Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Hachiko : The World's most loyal dog

This real life story stands as an epitome of loyalty, whose measures are beyond the limits of any scales. The story is about a dog named, Hachiko (an Akita breed), who is remembered for his loyality to his owner even many years after his owner's death.


In 1924, Hachiko was brought to Tokyo by his owner, Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor at 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. Within a short span of time, the owner and his pet had developed quite an amicable bondage.
One evening, the professor didn't return on the usual train. He had suffered a stroke at the university on that day. His friend waited for the master thinking that he may come one day or the other. But as days passed, he could not find his master's face among the commuters. Efforts to bring him into a new home went in vain.

Commuters who knew Hachikō brought 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. He died on 1935.
In Japan, Hachiko's faithfulness is regarded as a national symbol of loyalty. A bronze statue has been erected in his likeness at Shibuya station and guess who was the guest of honour at the time of unveiling --- Hachiko himself.

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