Originally posted June 5 2015
As everyone knows, the statue of Tokyo’s most famous pup is the ultimate meeting spot in Shibuya. But the city so loves dear Hachiko that one statue is simply not enough. To commemorate the 80th anniversary of his death, a new statue – funded by donations – has been erected on The University of Tokyo’s campus, just next to Ueno Park. Hachiko’s owner, Hidesaburo Ueno, worked as a professor at the university and used to travel home to Shibuya Station every day where his loyal companion would wait for him every evening. After Ueno’s death in 1925, legend has it that Hachiko continued to faithfully wait for him every day for another 10 years until his own death in 1935. Finally, the story has a happier ending as the new statue shows dog and master being reunited. And the whole of Tokyo collectively went ahhhh….
Photo: Joyce Lam