Hachikō was a Japanese Akita dog, remembered for his remarkable loyalty to his owner, Hidesaburō Ueno, for whom he continued to wait for over nine years following Ueno's death.
Hachikō was born in Taisho 12 (1923) on a farm near the city of Ōdate, Akita Prefecture. During Taisho 13 and Taisho 14, Hachikō often played with his owner, Hidesaburō Ueno. However, on May 21, Taisho 15, Ueno passed away from an illness. In the days that followed, Hachikō would return to Shibuya Station every day to wait for Ueno's return.
After his death, Hachikō's remains were cremated. Hachikō became a national sensation. His faithfulness to his master's memory impressed the people of Japan, symbolizing family loyalty—a quality to which all should strive.