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...
It’s hard to believe that Hachi was only a year and a half years when Professor Ueno passed away. However short their time together, the young Akita was devastated. As was the custom during that period, the wake and funeral service was...
For Hachi and Professor Ueno, everyday was filled with joy! The two were inseparable. In the morning, Hachi could be spotted walking Ueno to the Shibuya train station. At the end of each day, the faithful Akita eagerly returned to...
As soon as Hachi’s health improved in July 1924, his “job” began. Professor Ueno, an accomplished man in his own right, wore many hats. While going to the Komaba campus to teach, on foot, he also went to the Agriculture Ministry’s...
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