Why Kids Need Pets

Hachiko

The Loyal Japanese Akita

is the Star of a Movie "Hachiko: A Dog's Story" starring Richard Gere

Hachiko Life Like

The world’s most famous Japanese dog was an Akita named Hachi-ko. In 1925 a student at the Imperial University (Now the University of Tokyo) gave the dog to his teacher, Professor Hidesaburo Ueno.

Professor Ueno lived near Shibuya train station in Tokyo and took the train to and from school every day. Every morning Hachiko walked with him to the station. Every afternoon Hachiko met his master at the train.

Only two short years after Hachiko and Professor Uneo met, on May 21, 1925, the professor suffered a fatal stroke at school and never returned home. Hachiko waited patiently at the station for his master to return.

Relatives finally went to the station and took Hachiko home with them but he ran away and went back to the Professor's house. When he didn't find him there, he walked to the train station to wait for his master.

The Professor’s former gardener and the manager of the train station both loved Hachiko. They fed him everyday when he came to the station to wait for his master. Many of the commuters also remembered seeing the dog with the Professor and brought him food.
Hachiko continued to meet trains every day until he died, still waiting, on March 7, 1935. He had waited for his master to return every day for almost ten years. His death was declared an official day of mourning in Japan . His body was stuffed and placed in the National Science Museum of Japan - in Tokyo .

Hachiko Statue

News stories were written about the loyal and faithful Akita who waited daily at the train for the return of his master. The entire nation of Japan was captivated by his story. A statue of Hachiko was commissioned in his honor. Sculptor Takeshi Teru created the statue in 1934 and it was placed in the Shibuya train station. People traveled to the station to see the statue and touch his head for good luck. Sadly, his statue was melted down in 1944 during World War II when Japan was in desparate need of metal for ammunition and warships. After the war, Teru's son Ando re-created the original statue made by his father and Hachiko was put back in place in Shibuya Station.
Another statue of Hachiko was erected in Odate City, Japan where he was born on a farm in November 1923. This statue resembles Hachiko more accurately than the one in Shibuya. In 2004 another statue of Hachiko was placed in front of the Akita Dog Museum in Odate.

Today Hachiko's statue is the best-known landmark in Shibuya. It’s a meeting place where hundreds of people wait for their friends, just like the faithful dog waited for the Professor. His story has been told in newspapers, books, a Japanese move and even in a song. Another movie about Hachiko, featuring film star Richard Gere, was released in Japan in August 2009.

Every year on April 8th, a ceremony is held in honor of Hachiko’s steadfast loyalty. What better tribute for such a faithful dog?

The Japanese Akita requires a lot of human companionship but doesn’t like strangers because it is instinctively a guard dog. Akita's are strong and smart and enjoy an active and playful life with their families.

APRIL - EVENT CALENDAR

April 5
National Ferret Day & “Tag” Day – Check ID Tags or get your pet microchipped! http://www.americanhumane.org
April 12
Earth Daywww.EarthDay.org
April 13
Palm Sunday
April 17
Pet Owner's Independence Day – This holiday may be an April Fool! It’ rumored that we are supposed to send our pets to work while we stay home, or have them do our chores and take care of us! Good Luck with that!
April 18
International Guide Dog Daywww.igdf.org.uk – A salute to guide dogs and the service they provide for visually impaired people is so important we celebrate this dogs around the world on this day!

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