Hachiko, a Japanese Akita Inu, is a symbol of unwavering loyalty and love. Born in 1923, he became the beloved pet of Professor Hidesaburo Ueno in Tokyo. Hachiko accompanied Ueno to Shibuya Station daily. However, tragedy struck when Ueno passed away suddenly in 1925.
Undeterred, Hachiko continued his daily routine, waiting at Shibuya Station for his owner for almost a decade, regardless of the weather. Initially viewed with annoyance by some, Hachiko’s story gained attention thanks to an article in Asahi Shimbun in 1932. People began bringing him food and treats.
Hachiko’s devotion made him a national symbol of fidelity. He passed away on March 8, 1935, at the age of eleven, still waiting. In 2011, it was determined that he succumbed to terminal cancer and a filaria infection.
Hachiko’s story has been celebrated through various forms of art, embodying the enduring bond between humans and their loyal canine companions.