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Hachiko's story: biography, legend and curiosities

Can a dog become an essential character for the story? You will verify that if with the History of Hachiko: biography, legend and curiosities of this historical can.

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Biography of Hachiko

Hachiko's story: biography, legend and curiosities

Hachiko is an icon in Japan, a sign of love and the loyalty that an animal can give us to human beings.Books have been written about him and he has starred in very blockbuster movies, but do you know the real story of Hachiko ? We tell you his biography and also the legend that is around him.If for you this character is not yet well known, we advise you to have a package of handkerchiefs at hand, because you can escape the occasional tear with his beautiful legend and when You know the noble heart of this Japanese dog.

Hachiko was born on a farm in Akita Prefecture, in Odate, in Japan.According to the data, a university professor named Hidesaburo Ueno had just lost his dog, and the family decided to adopt a new animal.The dog arrived in a box to the shibuya station and, when he did, he was malnourished and sick, so much so that they thought he was going to die.His master took care of him giving him milk and many pampering and, because the animal had slightly deviated legs, I call it Hachi, a word that in Japanese refers to the number 8.

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In principle, it was the teacher's daughter who loved the dog but soon left home, at to get pregnant and start a life with her husband.Then the teacher considered what to do with the animal, but finally, she had taken so much love, that she decided to leave him to live with him.And it is because of this that a relationship is forged friendship and loyalty without conditions that has crossed borders and decades, falling in love with writers and screenwriters.

Legend of Hachiko

Hachiko's story: biography, legend and curiosities

In 1923 a professor of agricultural engineering, from the University of Tokyo decides to look for a dog to make him company.Hidesaburo Ueno was not willing to settle for any dog, because he wanted one that was at the height of his intelligence, a four-legged companion that took away a little loneliness felt by a studious person like him, always between books and experiments.He was clear that he wanted a dog with certain qualities, as a character autonomous, an intelligent and brave dog.Characteristics all very typical of a concrete breed of great popularity among the former Japanese emperors, the Akita breed dog .However, for those decades this kind of dogs do not It was very abundant so it cost him to find it.But as the saying goes, the good is waiting, and the wait was worth it.

Finally, the teacher, managed to find his Akita puppy in the Odate city and adopt it.As expected, dog and master immediately became inseparable, to such an extent that Hachi was going to wait for his master every day at the train station to receive him when he returned from I spent two years very close and happy until, unfortunately, the professor dies suddenly of a stroke while teaching at the University.

Hachiko stayed Waiting for his owner who never arrived.And Ueno's wife had no recurs To take care of the animal, so he decided to give it to his gardener with the idea that the animal would receive the attention he deserved.However, Hachi had other plans and was not willing to change his routine or abandon his loyal master, but that every day he continued to go to the train station to wait for the teacher .He did it every day for 10 long years.

Pigs were revered in ancient times :

They say that the animal had a serious and sad countenance, so much that there were even people who took fear, but despite everything, he did not cease in his hope of reuniting with his human friend , the man who had welcomed him when he was just a puppy and with whom he had lived during his first two years.

And one day, a journalist and student were attracted to the presence of the animal in the station, so they decided to follow him to his house, the new home that Hachi shared with the gardener of his master, and it was he who told him the story of the most faithful dog.From that moment, they began to be published in the local newspapers stories about him and Hachiko became a famous dog , an example of friendship until death .

The animal died in 1935 to because of a terminal cancer, and his body was buried next to his master's.

Hachiko in movies and books

Hachiko's story: biography, legend and curiosities

Hachiko has had his place in numerous Japanese cartoon series .But he has also starred in fairly recent books and movies.Among them we must highlight "Always by your side" , a work that has gone from literature to cinema, starring in the big screen in the person of Richard Gere in the role of Professor Ueno, or in this case, Parker Wilson.

In the fictional version, the teacher finds the dog abandoned in the station and this is where he decides take him home to give him a chance to have a comfortable home and he, an unbeatable company.

Curiosities of Hachiko

Some curiosities to highlight of Hachiko is that for the big screen they were used six dogs to embody Hachi in the film Always by your side.A very high-grossing film that, despite not being a cinematographic masterpiece, managed to get into the pocket of the viewer and criticizes her with such a endearing story.

Another curiosity that we find, in this case, diving in the story of Hachiko , is that there is another version about his legend.A version not so romantic, we do not know whether true or not, by which the real reason that the animal attends every day to wait for his master was not simply e for loyalty, but because he acquired this custom as a way to get a reward, and supposedly, upon returning from work, the teacher gave Hachi a treat.Apparently, the first time the dog went to receive him at the station, Ueno was returning from a long trip and, excited about the reception of the animal, gave him a Japanese skewer of chicken, a yakitori.This succulent appetizer tasted so much to the dog that it became a habit between dog and master.Is this true? We do not know whether or not, but Hachi's case is not the only one of an animal that receives and waits for his master every day even after death.

Hachiko has a statue in his honor at Shibuya station.The monument was built a year before his death.

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Hachiko's story: biography, legend and curiosities

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  1. CdtnkfyfOctober 29, 2025 at 7:43 AM

    According to an article I read recently, before Hachiko, the teacher had four Akita dogs, but none of them lived past the age of one. The teacher had always dreamed of having an Akita dog, and when he got Hachiko, he decided to do everything he could to make Hachiko happy. That's why the teacher loved and doted on Hachiko so much, and they had a special bond. Hachiko was not just a pet, but like a son to the teacher and his wife. He occupied a special place on the balcony next to the teacher's room and always participated in family events. More than 200 people who knew the teacher, including his family, were interviewed, and everyone said that Hachiko was a special dog to the teacher. Is this true? Is it true that Professor Ueno had special feelings for Hachiko? It is said that Professor Ueno had more than 16 dogs in his life, but did he have a special relationship with Hachiko in particular?
    It is often said that Professor Ueno had a special affection for Hachiko. It is said that he was more attached to Hachiko than any other dog, and that Hachiko was Professor Ueno's favorite. Is this true?

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