This is a story of loyalty and commitment. Picture this, you hear a train before you can see it. The smooth rhythmic chugging, the sound of metallic wheels running along metallic tracks. All of it coalescing into a peaceful light noise that fills your ears as the train finally glides into view and comes to a slow stop in front of you. This is the scene at the Shibuya train station in Tokyo, a place that become famous because of the loyalty of one devoted dog named, Hachiko.
Originally born in the countryside, Hachiko quickly adapted to city living when he was adopted by Professor Hidesaburo Ueno. Every morning, Hachiko would accompany Ueno to the Shibuya train station. Ueno would board a train to work and Hachiko would head home for eight hours of, well you know, dog stuff. Then, as the day would down and the sun began to set Hachiko would return to the station to greet Ueno with the two friends falling into a familiar routine and traveling home together.
There, they’d sloth of the worries of the day, eat a warm meal and enjoy each other’s company before heading off to bed. The professor didn’t have any kids, but that didn’t stop him from treating Hachiko like a family member. In fact, he named the dog after the Japanese word for the number 8, Hachi, because it’s a lucky number and he felt lucky that this calming companion had entered his life. After a good night’s sleep, and I can only imagine dreams of belly rubs, they’d head back to the train and do the whole thing over again. And that’s how it went day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. Until one day, it didn’t.
One the evening of May 21st 1925, Hachiko returned to the Shibuya train station, but Ueno did not. The professor had unexpectedly passed away at work. This might seem like the end of a very short story, but it’s actually just the beginning because Hachiko was an Akita, a breed known for being sincere, loyal, loving, and truth be told, stubborn.
The professor’s family tried to find a new home for Hachiko, but no matter where he was, he continued heading to the Shibuya station to wait for Ueno with a commitment that would have made Ueno proud. Hachiko showed up whether there was snow, or rain, or heat, or fog, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. Nothing could stop Ueno’s best friend, the little Akita, from looking for Ueno. And that’s how it went for seven years!
Until the day when one of the professors former students published a story about Hachiko in one of Tokyo’s biggest newspapers. It captured the imagination of millions who read it…and just like that, Hachiko became famous across the country bringing happiness on a much larger scale by becoming a pet and a symbol of loyalty, commitment, and love for the whole country.
Some people sent food to the Shibuya station to make sure Hachiko was never hungry while he waited. Other visited from far and wide to see the loyal Akita up close. Still others wrote poems and haikus to celebrate him. This one faithful dog inspired a nation showcasing a bond. In some ways the story of Hachiko stood out because it was extra ordinary. A dog who refused to say goodbye to his friend. Instead showing his love every day for what would eventually become a decade.
In other ways, Hachiko’s story resonated nicely because it wasn’t out of the ordinary. It represented a feeling millions of pet owners around the world have known for centuries, a feeling of unconditional love. Whether you had a day full of hurdles or one where everything went your way, your dog is always happy to see you. Whether you’re going on a five-mile run, or a quick trip to the store, your dog is happy to join you. Whether you’re sitting under the night sky gazing at the stars above, or lounging on the couch, your dog is happy to be with you.
And that is the story of Hachiko. A dog who wanted to be with his friend and never gave up trying.
Source: Pets and Their People
Online App: Calm Stories & Meditation Companion
From The Movie: Hachi – A Dog’s Tale
From Academy Award®-nominated director Lasse Hallström comes HACHI: A DOG’S TALE
A film based on one of the most treasured and heartwarming true stories ever told. Golden Globe winner Richard Gere
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