FAITHFUL DOG HACHIKO

In year 1924, Professor Hidesaburo Ueno in the agriculture department at the university of Tokyo, took Hachiko,  golden brown Akita. During the professor's life Hachiko greeted him at the end of each day at the Shibuya Station. Everyday the dog waited for his owner at the exit of the station  after his owner's work. This routine continued until a tragedy happened. In May 1925 Professor Ueno did not return to the station where Hachiko is waiting. The professor died from cerebral hemorrhage, and never to come home to see his friend again. Everyday after the professor's death Hachiko still waits for the professor for nine years in the same station.

After the Professors death Hachico was given away, but the dog routinely escape from the new owner, to search for his friend, not knowing he already passed away few years ago. He shows up in the old home of the professor, and eventually realized that the professor no longer go home at that house. He went up looking at the train station where he is waiting for him many times. But each day many of commuters pass by the station none of them is the professor.

Hachiko attracted the attention of the commuters as well as the local residents on the area. Many of them are familiar with the dog and the professor. At first the initial reaction of the people working at the station is unnecessarily friendly. But when an article been published about Hachiko on October 4, 1932, people started to bring Hachiko some treats and food to nourish him during his wait. This routine continued for nine years, he waited patiently, hoping he will see his fried again.

In March 8, 1935 Hachiko was found dead on the street of Shibuya. The dog had a filarial infection and terminal cancer causing his death. They also found yakitori sticks in his stomach, but not conclusive to be the cause of his death.

Hachiko's legendary faithfulness to his owner became a national symbol of loyalty. People of Japan were impressed by Hachiko's memory to his master and a loyalty that even nine years of waiting the dog never gave up hoping.

In April 1934, a bronze statue in his likeness was erected at Shibuya Station, and Hachikō himself was present at its unveiling. The statue was recycled for the war effort during World War II. In 1948 The Society for Recreating the Hachikō Statue commissioned Takeshi Ando, son of the original artist, to make a second statue. When the new statue appeared, a dedication ceremony occurred. The new statue, which was erected in August 1948, still stands and is an extremely popular meeting spot. The station entrance near this statue is named "Hachikō-guchi", meaning "The Hachikō Entrance/Exit", and is one of Shibuya Station's five exits. (source)