Hachiko, the Japanese dog who waited almost a decade for his owner, is testament to the saying "a dog is the only thing on Earth that loves you more than he loves himself". Here are some things you should know about Hachikō.
Born on 10 November 1923, chūken Hachikō or 'faithful dog Hachikō', has turned 100 years old. World over, the Japanese Akita breed dog is known as an example of loyalty.
Hachikō belonged to Hidesaburō Ueno, a professor at the Tokyo Imperial University. Every day, Hachikō, would go to Shibuya Station and accompany Ueno on his commute home. However, one day in March 1925, Ueno died of cerebral haemorrhage at work.
The loyal dog waited for his owner outside the train station for more than nine years — 9 years, 9 months and 15 days to be exact. Every day, Hachikō would go to the Shibuya Station and wait for his human's return. Finally, his wait ended on 8 March 1935.
Hachikō was 11-years-old at the time of his death. The dog's body was found on a street in Shibuya. In 2011, scientists finally settled on a cause of death: terminal cancer and heartworm.
After his death, Hachikō's remains were buried alongside his owner Hidesaburō Ueno in Aoyama Cemetery in Tokyo's Minato. Furthermore, his pelt was saved, and taxidermy remains are on permanent display at the National Science Museum of Japan in Ueno, Tokyo.
In April 1934, a bronze statue based on Hachikō's likeness was erected at the Shibuya Station. During World War II, it was recycled, but in 1948, a new statue was established in its place. Similar statues stand in front of Ōdate Station, Hachikō's home town, and in the University of Tokyo.
If you want to know more about Hachikō's story of steadfast love and loyalty, there are a number of movies, including the popular 'Hachi: A Dog's Tale'.
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