Travel Light

Hachiko, a faithful dog’s story turned movie, has not been released yet in the Philippines. But if it does, local cinemas will be filled with sobbing viewers.

The movie is an American version of the Japanese dog (of Akita breed) who faithfully awaited his deceased master’s return in a train station in Tokyo. Richard Gere plays the part of a university professor (Parker) who found the puppy Hachiko lost in the train station after long hours of transfers in one of those cross country movers. He took little Hachi home and they bonded together. Hachi grew up walking Parker to the station in the morning and returning to the station every afternoon to wait for him. It was a faithful habit Hachi had for the next 10 years after his master died.

The real Hachiko was born in 1923 and died in 1935 in Shibuya, Tokyo. His master’s name was Hidesaburō Ueno, a professor in the agriculture department at the University of Tokyo. A bronze statue of the dog was erected in 1934 in Shibuya station and Hachi was even present during the time of its unveiling. Every year, March 8 in particular, dog lovers would gather at Shibuya railroad station to honor Hachi’s remarkable loyalty and faithfulness.