Hachiko:The Loyal Friend

Hachiko: The Loyal Friend

A warm wind blew as the last train left the station. The dog, who had been waiting at the station since three o’clock, searched through the crowd of late-night travelers for his owner’s familiar face. Where was his master? The dog’s master was never late, but tonight it seemed as though he wasn’t coming home at all. Confused, hungry, and tired, the dog curled up in a corner of the station to wait for the morning trains. Hachi was born in northern Japan in November 1923.

He was an Akita, a breed known for its loyalty and intelligence. Hachi was cream-colored, with pointy ears and an upturned tail. A few months after his birth, Hachi had been sent to Tokyo to live with Professor Ueno. Hachi and the professor had immediately become friends. Each morning Hachi accompanied Professor Ueno to Shibuya Station. The professor would board the train and go to teach at Tokyo Imperial University. The last thing the professor saw as he got on the train was Hachi’s wagging tail.

The first thing the professor saw upon returning from work was Hachi welcoming him back. Hachi waited for the professor at the station every day. He had his own special spot from which he searched the crowds for his dear friend. Then Professor Ueno and Hachi would walk home together. This daily routine continued for over a year until tragedy struck. One morning in 1925, Professor Ueno went to work as usual but didn’t return home.

His heart failed, and he died suddenly at the university. Even though Hachi waited eagerly for his friend at the train station, the professor did not appear. The stationmaster tried to tell Hachi to go home, but there was no way to explain to the dog that his owner was never coming back. The next morning Hachi waited at Shibuya Station. He continued to wait for weeks, and then months. The stationmaster felt sorry for Hachi and gave him food and water.

Professor Ueno’s relatives came and took Hachi to their home. Nevertheless, the dog always found his way back to Shibuya Station. Every day, even in rain and snow, Hachi kept waiting, watching the trains, and hoping for his dear friend to appear. For the next ten years, Hachi continued showing up at the station. He sat at the exact same spot each day. Even though Hachi never saw the professor’s face again, he always remembered where he was happiest: at Shibuya Station, waiting for his owner to arrive.