Thursday, June 17, 2010

A loyal dog called HACHIKO (ハチ公)

A beautiful written and illustrated book! - There are so many "versions" of HACHIKO story; but I particularly like this one: Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog, written by Pamela S. Turner and illustrated by Yan Nasimbene. - this book won the Bccb Blue Ribbon Picture Book Awards.

This is a well-known old story in Japan. Professor Ueno died unexpectedly at work in April 1925, fifteen months after he bought a dog who he named Hachiko (number 8 in Japanese. indicating it is his 8th Akita). Hachiko walked with Professor Ueno to the Tokyo Shibuya-ku station (渋谷区) every morning and could be counted on like a clock to greet his owner upon return from work. After Professor Ueno passed away, Hachiko continued coming back to the station “as usual" to wait for professor Ueno's return. This continued for ten long years until Hachiko died in 1935.

A beautiful story the bond between dog and human is very touching.

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