Tokyo workers and students mingle with tourists every day at the dog statue, one of Tokyo’s busiest meeting points and one of the city’s most visited monuments Hachiko at the station Shibuyawhere the animal will meet today 100 years waiting for its owner.
He is known around the world as the “loyal dog” because he waits for his owner at the station every day. Hidesaburo Ueno (1872-1925) when he came from work, and even after his death, the Akita breed and cream-coloured Hachiko was immortalized in a bronze figure very close to the famous Shibuya crossing, the work of the sculptor. Takeshi Ando and grew up in 1948.
But this is a second statue: the first was made by Takeshi Ando’s sculptor father. Teru Andoin 1934, but was forced to withdraw during World War II as part of efforts by Japanese authorities to collect all available metal in the country to produce weapons.
It is said that Hachiko was born in Odate, Japan. 10 November 1923 and is named for the similarity of its bent front legs to the Japanese ‘kanji’ for the number eight (八), pronounced as ‘pilgrim‘, he witnessed the unveiling of the first statue.
A story of loyalty
One afternoon when Hachiko was waiting for Ueno to return from lectures at the Department of Agriculture at the University of Tokyo, the professor did not show up because he was there. He died due to brain hemorrhage.
His pet, who never lost hope of seeing him again, He continued to wait for her at the same time and in the same place every day. Over the next almost ten years, until his death in 1935, he became a well-known and admired figure in the Shibuya neighborhood.
The importance of Hachiko’s history and in general Akita dogs In Japan, this has been proven as follows: Tokyo Museum of Nature and Science showing off her stuffed body.
This dog became famous worldwide when his story was filmed in the 2009 movie.I’m always with you Hachiko“, starring American actor Richard Gere.
One of Tokyo’s most visited monuments
One hundred years after his birth, Hachiko’s story continues to cause excitement and his statue is one of the most beautiful statues in the world. Mandatory stops for travelers in Tokyoand also the symbol of Shibuya and the entire Japanese capital.
“I’m a big dog lover and there was a person who died recently, so I’m excited to be here right now,” a young Italian tourist explained to EFE.
For your part, Boli Nalasco and Fernando BeltránMexican visitors stopped by the Hachiko statue while passing through Tokyo.
“This is my second trip to Japan and I was surprised by the amount of money there. tourists “It happened both the first and second time,” Nalasco said, emphasizing the “photography line” they had to face in front of the popular dog.
The Mexican traveler added: “This is a symbolic thingConsidering the love a pet can give you and how Japanese culture brings that to the places people have to visit.”
Another tourist said, “My partner didn’t know the story of Hachiko and I played the Richard Gere movie. We watched it and this was one of the places we would definitely come to during our trip to take a photo with him.” This time the Spaniard exclaimed in surprise: “What we didn’t know was that he had turned 100!“.
To commemorate the centennial, Tokyo Metro will offer a special ticket for sale, valid tomorrow, Saturday. 24 hours It was decorated with Hachiko motifs in order to “promote city tourism”.
Source: Informacion

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