Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Shibuya: Hachiko's Statue- A Popular Meeting Place In Tokyo


Hachiko's Bronze Statue in Shibuya Train Station, a popular meeting place




My son was excited to see Hachiko and he even touched the statue



This is the view in front of the Hachiko's statue, a popular meeting place in Tokyo


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Feb. 18, 2009- We went to Shibuya in Tokyo to meet my cousin there who is now an English Instructor in Yokohama, he is from California but working now here in Japan. He told me to meet up in Shibuya Station right in front of Hachiko's bronze statue. I have no idea who Hachiko was until he told me the story of that faithful dog who died waiting for his master in Shibuya Station. I was so touched by Hachiko's story and with no hesitation I told him that we will meet him in that place to see the statue of Hachiko and be part of Shibuya's popular rendezvous.

Have you heard the story of Hachiko, the faithful dog? And did you know that Richard Gere, was moved to tears by the true story of Hachiko? Actually, he is now doing a movie, "Hachiko, A Dog's Story" to be released this August 2009 and the movie is being filmed in Rhode Island (I wish they shoot the movie in Shibuya). I can't wait to watch that movie.


Hachiko (pronounced HA-chi-ko) was born in Odate, in the Akita province of Japan. Ueno the owner, brought him to Tokyo. Hachiko followed Professor Ueno everywhere. He accompanied Ueno to the Shibuya train station every morning and then returned and waited for him every afternoon. But, one day in May 1925, Professor Ueno didn’t come home; he had suffered a stroke at his work that day. He died and never returned to the train station where his friend was waiting. But the faithful dog came back and returned to the train station every afternoon for 10 years, at precisely the time that Ueno’s train was due, waiting for the professor. Hachiko waited for him until his own death in March 1935.


Here's the detail story of Hachiko from wikipedia:

Hachikō ( November 10, 1923March 8, 1935), known in Japanese as chūken Hachikō, "faithful dog Hachikō", was an Akita dog born in the city of Odate, Akita Prefecture remembered for his loyalty to his master.

In 1924, Hachikō was brought to Tokyo by his owner, Hidesaburō Ueno, a professor in the agriculture department at the University of Tokyo. During his owner's life Hachikō saw him off from the front door and greeted him at the end of the day at the nearby Shibuya Station. The pair continued their daily routine until May 1925, when Professor Ueno didn't return on the usual train one evening. The professor had suffered a stroke at the university that day. He died and never returned to the train station where his friend was waiting.
Hachikō was given away after his master's death, but he routinely escaped, showing up again and again at his old home. After time, Hachikō apparently realized that Professor Ueno no longer lived at the house. So he went to look for his master at the train station where he had accompanied him so many times before. Each day, Hachikō waited for Professor Ueno to return. And each day he didn't see his friend among the commuters at the station.
The permanent fixture at the train station that was Hachikō attracted the attention of other commuters. Many of the people who frequented the Shibuya train station had seen Hachikō and Professor Ueno together each day. Realizing that Hachikō waited in vigil for his dead master, their hearts were touched. They brought Hachikō treats and food to nourish him during his wait.
This continued for 10 years, with Hachikō appearing only in the evening time, precisely when the train was due at the station.

That same year, another of Ueno's former students (who had become something of an expert on the Akita breed) saw the dog at the station and followed him to the Kobayashi home where he learned the history of Hachikō's life. Shortly after this meeting, the former student published a documented census of Akitas in Japan. His research found only 30 purebred Akitas remaining, including Hachikō from Shibuya Station.
Professor Ueno's former student returned frequently to visit the dog and over the years published several articles about Hachikō's remarkable loyalty. In 1932 one of these articles, published in Tokyo's largest newspaper, threw the dog into the national spotlight. Hachikō became a national sensation. His faithfulness to his master's memory impressed the people of Japan as a spirit of family loyalty all should strive to achieve. Teachers and parents used Hachikō's vigil as an example for children to follow. A well-known Japanese artist rendered a sculpture of the dog, and throughout the country a new awareness of the Akita breed grew.
Hachikō died on March 8, 1935, of filariasis (heartworm). His stuffed and mounted remains are kept at the National Science Museum of Japan in Ueno, Tokyo.

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I searched the youtube and found this touching video a tribute to Hachiko, thanks to Ugly GalJo for uploading this video:


14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Missy said...response I left under your comment on my blog:

US Army. 4 years 2 months and 17 days.

My jobs were in Adjutant general in personnel, General Officer's secretary, and counter intelligence corps.

This post was beautifully done and I had heard the story before. I was in Tokyo once or twice and in the same train station but it was in 1953 and 1954 and possible Hachiko was still alive then and waiting on his master.

A compelling story and I will have to see the movie armed with a box of Kleenix. I am an old man but I still cry over things like this.

fortuitous faery said...

aaaaw, hachiko's story is so touching! and that place where his statue stands (shibuya?) looks a lot like times square! :)

fortuitous faery said...

thanks, by the way, for dropping by miss igorota's blog! :)

aurbie said...

Our son took some photos like that when was in Japan. He gave us part of the story...I like you longer version better.

Nice photos all around. I like your banner, too.

Hope you can join us in our church shoot-out on Friday. We would love to have you join us. Next week, we are doing people.

Midlife, menopause, mistakes and random stuff... said...

What a fantastic blog you have. That picture of your son with Hachiko is priceless. What a cutie-pie your boy is :)
Please drop by to visit me at my blog when you have a moment or two to waste.
Take good care and......

Steady On
Reggie Girl

Missy said...

Pat and Abe- Thanks for the info :-) you really memorized your years/months/days in service hahaha. Thanks for dropping by so it's been half a century when you were in Shibuya.

fortuitous faery- thanks for dropping by, Shibuya is in Tokyo and that's why it's like Time Square one of the busiest crossings too.

Patty- thanks for dropping by and for inviting me to post a church photo :-) I don't have any photos of church ( I think) yet but I'll try :-)

midlife (reggie girl)- thanks for dropping by, I know I like my son's photo with Hachiko he ignored the Japanese people who were looking at him :-). I will visit your blog

Joy said...

I didn't watch the video because I might start crying...

Thanks for sharing this. I shall make sure I see the Richard Gere film.

Thanks for visiting Norwich Daily Photo and leaving your comment. Come back tomorrow!


joy
A Pinay In England
Your Love Coach
I, Woman

Missy said...

Hi Joy thanks for visiting me :-)yeah the video is so touching too, the exerpt of the Hachiko's movie Japanese version

Loida of the 2L3B's said...

Hachiko is such a faithful dog. The story really relates to real life that is really happening even now.
Our dog back home (in Baras,Rizal) used to send our son to the bus station every 5 am in the morning when our son was still attending classes in Centro Escolar University. Thanks for sharing this...

Missy said...

2L3B- thanks for dropping by and yes you are right, dog is really a man's bestfriend. I wish I could afford to have one here :-)

Garando said...

Ah! This is the same place where Garandee asked me to wait ...and wait ...and wait. Dumating din naman sya eventually. :D

Missy said...

Garando- does it mean Japanese people are also late when it comes to hintayan???

Chloe Iverson said...

I really loved Hachiko Story.. How his master loved hachiko and how hachiko valued the love and caring showed by his master.. Its really a eye tearing and full of love movie made by Richard Gere..

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vineeshvs said...

if written word and motion pictures can make me cry, which I thought will never happen, I love films and stories which I once thought are full of lies of the author's mind. Hachiko is simply extraordinary. Don't know what it has got, but I never had become emotional ever in my life after watching a movie... thanks to the director and all those who are behind this movie.