“I’ve finally waited for you to come home.” After 90 long years, the loyal Hachiko joyfully greets its owner.

▲ A statue of Hachiko the Loyal Dog and Dr. Ueno. (Photo / Sourced fromAsahi Shimbun)

Online group / Compiled report

The story of “Hachiko the Loyal Dog” is practically legendary in Japan. Back then, Hachiko, an Akita dog, was raised by his owner, Dr. Hidesaburō Ueno. Every day, he would go to Shibuya Station to wait for his master to return from work at Tokyo Imperial University (now the University of Tokyo). After Dr. Ueno passed away from illness, Hachiko continued to visit Shibuya Station regularly, waiting silently for his master’s return. Despite bad weather or being bullied by passersby, Hachiko remained steadfast at his post, waiting quietly for his owner to appear.

When Hachiko’s story was revealed by the news, he became famous. People erected a bronze statue of him in front of Shibuya Station (the Hachiko Statue). After waiting for 10 long years, Hachiko eventually succumbed to illness and passed away in 1935, and his story became a touching tale. The Hachiko statue has become not only a landmark of Shibuya Station but also one of the well-known sights that many visitors to Tokyo make sure to see. Hachiko’s story was even adapted into a film by Richard Gere, spreading worldwide.

In order to reunite Hachiko with Dr. Ueno, staff from the University of Tokyo raised about 10 million yen from various sources to create a statue depicting their reunion. The statue stands 1.9 meters tall and weighs 280 kilograms. On March 8, 2015—80 years after Hachiko’s passing—it was officially unveiled at the main entrance of the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Agriculture.

▲ The Hachiko the Loyal Dog statue in front of Shibuya Station. (Photo / Sourced from the internet)

Unlike the image of Hachiko waiting longingly at Shibuya Station, the newly erected statue shows Hachiko standing on his hind legs and leaping into Dr. Ueno’s arms. Dr. Ueno, dressed in a suit, happily welcomes Hachiko—after 90 years of waiting, Hachiko finally sees his master come home.

In fact, besides the newly created Hachiko statue, the University of Tokyo itself—with its classic charm and rich cultural atmosphere—has long attracted many domestic and international tourists and remains a popular sight in Tokyo.Every autumn, it also boasts the famous golden ginkgo scenery.Visitors can take the Tokyo Metro’s Namboku Line to Todaimae Station to get a close-up feel of the deep bond between Hachiko and Dr. Ueno.

Hachiko the Loyal Dog Statue
Location: In front of Shibuya Station, Tokyo
Transportation: Accessible via the Tokyu Toyoko Line, Den-en-toshi Line, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Hanzomon Line, Fukutoshin Line, and Keio Inokashira Line to Shibuya Station

Statue of Hachiko the Loyal Dog and Dr. Ueno
Location: In front of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tokyo
Transportation: Accessible via the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line to Todaimae Station