Japan's Most Loyal Dog

#visittokyo The Hachiko Monument is a famous statue located in Tokyo, Japan. It is a bronze sculpture that commemorates the loyalty of a dog named Hachiko and has become a symbol of unwavering loyalty and devotion. Hachiko was an Akita dog born in 1923. He became well-known for his remarkable loyalty to his owner, Professor Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor at the University of Tokyo. Hachiko would accompany Ueno to the Shibuya train station every morning and return to meet him at the same spot in the evening when he returned from work. Unfortunately, in 1925, Professor Ueno passed away suddenly while at work, but Hachiko continued to wait for him at the station every day for nearly ten years, until his own death in 1935. Hachiko's story touched the hearts of many people, and he became a symbol of loyalty and devotion. To honor Hachiko's memory, a bronze statue was erected in 1934 at the Shibuya train station, near the spot where he used to wait for his owner. The original statue was melted down during World War II to contribute to the war effort, but a second statue was commissioned in 1948 and placed at the same location. The current statue is a replica of this second statue. The Hachiko Monument is now a popular meeting point and a symbol of Shibuya. It is often surrounded by people, and it has become an iconic landmark in Tokyo. Many visitors come to see the statue and take photos with it, paying tribute to Hachiko's loyalty and enduring love for his owner.