Hachiko’s story of unconditional love and friendship.

Hachiko’s unconditional fidelity went down in history and touched the hearts of thousands of people.

The unconditional love of an animal towards a human is undoubtedly one of the purest displays of affection in the world. This loyalty has been the source of inspiration for hundreds of wonderful stories. In ancient Greece, the loyalty of dogs was valued. Let’s take as an example the myth of the dog Argos, who, despite the years, recognized Odysseus after his long absence.

In real life, there are hundreds of stories like this, but without a doubt, none is like that of the Japanese dog Hachiko. He waited patiently every day for his owner’s return every afternoon at the train station. However, the man died on one of his trips, causing Hachiko never to see him again, even though he continued to wait for him at the station for the rest of his life.

Hachiko was a dog of the Akita Inu breed. He was taken in by Hidesaburo Ueno, an agriculture professor at the University of Tokyo, after being born on a farm in 1923. The two soon created a daily routine in which Ueno and Hachiko would walk together to the Shibuya train station. Ueno would say goodbye to Hachiko before boarding the train to work.

Soon, the local people began to recognize Hachi. Local merchants and station workers watched over him as he spent the day waiting for Ueno to return and often gave him treats.

This routine continued for several years, even when the professor did not return to the station one day and never came home after work. Hachi had no idea that his owner would never come back, so he continued to wait for him at the train station. As if it were an English clock, every day when the train appeared, Hachiko also appeared in search of Professor Ueno. Her faithfulness earned her the nickname “the faithful dog.”

Although Hachiko lived in the 20th century, his story continues to inspire thousands of people today. Her story has resulted in several memorials in her honour and even a documentary film released in 2009, which you surely know and made you cry like a cupcake. All this proves the incredible bond the professor and Hachi created.

If you ever travel to Japan, you must not forget to visit Shibuya station and take a photo of the famous Hachiko statue.