<h5>Who is Hachiko?</h5><p>Have you heard dogs are often called man’s best friend? They are known to be loyal, friendly and great companions.</p><p>This is the story of Hachiko, a cream-white Akita. The ‘Akita’ breed of dog is one of the oldest and most popular dog breeds in Japan. Hachiko would have been 100 years old this year.</p><p>He was born in November 1923 in the city of Odate in Japan. When he was just a newborn pup, he was adopted by Hidesaburo Ueno - a professor of agriculture in Shibuya city of Japan.</p><figure class="image"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/newsahoot.appspot.com/o/hachiko-s-100-years%2FChuken_Hachiko_with_Ueno_Family.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=9b590bc2-99f7-4ab6-a4e5-02061cb8afc4"><figcaption>Hachiko with the family of Hidesaburo Ueno. Photo by Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain).</figcaption></figure><h5>What is Hachiko’s story?</h5><p>Ueno named him Hachi, or eight in Japanese. Ko is an honorific title given to Hachi by Ueno's students. When Ueno took Hachiko in, he was a very sick little puppy. Ueno nursed him back to health.</p><p>Professor Ueno had three dogs, including Hachiko. On days when the professor would leave home to go to work, all three dogs would follow him to the train station. They would wait all day at the station until he came back in the evening. How adorable!</p><p>On 21st May 1925, Ueno suddenly passed away. Hachiko had been with him for just 16 months. He was sent to live with different owners outside Shibuya. After only a few months, he ended up back in Shibuya.</p><p>Hachiko resumed his daily routine. He would wait at the station for his master, whether rain or shine. He would stand up on his hind legs and keenly look at all the passengers, waiting for Ueno!</p><figure class="image"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/newsahoot.appspot.com/o/hachiko-s-100-years%2Fchuken-hachiko-at-shibuya-station-c1933-8ec94b.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=62f60f5c-70dc-4647-ba35-5bc26c34fa2b"><figcaption>Hachiko at Shibuya Station around 1933 (the man in the picture is the station master). Photo by Picryl.</figcaption></figure><h5>Hachiko becomes Japan’s most loved dog!</h5><p>In the beginning, station employees thought of poor Hachiko as a nuisance. Street vendors would pour water on him, and little boys would bully and hit him. However, Hachiko became really famous after a journalist wrote about him in a paper in 1932. He wrote about how Hachiko was waiting for his master even 9 years after he had died. &nbsp;</p><p>The station received donations of food for Hachiko each day. People came from far and wide just to catch a glimpse of Hachiko. Two years later, people pooled together money to erect a statue of him too!</p><h5>How is Hachiko remembered today?</h5><p>Hachiko died in March 1935, and this made front page news in many newspapers. At his funeral, Buddhist monks offered prayers for him, and thousands visited his statue.</p><figure class="image"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/newsahoot.appspot.com/o/hachiko-s-100-years%2FOne_anniversary_of_Hachiko_19360308_Scan10038.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=8db45624-c1df-4a54-84fb-2b61ce7ad953"><figcaption>People visiting Hachiko’s statue on the first anniversary of his death (March 8, 1936). Photo by Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)</figcaption></figure><p>Hachiko is so popular he even has his own biography! There have also been multiple movies made about his life story. Every year on 8th April, a memorial service for Hachiko is held outside Shibuya Station. His statue is often decorated with scarves, Santa hats and, most recently, a surgical mask.</p><p>Hachiko’s story is truly a heart-warming one. However, it is also remembered as a Japanese tale of loyalty and obedience. Japanese school children are taught about Hachiko and his loyalty. Hachiko is seen as a representation of the perfect Japanese citizen. Hachiko was reliable, understanding and unquestioning.</p><p>Do you know of any dogs (or any other animals) as loyal as Hachi? Tell us in the comments!</p>

It’s been 100 years since the birth of Hachiko - the world’s most loyal dog!

Hachiko's 100 Years!

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