Hachiko

Hachikō (ハチ公, November 10, 1923 – March 8, 1935) was a Japanese Akita dog remembered for his remarkable loyalty to his owner, Hidesaburō Ueno (上野 英三郎 Ueno Hidesaburō), for whom he continued to wait for over nine years following Ueno's death.

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. One day, while teaching at the university, Ueno suffered a sudden cardiac arrest that ended his life. However, Hachiko continued to wait for him in Shibuya. 

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.

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 dead at the foot of the statue. He died because of old age, 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 bronze statues were cast to manufacture armaments, including that of Hachiko. Nevertheless, a few years later, a society was created to produce a new statue and to put it in the same place. Finally, Takeshi Ando, ​​the son of the original sculptor, was hired to rework the statue.

Today the statue of Hachiko continues to stand in the same place, in front of the station of Shibuya. Every April 8 commemorates his fidelity.

Hachiko's body is now preserved at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo.