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Hachiko outside of Shibuya Station in Tokyo there is a bronze statue of an
Akita-ken breed dog named Hachiko. It sits looking toward the station.
For those of you who have never been to Shibuya station or have never heard of
Hachi-ko, he was born in 1923 and sold to a well to do family in Tokyo while still a
puppy. The father of this family, a Tokyo University professor in his 50's, loved
Hachiko very much and doted on him constantly, taking him for long walks,
always brushing him, and even taking baths with him inside the home. He treated
him truly as one of the family.
Up until Hachiko was two years old, he always walked to the station with the
father and after the father went through the stalls he would go home by himself.
But, then he would return every day to wait outside the stalls to meet the father
coming home. All the locals and train station people knew this man and this dog
had a special bond.
One day however, the father died while he was teaching at the university.
Hachiko went to pick him up but he never came. And, Hachiko never stopped
waiting. Every day for about 10 or 11 years he went and waited until finally he
died in front of the station on a cold night, thin, malnourished, old and
heartbroken that his master never returned.
It is nice to think, that in death, Hachiko went to meet him, or perhaps, his master
came to get him this time.
Japanese reporters wrote of his loyalty and he has since become famous. Many
people make plans to meet their friends at the "Hachiko" station in Shibuya.
Friends and loyalty -- the importance of it shown to us by a dog.
Akita-ken breed dog named Hachiko. It sits looking toward the station.
For those of you who have never been to Shibuya station or have never heard of
Hachi-ko, he was born in 1923 and sold to a well to do family in Tokyo while still a
puppy. The father of this family, a Tokyo University professor in his 50's, loved
Hachiko very much and doted on him constantly, taking him for long walks,
always brushing him, and even taking baths with him inside the home. He treated
him truly as one of the family.
Up until Hachiko was two years old, he always walked to the station with the
father and after the father went through the stalls he would go home by himself.
But, then he would return every day to wait outside the stalls to meet the father
coming home. All the locals and train station people knew this man and this dog
had a special bond.
One day however, the father died while he was teaching at the university.
Hachiko went to pick him up but he never came. And, Hachiko never stopped
waiting. Every day for about 10 or 11 years he went and waited until finally he
died in front of the station on a cold night, thin, malnourished, old and
heartbroken that his master never returned.
It is nice to think, that in death, Hachiko went to meet him, or perhaps, his master
came to get him this time.
Japanese reporters wrote of his loyalty and he has since become famous. Many
people make plans to meet their friends at the "Hachiko" station in Shibuya.
Friends and loyalty -- the importance of it shown to us by a dog.
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