Level 6

Level 6

Hachiko: The Loyal Friend Hachiko: The Loyal

Friend

Copyright © 2009 by Little Fox Co., Ltd.

All rights reserved.
A warm wind blew as the last train left the
station. The dog, who had been waiting at
the station since three o’clock, searched through
the crowd of late-night travelers for his owner’s
familiar face. Where was his master? The dog’s
master was never late, but tonight it seemed as
though he wasn’t coming home at all. Confused,
hungry, and tired, the dog curled up in a corner of
the station to wait for the morning trains.
Hachi was born in northern Japan in
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November 1923. He was an Akita, a breed known
for its loyalty and intelligence. Hachi was cream
-colored, with pointy ears and an upturned tail. A
few months after his birth, Hachi had been sent to
Tokyo to live with Professor Ueno. Hachi and the
professor had immediately become friends.
Each morning Hachi accompanied Professor
Ueno to Shibuya Station. The professor would
board the train and go to teach at Tokyo Imperial
University. The last thing the professor saw as
he got on the train was Hachi’s wagging tail.
The first thing the professor saw upon returning
from work was Hachi welcoming him back.
Hachi waited for the professor at the station every
day. He had his own special spot from which he
searched the crowds for his dear friend. Then
Professor Ueno and Hachi would walk home
together. This daily routine continued for over a
year until tragedy struck.
One morning in 1925, Professor Ueno went
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to work as usual but didn’t return home. His heart
failed, and he died suddenly at the university.
Even though Hachi waited eagerly for his friend
at the train station, the professor did not appear.
The stationmaster tried to tell Hachi to go home,
but there was no way to explain to the dog that
his owner was never coming back.
The next morning Hachi waited at Shibuya
Station. He continued to wait for weeks, and then
months. The stationmaster felt sorry for Hachi
and gave him food and water. Professor Ueno’s
relatives came and took Hachi to their home.
Nevertheless, the dog always found his way back
to Shibuya Station. Every day, even in rain and
snow, Hachi kept waiting, watching the trains,
and hoping for his dear friend to appear.
For the next ten years, Hachi continued
showing up at the station. He sat at the exact same
spot each day. Even though Hachi never saw the
professor’s face again, he always remembered
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where he was happiest: at Shibuya Station,
waiting for his owner to arrive. Professor Ueno
and Hachi had been together for only a short time,
but the bond between them was unshakable.
For people passing through Shibuya Station,
Hachi became a familiar sight. They gave him
food and water. Hachi allowed people to pet him,
but his attention stayed focused on the trains.
Then, in 1932, a newspaper printed a story about
Hachi’s loyalty. After that, people began adding
“ko” to his name, which is a friendly, affectionate
way of creating a nickname for a male. His story
touched the hearts of many people. Soon people
from all over Japan began visiting Shibuya
Station to see Hachiko. They wanted to see this
amazingly loyal dog.
In March 1935 Hachiko’s waiting ended.
He died at his waiting spot at Shibuya Station.
A famous Japanese artist had made a bronze
statue of Hachiko. It was placed at the entrance
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of Shibuya Station, near the place where Hachiko
last saw his dear friend. Unfortunately, during
World War II, the statue was destroyed. But
Hachiko was not forgotten. The original artist’s
son later made a second statue of the faithful
pet. The bronze dog continues to wait at Shibuya
Station today, looking toward the trains. Every
spring there is a festival to remember Hachiko
and his loyalty. People bring flowers to place
at the feet of his statue. They hear his story and
remember what a special dog Hachiko was.
Shibuya Station is now one of the busiest
areas in Tokyo. Hachiko’s statue serves as a place
for people to meet or wait for others. Some people
pause and reflect on the meaning of Hachiko’s
story. In a hectic world, Hachiko represents what
is truly most important in our lives: love and
loyalty to those who are dearest to us.