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1. Hachiko 2. Hachiko's legendary faithfulness of waiting for his master to come home became a national symbol of loyalty. 3. Shibuya Station, Tokyo, Japan
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I knew that dog looked familiar and here is the proof. These were taken in May 2005 in Shibuya Station, Tokyo. The last two (see below) are of this incredible timing at the intersection. There are literally thousands of people waiting to cross on either side. There are hundreds of vehicles. When the time is set to cross, the vehicles all stop. The people rush to cross, but no one goes or is in the middle of the intersection when the time is to stop – no lagers. Anyway, I found it to be an astonishing site. We found a place where we could go up a couple of stories in a building and photograph the intersection. Wow, thanks for the memories once more!!!
Quizmaster Judy Pfaff (top) and her daughter (bottom) at Shibuya Station, Tokyo. (See section on Pedestrian Scramble, below.)
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Hachiko Nov. 10, 1923 - Mar. 8, 1935
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The year was 1925. Every morning, Professor Ueno Eizaburo
walked to Shibuya station accompanied by his loyal dog,
18-month-old Hachi, nicknamed Hachiko. The professor's
home was in the Shibuya district of Tokyo and he commuted
to the agricultural department in Komaba and the agricultural
experimental station in Nishihara. Hachiko didn't accompany
his master to his teaching job at the Imperial University (now
known as Tokyo University), but when Professor Ueno
returned every day at 3pm, the dog was always at the station
waiting for him. However, on May 21 of that year, Ueno died
of a stroke while at the university. Hachiko went to Shibuya
as always to meet his master, but 3 o'clock came and went,
and the professor didn't arrive. So Hachiko waited. And
waited.
The Akita must have known something was wrong, but
nonetheless every day for the next nine years, he returned to
the station at 3 o'clock to meet his beloved master before
walking home, alone. Nothing and no one could discourage
Dr. Ueno's Grave Aoyama Cemetery, Tokyo
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Luke Skywalker Quizmaster Dale Niesen's Best Friend
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Hachiko from maintaining his nightly vigil. Hachiko was sent to homes of relatives or
friends, but he always continued to await his master, who was never to return, at the
train station. It was not until he followed his master in death that Hachiko failed to
appear at his waiting place at the railroad station.
Soon people began to notice the loyal dog's trips made in vain to meet his master.
Hachiko's fidelity to his master [became] known throughout Japan, owing to an article,
"Faithful Old Dog Awaits Return of Master Dead for
Seven Years" in the October 4, 1933 issue of Asahi
Shinbun (Asahi News). Ueno's former gardener, the
Shibuya stationmaster, and others began feeding
Hachiko and giving him shelter. Word of his unaltered
routine spread across the nation, and he was held up as
a shining example of loyalty. People travelled to Shibuya
simply to see Hachiko, feed him, and gently touch his
head for luck.
The months turned to years, and still Hachiko returned
to Shibuya station daily at 3pm, even as arthritis and
aging took their toll. Finally, on March 7, 1934 - nearly
ten years after last seeing Professor Ueno - the
12-year-old Akita was found dead on the same spot
outside the station where he had spent so many hours
waiting for his master.
Hachiko and neighborhood children.
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Hachiko's death made the front pages of major Japanese newspapers leading to the
suggestion that a statue of him be erected at the station. Contributions from people in
the United States and other countries poured in from all over the country to memorialize
the dog that had won the hearts of the nation. A day of mourning was declared.
Sculptor Ando Teru was hired, with the money that had been contributed, to create a
bronze statue of Hachiko. In April 1934 it was placed on the exact spot where Hachiko
had waited for so long.
Within a few years, however, Japan was at war, and any available metal was melted
down to make weapons. Not even Hachiko's statue was spared. After the war, in 1948,
Ando's son Takeshi sculpted a new Hachiko - the statue that stands outside Shibuya
station to this day.
Hachiko was mounted and stuffed and he is on now on display at the Tokyo Museum
of Art. His flesh was cremated. Its ashes rest beside those of his beloved master.
This is not the only monument to chuken ("loyal dog") Hachiko to be found in Tokyo,
however. Aoyana Cemetery contains a memorial to Hachiko on the site of Professor
Ueno's grave. Some of Hachiko's bones are reportedly buried
there, but in fact, Hachiko can still be seen, stuffed, in the
National Science Museum northwest of Ueno station.
Back in Shibuya, Hachiko's statue sits in a noble pose, forever
waiting for his master. His statue, appropriately, is the
best-known landmark and meeting place in Shibuya, where
hundreds of people every day sit and wait for their friends.
my.opera.com/yousof/blog/show.dml/1120128
www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5951810
Comments from Our Readers
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during the scramble can be offset
by that saved by cross-turning
vehicles not blocking the
intersection while waiting for
pedestrians
Now a cat would get it after a while and get on with its life. Just sayin'...
Marilyn Hamill
*****
What a beautiful story. I've read of a dog in England that followed his owner around all
day as he worked, I think he was a cop or a letter carrier. That dog walked the same
"beat" after his owner died until the his death. The stories are so sad but uplifting too.
Great quiz, as always ! Dawn Colket
*****
It took just a short time to realize what breed of dog the statue was of once I
recognized it as an Akita I knew the statue was likely to be located in Japan. So I just
did a quick Google search on, “bronze statue of an Akita dog” which returned with
images of the statue. From there it was just a click or two away to the answers. I
guess it helps to be a dog lover and to know your breeds. I have a Belgian Sheepdog
named Luke short for Luke Skywalker. Thanks for the quiz I enjoyed the story of
Hachikô's devotion very much. Dale Niesen
*****
Colleen, this story had me bawling - apparently I needed a good cry - ha,ha!!
Elaine C. Hebert
*****
An amazing story of loyalty "beyond the grave". Carl Blessing
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Wow, are there ever a lot of dog statues! Nice story - and a fun puzzle. It is nice to
find the puzzles from overseas. Gerald Vanlandingham
*****
I don't know why someone didn't take care of the dog, I know he must have been old
and well fed, but to have died on the streets with heart worms was uncalled for.
Perhaps his days were numbered anyway. Debbie Sterbinsky
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Haichiko brought attention to the low population of Akitas in Japan in 1925-1935.
There were only 30 at the time. Susan Fortune
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I first heard this story of the professor and his dog less than a year ago. As a person
who has always had at least one dog (four at this point) I find that each encounter with
the story brings me near tears. What is it like to live inside that canine brain?
Peter Norton
*****
What a wonderful story! Anne Alves
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I watched the filming of the movie with Richard Gere in Woonsocket RI last year.
Margaret Waterman
*****
Dog's love for owner is unconditional, that of a cat is earned. Inheriting pet dogs of
deceased owners can be a situation of mixed loyalties: Bonding to a new owner vs.
wondering about and/or wandering back to where they last saw their previous owner.
On death certificates is frequently found the phrase: "I last saw him/ her alive on ----."
In some instances, the pet dog is found sitting by his deceased owner's side. In a way,
the dog would the informant. Mike Dalton
*****
Colleen, you might be interested in and share with others, San Diego's famous, Bum the
Dog. We have a statue erected to him and Bobby, our sister city's (Edingburgh,
Scotland)famous dog, in the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego. Check out the story at
legacy.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070902/news_1h02bum.html Nancy Lear
*****
Interesting quiz. I originally thought it was Balto, but quickly realized it wasn't. I was
able to search for "dog statue -Balto" and found a photo that got me on my way.
Evan Hindman
*****
This one puts me in mind of Greyfriars Bobby. Both stories make me cry.
Milene Rawlinson
*****
This quiz is such a heartwarmer! If we didn't already have our little "Dixie", i'd make
start making the rounds of the doggie adoption places to find an Akita.
Karen Petrus
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The touching story of Hachiko was so moving that tears came to my eyes. Thanks for
this one! Mike Swierczewski
*****
Brittany is my animal lover. She has a dog just like Hachikô, that keeps a faithful eye
over her. Since she cannot talk, when she makes an utterance, her dog will check her
out with that doggie type of stare and when he sees things are ok, he will go over and
lick her hand. He still hasn't made up his mine on me yet!!
Mr. Rick and QuizAngel Brittany
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It certainly supports the notion that "dog is man's best friend".I understand there is a
movie about Hachiko being released in December. I, for one, will attend! Don Draper
*****
The story reminded me of Greyfriars Bobby in Edinburgh, Scotland. What loyalty! I
understand that the statue of Hachiko was melted down for the metal during World War
II, but was recast due to public demand. Margaret Paxton
*****
It was a lovely story; I am learning something new every time I do one of your
quizzes! I have always believed that animals know more than what they let on at first
glance and they certainly do learn to recognize and reward good behavior from their
owners. ;) Nicole Blank
A pedestrian scramble, also known as a
'X' Crossing (UK), diagonal crossing
(US), scramble intersection (Canada),
exclusive pedestrian phase, and more
poetically Barnes Dance, is a pedestrian
crossing system that stops all vehicular
traffic and allows pedestrians to cross an
intersection in every direction at the same
time. It was first used[citation needed] in
Kansas City, Missouri and Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada in the late
Quiz #232 November 8, 2009
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1940s, and has since then been adopted in many other cities and countries. It was most
recently adopted in Toronto in 2008 and in London's busy Oxford Circus in 2009. The
most famous implementation of this kind of intersection is in Shibuya, Tokyo.
The pedestrian scramble has advantages and disadvantages. It requires vehicular traffic
in all directions to stop, losing time for motorists and reducing an intersection's
vehicular capacity, although it may be mitigated by time gained removing pedestrian
signals across individual streets. It is also often difficult to ensure that an intersection is
free of pedestrians at the end of the scramble time. For these reasons, some traffic
engineering textbooks discourage the pedestrian scramble except at low-volume rural
and suburban intersections where there may be a safety benefit.
However, intersections with high volumes of turning traffic and high pedestrian
volumes can greatly benefit from a pedestrian scramble. Capacity in all directions lost
Interesting video of lauch day of pedestrian scramble at Yonga and Dundas Sts in Toronto. Click here.
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Congratulations to Our Winners!
Mr. Rick and his Quiz Angel Brittany!
Fred Stuart Stan Read Dawn Colket Beth Long Mary Hurley Carl Blessing Dave Doucette Gerald Vanlandingham Mary Osmar Debbie Sterbinsky Susan Fortune Christine Bates Ben Truwe Peter Norton Jim Kiser Marilyn Hamill Jinny Collins Margaret Paxton Anne Alves Nicole Blank Tamura Jones Dale Niesen Margaret Waterman Sharon Martin Betty Chambers Gary Sterne Mike Dalton Wayne Douglas Nancy Lear Dennis Brann Joshua Kreitzer Evan Hindman Bill Utterback Trey Spencer Milene Rawlinson Jackie Torrance Karen Kay Bunting John Chulick JoLynn Pfeiffer Karen Petrus Mike Swierczewski Venita Wilson Kitty Huddleston Don Draper Diane Burkett Robert W. Steinmann, Jr. Robert Edward McKenna, QPL
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Faithful Dog Leads Blind Man 70 Floors Down WTC Just Before Tower Collapses. Read...
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Greyfriars Bobby was a Skye Terrier who became known in the 19th-century in Edinburgh and Scotland after reportedly spending fourteen years guarding his owner's grave, until his own death on 14th January 1872. Read...
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Thanks to new Quizmaster Blair Chambers for suggesting this quiz.
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Bobbie, the Wonder Dog (1921-1927) was a dog from the U.S. state of Oregon who became famous for traveling 2,800 miles to return to his owners in the city of Silverton. Read...
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1. What is the name of the dog? 2. Why was this statue of him erected? 3. Where is the statue located?
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Hachiko: A Dog's Story See trailer. Click here.
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A SPECIAL FRIEND
An Akita- Ino breed of dog, Identified as Hachito by name, Remember for loyalty to his owner, Had a statue erected to honor his fame.
After the death of Professor Ueno Never understanding that he passed on, Hachito kept meeting the usual train, Ten years unknowing that he was gone.
With the spread of Hachito's fame, Locations including the Shibuya hop, Hachito's Odate home station, And Akita Dog Museum shop.
Robert Edward McKenna Quiz Poet Laureate
*****
I don't think we give our pets The due for being smart No credit for intelligence No credit for their heart.
We didn't know they were so smart And had such good old brains Until our parrots read the tale of Hachito - and explained!
Colleen Fitzpatrick, PhD Understudy to Quiz Poet Laureate Robert Edward McKenna
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