One tale known by all of Japan is that of Hachiko, an Akita inu. This true story is the most famous of all dog stories and has become a modem legend, relayed from one generation to another and also finding its way into books and movies. Not only does it demonstrate the deep bond that can be formed between humans and dogs, it shows the essence of the temperament of a Japanese dog: loyalty and devotion. The legend of Hachi continues to tug at the heartstrings of Japanese people even today. 

The story began back in the early 1920s, when a Eisaburo Ueno, professor at the Department of Agriculture at the University of Tokyo adopted an Akita inu puppy. Professor Ueno named him Hachiko and lavished him with love and affection 

Hachiko took to Professor Ueno extremely well, and when the professor set off to Shibuya Station in the mornings, usually at around nine A.M for work, Hachiko always went with him. After seeing his owner off at the station, Hachiko would return home, and then in the evening at about six P.M. he would again set off to Shibuya Station and wait by the ticket gate for his beloved owner to appear. This became Hachiko's daily routine. The sight of the two of them setting out for the station in the morning and coming home together at night made a deep impression on all the passersby. 

However, Hachiko's happy life as the pet of Professor Ueno was cut short. One day, Ueno did not return. On May 21,1925, Professor Ueno suffered a brain hemorrhage during a faculty meeting and died.  After his master died, Hachiko was sent to live with relatives of Professor Ueno's. But he ran away repeatedly and returned to the house in Shibuya, and when a year had passed and he still hadn't taken to his new home, he was given to Professor Ueno's former gardener, who had known him since he was a puppy. But Hachiko ran away from this home repeatedly too. Hachiko went every day to Shibuya Station in the same way as he always had, and waited for Ueno to come home. Every day he would go and look for the figure of Professor Ueno among the returning commuters, leaving only when pangs of hunger forced him to. And he did this day after day, for the next 10 years. 

Hachiko eventually started to be noticed by people as he turned up every day at Shibuya Station. But what made him especially well known was a story in one of the country's major newspapers, which was published in September 1932, The writer had been interested in Hachiko for some time. The entire Japanese population got to know about him, after which Hachiko became somewhat of a celebrity. He was invited several times to make a guest appearance in Nippo dog shows, and figurines and picture postcards were made of him. 

In 1929 Hachiko contracted a severe case of mange, which nearly killed him. Due to his years spent on the street, he was thin and battle-scarred from fights with other dogs. One of his ears no longer stood up straight, he was nothing like the proud, strong creature he had once been 

On April 21,1934, a bronze statue of Hachiko by the sculptor Tern Ando was erected in front of the ticket gate of Shibuya Station, with a poem engraved on a placard titled "Lines to a loyal Dog." The unveiling ceremony was a grand occasion, with the grandchild of Professor Ueno in attendance. Unfortunately, this first statue was removed and melted down for weaponry during World War II, in April 1944. However, in 1948 a replica was made by Takeshi Ando, son of the original sculptor, and reinstalled in a ceremony on August 15. This is the statue that still stands today at Shibuya Station, it is a very popular and famous spot.  

As Hachiko grew old, he became very weak and suffered badly from heartworms. Eventually, at the age of thirteen, in the early hours of March 8,1935, he breathed his final breath in a Shibuya side street. The total length of time he had waited, pining for his master, was nine years and ten months. Hachiko's death made the front pages of major newspapers and hearts all across Japan were broken. His bones were buried in a corner of Professor Ueno's burial plot, so he was finally reunited with the master for whom he had longed for so many years. His coat was preserved and stuffed. It can still been seen in the National Science Museum.  Scientists settled the cause of Hachiko's death to be terminal cancer and also a filaria infection (worms). 

A new statue has also been erected in honor of Hachiko's tale. Outside of the University of Tokyo, Hachiko and his owner have finally reunited. 

The story of Hachiko has become etched in Japanese people's hearts, and it is certainly a most touching tale of the strong bond between a dog and his master and the boundless devotion of which Akita are capable of. Hachiko today is a national symbol of loyalty in Japan, a symbol of utter devotion and love. It embodies the true meaning and power of love, and the strength of the ties that we all share, people and animals alike.