After Hachi passed away in 1935, Japan entered into a challenging war with China and the United States. During this tumultuous period, Hachi’s beloved bronze statue was taken down in 1944 as part of a metal recycling campaign....
After Hachi passed away, his fur coat was not disposed of. Instead, Sakamoto Kiichi, the best taxidermist in Japan at that time, was entrusted with making Hachi’s mount. Inspired by Hachi’s loyalty, just as sculptor Andō Teru had been,...
Unusual Circumstances On March 8, 1935, the day Hachi died, a team of veterinarians from the College of Agriculture at the Imperial University of Tokyo conducted his necropsy. Back then, performing a necropsy on a dog was quite...
Remembering Hachi On March 12, 1935, a formal funeral service was conducted on the grounds of Dr. Ueno’s grave at Aoyama Cemetery in Minato-ward, Tokyo. It was a heartfelt tribute to Hachi, a soul who had captured the hearts of...
On March 9, the day after Hachi died, an elaborate memorial service for the loyal Akita was conducted in front of Shibuya Station. Hachi Receives a Traditional Ceremony The area was filled with bouquets of colorful flowers, huge...
On the morning of March 8, 1935, the loyal Akita’s body was discovered in an alley on the east side of Shibuya Station, near Inari Bridge. On the day Hachi died, his necropsy was conducted by a team of veterinarians at the College of...
The October 4, 1932 newspaper story about Hachi touched people’s hearts and Hachi was referred to as the Loyal Dog Hachi-kō. Along with his popularity, a Hachi-kō bronze statue was created in April 1934, while Hachi was alive. This was...
It took a determined person to change the “sad plight” of Hachi at Shibuya Station. After learning that Japanese native dogs, including Akitas, were on the verge of extinction, Saitō Hirokichi (1899–1964), an art curator by profession,...
Most people did not know why Hachi went to Shibuya Station every day. The former gardener of Professor Ueno, Kobayashi, cared for Hachi in the later years. Kobayashi registered Hachi at the local police station and made sure that Hachi...
In one instant, life suddenly shifted for Hachi. After Professor Ueno’s death, Hachi lived a life of exile for a while. Because she was not legally married to Professor Ueno and had no inheritance rights, his widow Yae had to vacate...
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