森羅万象 …何て強いんだ。

Hachikou Waited for His Master at the Train Station

Every weekend, Hachikou and his master enjoyed walking together. Master showed Hachikou how to get to the Shibuya Train Station, from which he took the train to work each day.
One morning, Hachikou walked with his master to Shibuya Train Station. “I have to ride the train, so you must go home by yourself. Do you know how to get home, Hachikou?” his master asked.
“Woof, woof…” Hachikou replied. He sat at the train station until the train was gone. Then he went home.
“Oh, you know how to come home by yourself, Hachikou?” Master’s wife was surprised.
That afternoon, when Master got off the train, Hachikou was already there, waiting for him.
“Oh, Hachikou. Are you waiting for me? Good boy!” Master hugged Hachikou. “Let’s go home now.” They went home together. The moon looked down on them and beamed.

Hachikou Loved His Master

Each day, Hachikou went to the train station with his master in the morning. When the sun went down, Hachikou went to the train station again. He sat near the track and waited for the train to come. “My Mommy said that I would have a good master, and my master would love me. Mommy was right. I am lucky to have a good master,” Hachikou thought.
One morning, Hachikou’s master did not feel well, but he still went to work. Hachikou was worried about him.
“Hachikou, see you tonight,” his master bade his good-bye then departed on the train. Hachikou looked at the train until it was gone.
At the sunset, Hachikou waited for his master at the Shibuya Train Station. The train came as usual, but his master did not show up.
“He may come back on the next train.” Hachikou thought.
It was getting dark and the stars began to come out. A trainman said to Hachikou, “there is no more train today. You should go home.” He patted Hachikou’s head. Hachikou looked at him with lonesome eyes and barked, “woof.”
Hachikou felt sad. “Where is my master? Why didn’t he come home? He may come back tomorrow.” He went to his doghouse. The moon and stars looked sadly at Hachikou.

Hachikou Missed His Master

The next day, Hachikou again waited for his master at the Shibuya Train Station. He waited and waited, but his master did not show up.
“My master said, ’see you tonight,’ so he will surely come back.” Hachikou thought.
A trainman said to his colleague, “Look, Hachikou comes again. Poor dog, he didn’t know that his master died of a heart attack at the university yesterday.” The trainman felt sorry for Hachikou.

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After Hachikou’s master died, his wife sold the house and left for her hometown. Hachikou was adopted by Mr. Kikuzabro Kobayashi, who had once been Dr. Ueno’s gardener.

Faithful Dog, Hachikou

But Hachikou could not forget his only real master. He often visited the house where he used to live and sat in front of the gate for a long time. “Oh! the dog again. It is not your house anymore. Go away!” The new owner of the house yelled at Hachikou and chased him away.

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Hachikou was growing into a big dog. Every day he waited for his master in Shibuya Train Station. Many people fed Hachikou. He loved YAKITORI (B.B.Q.) the best. People were amazed by Hachikou but also felt sorry for him.

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In 1932, Hachikou was in the newspaper. Many people came to see Hachikou at the Shibuya Train Station.

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In 1934, Hachikou’s statue was build beside the Shibuya Train Station. Hachikou looked at the statue, “Who is this? Woof, woof…”

Come with Me

Hachikou was getting old, but he still believed his master would come home someday. He waited for his master at the Shibuya Train Station each day.
It was spring again. Hachikou looked at the cherry blossoms, and he remembered the HANAMI party and the YAKITORI his master gave him. Pink flowers danced around him. “Master! Where are you?” Hachikou was sad and tired. Suddenly he heard his master’s voice. “Hachikou. Come with me.”
“I was waiting for you every day. Woof, woof…” Hachikou barked.
Hachikou was very happy to reunite with his master. He stood up and ran into the master’s arms. Master hugged Hachikou gently and said, “come with me, Hachikou.” Hachikou closed his eyes happily.

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Hachikou had lived with his master for 17 months. After his master’s death, Hachikou waited for his master for nine years. In the spring of 1935, Hachikou died at last. Today, his statue stands at Shibuya Train Station in his memory.

Prologue

There is a statue of a dog at Shibuya Train Station in Tokyo, Japan.
One day, a little boy and his mother stopped by. “Look at that statue!” said the boy.
“This is Chuken Hachikou (Faithful dog Hachikou). Hachikou’s master loved him very much, and Hachikou did not forget his master until his own last day. This is where Hachikou waited for his master for nine years,” explained the boy’s mother.

A Puppy Was Born

The snow had stopped. The moonlight glistened on frosted trees. The dark blue of the winter sky was tinted with snow.
In the winter of 1923, four Akita puppies were born in a town in the northern part of Japan. While the puppies were sleeping beside their mother, she licked her babies. “Sleep well my children,” she said as she gazed on them with love.
“Mommy, I love you. I will stay with you forever…” one of the puppies said. Mother smiled, but she knew he would be adopted someday. “You will have a master. He will love you and care for you,” answered his mother gently.

The Puppy Went to Tokyo

Dr. Eizaburo Ueno, a professor at Tokyo University, wanted an Akita. A puppy was sent to him for adoption. The puppy was carried to the train going to Tokyo in the spring of 1924.
The puppy was sad, for he missed his mother and siblings. He rode the train for a long time. Tired and hungry, he cried, “Mommy…”
The Puppy was delivered to Dr. Ueno, who lived in a big house with a huge yard. “Such a handsome dog. You must be hungry.” Dr. Ueno hugged the puppy, and his wife brought milk.
The puppy drank the milk. “Yummy!”
“He must be hungry. He drank it all. Now, we should name him,” Dr. Ueno said. “How about Hachikou?”
“That is a good name. Hachikou. You are Hachikou,” his wife smiled.
Master kissed Hachikou’s nose.

Hachikou Took a Bath

“I will give you a bath today,” Hachikou’s master said as he held and took him to the FURO, the bathtub. The master took off his clothes and went to the bath with Hachikou. He poured the warm water onto Hachikou’s body.
“Now, I will wash your body.” Master said as he put soap on Hachikou and scrubbed Hachikou’s body. Then the master rinsed Hachikou’s body and they both soaked in the FURO.
“How do you like it, Hachikou?”
Hachikou felt so good in the warm water, and he was so happy to take a bath with his master. “Woof,” Hachikou barked, thanking his master.
After the bath, Hachikou was hungry. He ate MISO soup with rice, fish, DAIKON , WAKAME , and carrots. “Yummy…” Hachikou wagged his tail.

Hachikou Loved to be Sick

Master had no child, and he loved Hachikou very much. So Hachikou was like his only child. At the time that Hachikou was growing up, most Japanese dogs stayed in outside doghouses. However, Hachikou was often allowed to stay in the house. Sometimes he had an accident in the house, and Master’s wife was unhappy about it.
One evening, when master came home from work, his wife said “Hachikou has not eaten anything since this morning.”
“He must be sick. I will give him some medication.” Master took a little bottle and poured the medicine into Hachikou’s mouth.
“You will be well soon. You can sleep with me tonight.”
That night, Hachikou slept with his master in the FUTON. The FUTON was soft and felt good. “Maybe I should get sick often so I can sleep with my master,” Hachikou thought.
Hachikou slept with his master for three days until he got better.

Hachikou Loved Yakitori

Hachikou sat under a cherry tree. The sun was warm and the cherry blossoms were dancing with the wind.
“Hachikou, we are having a party today. It is called HANAMI . Everyone will come to see our cherry blossoms,” master said.
His wife was busy cooking. There was a lot of food on the table.
“Hachikou, this is YAKITORI . His master gave him YAKITORI.
“Yummy!” Hachikou loved the BBQ. “I wish we had a party every day. Woof, woof…”
Two children, Ken and his little sister Hana, from the house next door, came to the party. Hachikou played with Ken. Every time Ken threw a ball, Hachikou caught it. Hachikou also watched Ken’s little sister, Hana. She loved to crawl everywhere, so Hachikou watched out for her.