomorphizing, no dramatic death scenes, just a matter-of-fact telling of an affecting true story through the eyes of a fictional boy.

Though the story is universal, the author and illustrator adroitly drop in details of Japanese life: "Ladies in kimonos walked carefully, trying to keep their white tabi socks away from the grime of the streets." The author also includes a "Story About the Story."

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about whether Hachiko waits hoping Dr. Ueno will return, or to honor his memory.

Book Details

• Author : Pamela S. Turner
• Illustrator : Yan Nascimbene
• Genre : Picture Book
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Houghton Mifflin Children's Books
• Publication date : November 29, 2004
• Number of pages : 32
• Last updated : June 25, 2015

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Qualities That Humans and Animals Share

Introduction, evidence from dr. jane goodall, hachiko: the most loyal friend, video voice-over.

Although many people are used to separating people and animals, there are many stories that prove the fact that they share the same qualities and sometimes use the same approaches in solving various matters. For example, in the text My Life with the Chimpanzees , Dr. Jane Goodall discovered that chimpanzees use tools and communication methods similar to ours. Moreover, in the book Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog , it is possible to understand that animals may understand the concepts of love and loyalty. Therefore, it is possible to say that Dr. Jane Goodall and Pamela Turner, the author of Hachiko’s story, believe that people and animals share several qualities.

Dedicating her life to studying apes, Dr. Jane Goodall discovered that chimpanzees are able to use simple tools, hunt in groups, and use body language along with other complicated forms of interaction. First of all, let’s start with the fact that chimpanzees use all means to make their hunting process or the process of gaining food easier. For example, as Dr. Goodall noticed, they hunt in groups to catch their prey faster and easier. Moreover, they use sticks and grass in termite “fishing,” fooling the insects and easily catching them. Additionally, Dr. Goodall was able to observe that chimpanzees share several emotions with humans. For example, they looked miserable or even irritated during the rain. They often use patting to comfort and relax each other. Another example of similarity is the apes’ advanced way of communication. For instance, chimpanzees are able to communicate using body language. They kiss, hug or pat each other just like humans do. Therefore, Dr. Jane Goodall was able to observe that humans and chimpanzees share many qualities, starting from emotions and ending with tool usage.

Another example of the similarity between humans and animals can be found in the book Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog , where the main character of this story, Hachiko, shows his loyalty and love. This book is written by Pamela Turner and is based on a true story of a Japanese dog, which was loyal to its owner, Dr. Ueno. Even though the owner of Hachiko passed away and never returned to his beloved dog, Hachiko waited for him at the train station every day. Just as humans express devotion towards the ones they love, Hachiko expresses that of his own. Hachiko had come to the train station every day for nine years; the dog had waited for its friend for as long as it had lived. Humans often express the same feeling to the ones they lost; they cannot believe that those so special to them will never return. Undoubtedly, the true story of a Japanese dog being loyal to its owner until its last breath shows that animals are able to be devoted to their friends.

To sum it all up, it is possible to say that the example of chimpanzees discovered by Dr. Goodall and the story of Hachiko truly prove that animals and humans are partly the same. Both Hachiko and examined chimpanzees gave the ability to understand that animals may have emotions, logic, and even personality traits. We must be careful and loyal to our smaller brothers since they feel and understand the same things we do.

Goodall, J. (1996). My life with the chimpanzees . Aladdin.

Turner, P.S. (2009). Hachiko: The true story of a loyal dog . Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

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PsychologyWriting . "Qualities That Humans and Animals Share." September 18, 2023. https://psychologywriting.com/qualities-that-humans-and-animals-share/.