Friday, June 12, 2009

The Legend of Hachiko





Have you heard the story about Japan's most faithful dog Hachiko? It was very challenging for me to capture the essence of it in 30 seconds when I recorded it for MIX fm so now that I have the space, let me share with you the whole story about this incredible dog. I almost cried just reading about it.



Shibuya, Tokyo by night

Every morning, Hachiko sent his owner off at the front door and he would wait for him to return from work in the evening at the Shibuya train station. I'm not sure how Hachiko knew what time it was but he was always waiting at precisely the right time for his owner to return from work. This routine carried on for at least a year until his owner suffered a stroke a stroke and died at work. His dog, Hachiko was faithfully waiting for him at the train station not knowing that his owner would never return.

Shot of Hachiko

Hachiko was given away to be looked after by another family but he kept breaking out and was showing up again and again at his old house. He realised after some time that the owner was no longer living there so he went to wait for him at the train station every evening at that precise time.


Shibuya train platform

Hachiko was seen every evening without fail at the Shibuya train station waiting for that same train his owner used to return on. Hachiko continued to do this for 10 years until his death. The nation was moved by Hachiko's incredible loyalty and built a bronze statue in honour of him a year before Hachiko died. Interestingly, Hachiko himself was present during the unveiling ceremony.


Bronze statue of Hachiko

There was even a Japanese film made about Hachiko in 1987. And can you imagine, Richard Gere will be starring in a movie scheduled to be released this year about Hachiko!

Hachiko Exit of Shibuya Train Station

Shibuya train station is one of the busiest train stations not just in Japan, but the whole world and the legend of Hachiko lives on. His memory is etched forever in our hearts and minds. In fact, the exit he was always seen at is called the "Hachiko Exit"

12 comments:

monkticon said...

indeed a heart warming story. I used to have a dog like that but died many years ago due to road accident, missed those days he would wait for me in front of my house gate when finish school. :D

Unknown said...

I know some women who wished their husbands/bfs were as faithful as Hachiko. :P

Igniz said...

this is so touching....
i was visualizing Hachiko waiting for his owner while reading your story...

Anonymous said...

yup...
really heartwarming...
yet we say humans are better than animals...
when animals show gratitude and humans mostly don't...

Jojo Struys said...

Ur right guys, and animals seem so uncomplicated compared to us!

Jwxwei said...

Hachiko's story made me cry..


If only us, humans can be as loyal and faithful as Hachiko then the world would be a better place..

Kit Keat Bar said...

wow... never heard of that b4.. very very very touching story bout that dog. he deserved to be immortalized with that bronze statue. :) that's why i love dogs... well most of them anyway. :p

tRiEi cRiSiS said...

I'm touched.... how could a dog show more loyalty then humans?... i love this story

Mhakimaru said...

Great story, heartwarming indeed! Im gonna share this story with Fuko way out there in New York, i'm sure she's gonna like this. Keep it up my friend!

Jojo Struys said...

ur right Igniz. It's incredibly touching. So human

Jwxwei, I just bout cried too. It's so sad

Triei crisis, maybe coz dogs don't have an agenda like human beings who are often "everything for themselves". Dogs have been called "man's best friend" coz they love so unconditionally, so innocent they are :)

Jojo Struys said...

that's pretty funny Adrian! lol

Tara said...

What a touching story of faithfulness Jojo, thanks for sharing it. Never heard of Hachiko till you wrote about it in your blog :-)

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