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Dog Awaits Return of His Master for 11 Years

By JTPednaud in Animal, World Records on Aug 20, 2007 at 8:00 am


Hachiko

Hachiko, an Akita dog in Japan, set an example for loyalty by waiting patiently for his master to return from work at a railway station. Hachiko did this routine for 11 years every day.

In 1924, Hachiko was brought to Tokyo by its master Hidesamuro Ueno, who was a professor in the agricultural department at the University of Tokyo. Hachiko would routinely meet his master at the railway station and when his master died in May of 1925, the faithful dog continued his routine.

Hachiko garnered quite a bit of attention and was regarded as a shining example of loyalty. Hachiko became a national figure and, when the dog passed in 1935, a statue was erected in his honour.

Read the full story here, or via Wikipedia.


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COMMENT
  1. straydog
    Aug 20th, 2007 at 10:26 am

    Hachi is a revered symbol for Japanese people, which has traditionally place high regards on the virtue of loyalty.

    At present, Hachi's statue at the Shibuya station has become a popular rendezvous point.

  2. Ant
    Aug 20th, 2007 at 10:43 am

    Remember Fry and his dog in Futurama? That scene was sad. Here is a clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akf-H0OVpLA

  3. fi
    Aug 20th, 2007 at 12:21 pm

    they actually put the staute up BEFORE the dog died. i've seen pictures of hachiko sitting at shibuya next to his own statue!

  4. Jeff
    Aug 20th, 2007 at 12:35 pm

    You know, I read a story about this statue being stolen from Shibuya by metal thieves this spring. I was surprised that this entry didn't mention that, and went looking at the Wikipedia entry to refresh my memory. Turns out I'm probably the last person on Earth to find out that was an April Fool's Day joke made by the Japan Times :)

  5. biltmore
    Aug 20th, 2007 at 1:14 pm

    Totally Ant, that's the first thing I thought of. Such a sad episode.

  6. Miss Cellania
    Aug 20th, 2007 at 1:31 pm

    Such loyalty may be admired, but it's so sad for the dog.

  7. Theresa
    Aug 20th, 2007 at 7:51 pm

    Guess Scamp could have taught this dog something about death.

  8. Ali S.
    Aug 20th, 2007 at 11:29 pm

    Awwww. I do wonder what the dog was thinking. Probably something like this, "He better get back here with that Kobe Beef he promised me!" ;)

  9. Diogenes
    Aug 20th, 2007 at 11:49 pm

    What loyalty for Hachiko to Hidesamuro must of formed at home....hmmmmm.. makes me wonder...lick lick lick..good dog ..no no no. thats wrong.so wrong.....
    statue erected in his honor.

  10. David
    Aug 22nd, 2007 at 1:13 am

    This story has been made into a children's book published a long time ago by Pamela Turner (http://www.pamelasturner.com/). It's quite good.

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