Every day for almost a decade, an old dog showed up at a Tokyo train station at exactly the same time. The man he was waiting for had been dead for years.
Hachiko and Professor Ueno
Hachiko was an Akita dog born in 1923 on a farm near Odate, in Japan's Akita Prefecture. In 1924, he was adopted by Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor in the agriculture department at the University of Tokyo. Each day, Hachiko walked to Shibuya Station to greet Ueno as he returned from work, and the two would walk home together.
The Professor's Death
In May 1925, Ueno suffered a fatal cerebral hemorrhage while giving a lecture and never returned to the station. Hachiko, who had no way of knowing what had happened, continued showing up at Shibuya Station at the same time every day for the next nine years, nine months, and fifteen days.
Becoming a National Symbol
For years, station staff and commuters saw Hachiko as little more than a nuisance. That changed after Hirokichi Saito, a former student of Ueno's, tracked down the dog's story and began publishing accounts of his routine. An article in the newspaper Asahi Shimbun on October 4, 1932, turned Hachiko into a national sensation, and he came to represent loyalty and devotion across Japan.
Death and What Was Found Later
Hachiko was found dead on a Shibuya street on March 8, 1935, at age 11. For decades the cause of his death was unknown. In 2011, researchers examining his remains determined he had terminal cancer and a filaria infection; he also had several yakitori skewers in his stomach, though those weren't the cause of death.
His Legacy Today
Hachiko's remains were cremated and buried beside Ueno's at Aoyama Cemetery in Tokyo. His preserved skin was mounted and remains on display at Japan's National Science Museum. A bronze statue of Hachiko still stands outside Shibuya Station — a version of it was melted down for metal during World War II and later recast — and it remains one of Tokyo's most popular meeting points. Every March 8, a ceremony is held at the station in his memory.
FAQ
How long did Hachiko wait for his owner?
Nearly ten years, from 1925 until his own death in 1935.
What breed was Hachiko?
He was a purebred Akita, a breed native to Japan.
Is there a statue of Hachiko?
Yes, a bronze statue stands outside Shibuya Station in Tokyo and is a well-known meeting spot today.