Hachiko was born on 10 November 1923, on a farm near the city of Ōdate, in Akita Prefecture, Japan. In 1924, Professor Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor at Tokyo Imperial University, brought him to live in Shibuya, Tokyo.
Every day, Hachiko met Ueno at Shibuya Station after his commute home. This continued until 21 May 1925, when Ueno died of a cerebral haemorrhage while at work.
From then until his death on 8 March 1935, Hachiko returned to Shibuya Station almost every day to await Ueno’s return. He became known for faithfully waiting for his deceased owner for more than nine years.
In April 1934, a bronze statue in his likeness was erected at Shibuya Station, and Hachiko himself was present at its unveiling. The first statue was recycled for the war effort during World War II. In 1948, Takeshi Ando, son of the original artist, was commissioned to make a second statue.
The new statue, erected in August 1948, still stands and is an extremely popular meeting spot. The station entrance near this statue is named “Hachiko Exit”.
Hachiko’s story is not just about a dog — it is about loyalty, love, and waiting that never gives up.