Hachi-ko (1987) User Reviews

No doubts anymore to why dog is considered man's best friend

[Atreyu_II · 7/10 · 3 March 2011]

While humans are weird on these things, dogs are companions for life. Dogs show eternal loyalty for the simplest things. Giving them food and water is enough for them to stay loyal forever, but if that includes love and attention that loyalty is taken to another degree. It is true that dogs CAN and DO chose their own masters and they are loyal to one person. It seems that, for them, life has no meaning if it's not with their first owner.

This film is very, very moving and sad, like no other I've ever seen. It tells the (real) story of Hachi, the dog that waited 10 long years for his owner after his death. Hachi kept waiting for him for the rest of his life and only didn't wait more because he died. Besides that hard reality, that dog was a victim of violence, went through a lot of pain, sorrow and even illness. It's already very depressing to imagine what the real Hachi went through and seeing what we see in this movie is so heartbreaking. It breaks my heart how much he waits for a master that won't be back anymore, the cruelty of humans towards innocent animals, the bad condition and fragile health he is after years.

The movie itself is far from being great, let alone a masterpiece. But it's unquestionably a valuable lesson about the loyalty of dogs in the highest sense and it shows that dog is definitely man's best friend, a companion for life in the good and bad moments, everything.

There are many hateful human characters and this movie is so depressing and painful that I can't even watch it anymore and I couldn't help but cry hard. Having that said, it's impossible not to love Hachi and our hearts melt over him.

This movie had an American remake with Richard Gere but it's very different. The original is a far more realistic approach to the real story, as it takes place in Japan in the 1920's/1930's - which is the place and time when this story really happened.

Great film, but it emphasizes the most tragic aspects of the true story

[skotzilla · 9/10 · 7 March 2007]

***This contains explicit spoilers near the end of the text!!*** I love this movie. We visited the real Hachiko statue at Shibuya Station in Tokyo twice, and after trying to find it for 10 years, and finally saw the Japanese Region 2 DVD.

Hachiko was born in 11/1923, and was sent to Tokyo in 1/1924 to live with Dr Eizaburo Euno, who walked Hachiko every day to the Shibuya Station, where he took a train to teach at Tokyo University. Dr Ueno died on campus on 5/21/1925. His widow sold the home and moved away, giving Hachiko to Dr Euno's relatives in Asakusa, but Hachiko repeatedly ran away to go back to his prior home, and to wait at Shibuya Station for his never-to-return master. Eventually, he was taken in by Dr Ueno's gardener, who lived near the Station and prior home. When he was older, Hachiko lived mostly at the Station in a store room prepared for him by the Station Manager Chuichi Yoshikawa, who loved him like his own pet. A newspaper article made Hachiko a celebrity on 10/4/1932, and many people came from all over to see him. A number of vets cared for him. A statue was erected in his honor 4/21/1934 attended by a huge crowd. Hachiko finally died of heart worm and kidney failure a few blocks away from the Station at 6:30am on 3/8/1935. A full Buddhist ceremony including 49 days of mourning ensued. Dr Ueno's widow, the Station Manager, the gardener, and many others all across Japan, grieved.

The movie contains many heartwarming scenes of Hachiko: being born, getting into mischief in the garden, walking to the train station with his master and even taking a bath with him, attending his master's funeral service and chasing the hearse, etc.

**Do Not Read the Following if you don't want to know how the movie ends**

In the movie, however, there is no statue built in his honor. After he runs away from Dr Euno's relatives, he stays with the gardener who also dies, leaving Hachiko homeless. When Dr Euno's widow comes back after seeing the newspaper article, Hachiko runs away from her as well. The station manager in the movie, like most all other people at the Station, generally ignore him, and he's portrayed often as a pitiful stray. A couple selling Yakitori from a nearby cart befriend him repeatedly, and the husband even gets in a fight to defend Hachiko's honor. But in the end, as the final credits roll, Hachiko lies dead, alone, in the snow, at the spot where he waited for 10 years, with people walking past him with no show of concern. It is absolutely heartbreaking. There is a sequence right before the final tragic scene that shows Hachiko reuniting with his beloved master. It could just be Hachiko's final dream, but I like to think it shows them reuniting in the afterlife.

'Pawprints in Japan' by Nicholas Rhoden is a great book that includes many facts and photos of the real Hachiko, including him with the Station Manager, the actual newpaper article, and Ueno's widow putting funeral ribbons on the original statue (which was melted down during WWII, then remade by the original sculpture's son). You can find it at www.akitaclub.org. The movie was re-released as a limited time offer from 1/1/07 to 4/30/07. Search for "Hachiko Monogatari" at www.cdjapan.co.jp. for the Japenese-only Region 2 DVD. Another movie about famous Japanese dogs to get is "Nankyoku Monogatari" which tells the story of Taro and Jiro who survived a year alone in Antarctica after being abandoned by their human team of scientists. It was Japan's #1 box office champ from 1983 until 1997 when Princess Mononke and Titanic surpassed it.

Seen once and not forgotten

[masterconcert · 8/10 · 20 February 2005]

We saw this movie once on Hong Kong Television when we lived there until the year 2000 and remember it as a true tear jerker but in a positive sense.

It stuck in our memories for all those years which must mean something; and it may therefore mean a great deal to people who are not yet to emotionally in such deep freeze that the story of Hachiko can no longer warm their hearts.

If I recall correctly the original was in Japanese but it had English subtitles.

In the last four years we have tried to buy a copy but cannot find any.

Thankful for any pointers in that direction

Konrad Vienna

All Time Favorite BEST Movie

[chinhao · 10/10 · 23 March 2010]

I seldom post reviews online but this is one movie that I feel compelled to. This is my favorite movie of all times without a doubt. I have watched Hachiko close to 10 times now and every single time my tears would start flowing uncontrollably without fail. Each time I thought to myself, yeah I have watched it before so I wont cry again but each time I still could not stop my tears. A lot has been written on the story so I wont repeat all that. Just want to add that this is a true story and the newspaper reporter at the end of the movie did actually exist, writing up an article on Hachiko in the Japanese newspapers then. They did erect a statue of Hachiko at the very station but it was melted down during World War 2 for military usage. The Japanese later erected another statue in replacement after the war and today if you visit Japan, be sure to visit Hachiko's statue in Tokyo. And Hachiko's body has been preserved after his death and remains to this day on display in the Tokyo Museum of Nature and Science. I am going to make a trip one day to visit Hachiko. :)

One of the most emotional, sad, touching and well written films I have ever Seen. Hachiko Monogatari is the greatest Dog movie ever made.

[quiropiuscochannel · 10/10 · 6 January 2010]

Last year I was reading a two pages article about Hachiko in a local magazine,and the movie called a lot my attention but I never managed to get the film. However, last night a friend of mine gave me the film... And I loved it from the first to last minutes. Believe me, I have been a film lover since lots of years, but I can tell you that no other movie makes me cry as Hachiko did. I had never cried so much for a movie since "Life is Beautiful" and "The grave of the Fireflies". Just to think about an Akita Inu dog that has been waiting for his dead master for 10 years; its sad just to imagine it, and more when you know that its based on a TRUE story. Believe me that Hachiko is like no other dog-film you have ever seen, its completely beyond every dog movie ever created. The acting was great, the dog who acted as Hachiko was perfect,the ambientation was excellent, the soundtrack is very touchy and accords with the emotional nature of the film. Sorry, I really don't have words to describe it, Its a beautiful film that can touch everybodies heart and I personally think that only a no hearted bastard would not cry watching this film, just my opinion. Its very hard to get, but if you manage to get it, you wont be disappointed, trust me... Hachiko will show the meaning of loyalty.

The All Time Tearjerker!!!!!!!!

[costume-girl · 10/10 · 30 September 2004]

I loved this movie. It says everything about unconditional love and loyalty. I saw it in a small theater in Little Tokyo. It was a pretty full house. I remember at one point the sound of many people sobbing could be heard over the dialog. With tears in my eyes and a large lump in my throat...I turned to see...truly, not a dry eye in the house. Of coarse it made me laugh that so many were touched so strongly by this film. It mad "The Titanic" look like a comedy. I challenge anyone to see this film and not shed a tear? This film should be re-released and shown in major theater's everywhere. It's a perfect film. It's for everyone. Just don't forget a whole box of Kleenex...cause you'll need it!

1987 Genesis Award Winner

[DTVTEMP · 10 March 2002]

Winner of the 1987 Genesis Awards (awarded for films that contribute to the humane treatement of animals).

This is an excellent and tear-jerking Japanese film that dramatizes the story of Hachi-ko, a Japanese Akita dog owned by a Tokyo university professor.

Akitas are wonderful large dogs that are known for their tremendous loyalty to their masters.

This dog escorted his master to the subway station each day, when the professor took a train to the university. The dog would be dutifully waiting for his master to return on the evening train.

When the professor died one day, the dog waited forlornly for his master to return. The dog returned to the station every evening, for over a decade afterwards until the dog finally died of old age and sickness.

There is a statue to Hachiko at Shibuya Train Station. The dog's body was actually preserved and is now in a museum in Tokyo.

A Nutshell Review: Hachiko

[DICK STEEL · 7/10 · 16 September 2007]

Dog movies are a dime a dozen, and you can probably name a few out of the USA or Japan. There are many fictional ones that some might believe did exist (not the breed of course), but here's a story of one which really did, and in its lifetime earned the admiration of people around, enough to build a statue of it too! The Hachiko Exit of Tokyo's subway Shibuya Station stands a Hachiko the dog statue, in remembrance of its unwavering loyalty to its master.

Hachiko is an Akita dog born in Odate, Akita Prefecture, and this is ample opportunity for the filmmakers to insert as many cutesy shots of puppies as possible, with their natural playfulness and inquisitive nature earning plenty of "awwws" from the audience. The birth of Hachiko and its siblings is probably one of the best I've seen - or make that the only one I've seen to date, with an actual birth sequence being captured on film - I didn't know they come out that small!

But Hachiko's life seemed destined for hardship from the start. And this somewhat serves as a warning to those in the audience with an inkling of getting themselves a puppy after watching the show. As with any pet, it comes with commitment - you commit to taking care of it, and it will more than often do the same for you too, especially when it's a dog (they aren't called Man's Best Friend) for nothing. In the beginning, a young girl promises to care for the Hachiko, but as we all learn soon enough, this is but an empty promise as she "abandons" it even before it set foot into the home, and given that nobody in the household is keen on keeping it, the responsibility laid with the head of the household.

And thus a strong relationship between owner and dog was forged, one that involved amongst others, the dog accompanying the master to the train station, and dutifully waiting for his arrival at the station after work. This probably sealed its legend as it was unwavering with the dog being there come rain, shine, or snow. But the other half of the movie centered on more melodrama, one which I thought was having almost everything except the kitchen sink thrown at the dog's direction. Abandonment is cruel, and that is chiefly what it focused on. There was a particularly powerful scene that the professor's wife (who once was jealous of the attention Hachiko got from her spouse) denied having direct ownership with Hachiko, and that really hurt. Not to mention during one of the finale shots where you see again, hypocrisy at play.

But too much of something makes it nauseatingly sick. The finale tended to drag too long, and the story was determined to drum Hachiko's sad life into you once its honeymoon years were over. And the supporting characters during this stage, were more like caricatures, popping up now and then to regurgitate the same old lines and expressions of pity. And no self respecting dog movie will be without a de-facto scene of the dog running towards the owner from afar in slow motion. There is such a scene here too, which made me roll my eyeballs.

Despite its two-part act, Hachiko is still a rather enjoyable movie about a dog who can't let go, pining for the love of its master. Loyalty, friendship, and trust are the hallmarks of such movies. Now only if the pop song played during the end credits didn't ruin it all.

Japanese Lassie

[p-stepien · 7/10 · 10 October 2013]

Tokyo 1923. When a frivolous daughter falls pregnant and decides to marry, she has little thought of discarding her purebred Akita pup Hachiko, a dog she clamoured so hard to be given. When her father, college agriculture professor Shujiro Ueno (legendary actor Tatsuya Nakadai), takes over care of the canine a strong bond evolves between the two. Day after day Hachiko walks his master to the nearby Shibuya Station and then with remarkable punctuality returns to pick him up whenever he returns from work. The undying love survives the death of Shujiro, bringing about a heartwarming, if tragic, tale of eternal friendship.

Based on a true story "Hachiko monogatari" is a highly naturalistic feature, which starts of with a fully filmed birth of young pups (a powerful and beautifully shot opening sequence) and keeps this hands on approach throughout. With a precise script minimalism, presenting only the information needed to forward the plot, we hardly get an insight into the everyday family life of Shujiro Ueno, instead fragmented pictures of his wife, daughter and friends. Instead the movie places a strong focus on the man-dog relationship minimising the impact of everything else.

This approach basically delivers a very earnest, if simplistic story, which emotionally involves and captures the heart. I was however something finding myself lacking a wider picture, context, instead of a singular focus on the dog, not knowing almost anything about the people he encounters and their attitude towards the faithful canine, instead littering vast parts of the movie with amorphous everybodies spurting out narrative lines. In essence this construction of the story makes it emotionally effective, but lacking in terms of purely cinematic quality. Nonetheless a memorable movie, bound to make you all mushy. That is unless you lack heart and empathy.

Great Movie

[thinking_about_forgivnes · 10/10 · 2 December 2010]

This film was great . I watched it several times and I cried. There is another version of this movie which is made in 2009 . and I cried a lot ... This film is based on a true story and it is sooooooooo emotional . I loved 2 versions of this movie . Both of them are great . I think in some aspects , the American version is better and in some aspects , the Japenese one... You can buy this movie and its subtitles in English are in the internet . Watch this movie and enjoy . When I watched this movie , I found out that some movies like Titanic are like a joke when they are compered to such a deep and emotional and truthful storied Like Hachico. The Hachico story is based on truth and the statue of Hachico is built in Tokyo .

7.8

[elliottbrolin · 7/10 · 23 January 2021]

Very good movie

doesnt really deserve a rewatch in my opinion

-watched alone - cried 😭😭

Fails to find Hachiko's heart

[p-seed-889-188469 · 4/10 · 12 August 2014]

I have a fundamental problem with this story that I have to get off my chest before I begin my review proper. The real story of Hachiko is now shrouded in mythology but the 25 word summary is it is the story of a dog who was abandoned by his family and neglected by an entire society until he died a miserable, sick bag of bones. How convenient that the story of the dog's incredible fidelity to his master provides sufficient "awh" power for us to overlook this ugly side of the story.

So, here we have an ugly story sugar-coated and served up to put all humans involved in the best possible light. The daughter and her family abandons him and is given a noble reason for doing so. The mother does the same and we are supposed to believe she cares because she bows a lot. She salves her conscience by giving some street vendors a few yen to tide Hachiko over for the next day or two. What a woman. Someone else takes him in for a while but she too has to leave and sends Hachiko on his way with noble pleas to "be free" and other ridiculous rubbish. All the railway travelers stream past Hachiko as he waits but no-one, it seems, really gives a toss. Someone tell me this is a dignified picture of humanity.

OK, I've had my rant, enough of the story itself, now I'll get on with the review. I saw the American version of this first and while it was well enough done I felt it in no way reached its full potential. I had high hopes for the original Japanese version, first because it is the "authentic" Japanese story and second because Japanese productions often have a way of capturing subtlety that Western productions do not. It is disappointing to report the Japanese version did not really do it for me either. The key aspect missing in both versions is the lack of the establishment of a believable relationship between the "Master" and the dog, something that is absolutely pivotal to explaining the loyalty which is sole raison d'etre for this story. We spend far too long getting the dog to the Master, something that is entirely irrelevant to the story, leaving a pitiful amount of time to see the dog growing up and bonding with the Master. Yes, we have a few set-piece interactions, the Master rescuing the dog from the storm, and rather bizarrely and totally unrealistically, even bathing with it. But these are not the things that either form or show relationships, it is the myriad little things, a lick, a closeness, a quiet word, a shifting closer, a shadowing, a rubbing, a howling, a whimpering that show real affection, and of these there are none. Alas, by the time the Master kicks the bucket I really had no feeling for any form of true bond between the two. Strange as it may sound perhaps part of this has to do with the "acting" of the dog. I know nothing about akitas but based on the one(s) stared in this movie they seem to be a breed of some seriousness and little expressiveness, and this makes it difficult to get a feeling of closeness. To be honest, beautiful as the dog was, he displayed very little emotion, so we really have to take the relationship with his Master on faith. To compound this the dog's expressions of devotion after the master's death are not taken to their natural conclusion so that we can judge their full effect. We see the dog enter the formal funeral ceremony but we don't really see him do anything. We see him run after the car to the funeral but we never see him at the funeral. For some reason we also see the Mother and Daughter just look back at him. Do they stop and pick him up I wonder? We see the dog arrive back at his Master's old home after traveling half way across Tokyo, but we don't see the journey and the hardships he endured to be there. We don't see Hachiko's life and struggles as a stray, how and where he lived and how he suffered to do what he did. It is all a little strange. Instead we spend a lot of time on humans few of whom seem to have any redeeming features and who add nothing to the core story of Hachiko himself.

On a technical level the production values are high, although the music for the first part is ridiculously cheesy, anachronistic and jarring – it sounds like it was generated on a budget Casio keyboard. It is somewhat of a surprise and a relief when a real score appears later in the piece, and then, blow me down, if the Casio doesn't appear at the very end to ruin the climax.

So, in summary, we have two version of Hachiko and neither of them do justice to the story for the same reasons. Sadly it looks like poor Hachiko is as poorly served by humans in death as he was in life. Rest in Peace Hachiko.

What a Film!

[fa-oy · 10/10 · 24 September 2011]

Only few films have made me cry, but not as many times as this one , it is a really captivating story and just to know it was a real one amazes me even more. You may never find a best friend but a dog will never disappoint you nor abandon you, and this movie just proves that.

Apart from being a great story, I found the camera-work to be really good, and the scenography in some parts of the film does not get left behind.

I also found the acting fitting to what it was being presented,it was in no way overdone nor was it lacking anything, it was just normal and good acting.

I would recommend this film to everyone because it is meant for all audiences, but I can't guarantee if it will make you cry or at least feel any emotion. Most of you probably will at least feel something, though (mostly if you're fond of pets or animals in general).

Don't miss the chance to watch this.

Hachi

[cherrianeecen · 10/10 · 12 October 2007]

Last night I watched a DVD called Hachi-ko....

I cried so many times in the movie and I loved the background aspects of the Japanese life of the time, as well.

I felt moved to seek further information and found this.............

found at http://smt.blogs.com/mari_diary/2005/04/a_royal_dog_in_.html

.............I will tell about Hachiko today. Hachi was born in Akita pref. in 1923. Because of his bent ears, people sometimes get wrong impression that he was a mixed dog, but he was a purebred Akita dog. His owner was a professor of Tokyo university. His house was big and located around area where Tokyu department store is now. He already had a pointer dog named John and another dog S when Hachi came to live his house. John, S and Hachi went to Shibuya station evade to see their owner off in the morning and were there every evening meet him. It seemed the happiest days for dogs. Unfortunately the owner died one year later and his wife and dogs had to leave home to make ends meet. The dogs were taken to different homes with different owners. Mr. Saito who was a member of the Japanese dog Preservation Association, saw Hachiko sometimes and he remembered him as a faithful dog. By the time he discovered poor Hachiko in Shibuya Station, he was already sad shape, dirty pitiful but still waiting for his ex owner. Mr.Saito detailed Hachiko's plight in the newspaper and suddenly Hachiko had became a famous dog in Japan. While he was still alive, his statue was erected and his story was told in primary school textbook. Ha ha Hachiko's tale itself was a pretty good, loyal dog story. But some people's reaction to Hachiko seems a little bit over-the-top actually. Anyway like I wrote in eddoko topic, my grand mom met Hachiko in her school days. Yeah, she said it was a dirty dog. :-). First Hachiko statue was melted once during ww2 to make armaments. The 2nd Hachiko in Shibuya station was recast again after ww2. Ah you can meet real Hachiko in the National Science museum with another famous dog Taro and Jiro.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LakIEfEOQSE

and the above clip showing a Spanish person traveling the steps of Hachi to the statue.

unforgettable

[St0nE_heEad · 10/10 · 18 May 2005]

I don't remember much of "Hachiko Monogatari" because at the time I saw it I was only 5 or 6 years old. I remember it was late in the evening and my parents had gone out. The ending completely devastated me back then, tears and all. It threw me in quite a shock and I remember going outside to look for my mum and dad. This movie had stayed with me for such a long time. I watched it on the Bulgarian national TV - it was back in the 80's, around the time when the film was released. I remember being fascinated with the Japanese setting of the film and the dog. That is in fact all I remember about the movie - the dog waiting at the train station, its master giving a speech and dying and finally when the dog died. The emotional impact at the end was unforgettable. I would like to see this film again after all these years, but it seems like it is quite obscure and I don't know if I will have the chance to see it once more. Until a couple of years ago I didn't even know how the film is called (internet helped). If I was to watch "Hachiko Monogatari" again, probably it wouldn't seem as emotionally devastating as it did back when I was a little child. But for a film to leave such a great impression on me, it must be worth experiencing again.

Seen after watching Hatchi:A Dogs Tale (2009)

[steelysarah · 9/10 · 15 January 2021]

I watched this movie after seeing the American version (Hatchi: A Dogs Tale) with Richard Gere, as a dog owner it left a mark and I felt compelled to follow up on both films to see the true story.

I managed to find a book on Hatchi - The Truth of the Life and Legend of the Most Famous Dog in Japan by Mayumi Itoh. This book was just as compelling as the film and set out to confirm the facts from the fiction with amazing detail.

Hachiko Monogatari is the version closer to the true tale in most ways and you know the ending is going to be painful to watch but you watch it to the end anyway. This film also peeks into the culture at the time in Japan. If this film does not pull at your heart strings then nothing will.

Doggy Tale

[billcr12 · 8/10 · 3 October 2018]

The star of this film is an Akita. He is awesome. A professor raises him from puppy-hood and Hachi walks every day to a train station with his master. He remains at the entrance until his owner returns at the end of the day. The man dies and the dog continues to walk to the station every day for several years awaiting the return of his master. the people are secondary in this true story from the 1920s-1930s. An American remake was done with Richard Gere but I have not seen it. I highly recommend Hachi-Ko

Great Movie!

[mmuise-95814 · 10/10 · 31 March 2021]

I've seen both the American and the Japanese version (with English subtitles)of this film and I'll tell you the Japanese version is just as or if not sadder then the American version. The difference is the unlike the American version the Japanese version has a little more detail as to the story of Hachi. If you love dogs this is movie is one I highly recommend but make sure you have kleenex nearby.

A heart-wrenching adapation that left me speechless

[steagle · 9/10 · 26 March 2015]

Words can't easily convey the emotions you will feel by the end of this movie. You're amazed by the story of loyalty, you're devastated by what this dog went through, and you're reminded of your relationship with your own pets, past and present, and what their unconditional love means to you. Hachiko is already an incredible real story, but the movie translates that into something that is impossible to watch without tears clouding your vision. To me, the story of Hachiko is not just that he was waiting for his master to return, it's also about how we have a real responsibility as humans to take care of our furry friends, who depend on us for so much.

The dog that played Hachiko was incredible. You can see the disciplined training, but you can also see something deeper, a real emotion behind those eyes that suggests what Hachiko might have felt himself so long ago. When Hachiko broke free of his chain and started running after the hearse after it left with his master's body, the desperation was so palpable you could taste it, and I could not stop the tears from flowing. This is pure, unconditional love between two creatures - forget for a moment that one is a human and one is a dog. There's not much else in the world as pure as this, and if you love animals and have experienced their love for you, you owe it yourself to see this movie. And you will probably never look at Akitas in the same way again.

True Bonds Never Die

[dahelms · 10/10 · 24 September 2013]

Hachi: A Dog's Tale is the story about Parker Wilson, played by Richard Gere, and the bond he forms with a Japanese Akita puppy, which is later found to be named Hachiko, he finds at the train station. Following is the chance relationship that develops between the 2 and how the soon become inseparable. Soon, Hachiko is noted by the inhabitants of the small Rhode Island town for showing up each day to meet Parker as he comes home from work. The Akita breed is most known for the loyalty they forge with their companions, whose loyalty is tested for nearly a decade after tragedy befalls Parker.

At times, the point of view is taken so that we feel we are Hachiko, which allows us to see the curiosity, intrigue, and sometimes inquisitive thoughts he feels. One such event is when Parker attempts to get Hachi to play fetch, as he looks back at Parker curious of what is wrong with him. In other instances, when it comes to the onlookers, the angle is set such that we are looking up to Hachi. This leads into the end result of the bond formed between the 2, and that such love and loyalty is an admirable trait. After many viewings of the movie, it still manages to pull out the same feelings. The relationship between Parker and Hachi is believable, memorable and shows us what a true bond is really about. Some of you may have seen Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, or are at least familiar with movies relating to the bond between man and his companions, of the four-legged kind. These types of films show the viewers that whether from the view of the man or the animal, a deep bond means just as much to both.

The story reached so deep, that I dreamt of seeing the statue dedicated Hachiko, whose loyalty to his master lasted until his last breath. Luckily, I had the privilege when I passed through Shibuya. Hachiko truly made impression on those around him, as this film will do when you watch it.

"...a man will walk right into Hell with both eyes wide open, but not even the Devil can fool a dog." -- Rod Serling, The Twilight Zone, Season 3, Episode 19: The Hunt (1962)

[AlexanderAnubis · 9/10 · 6 May 2021]

Very likely Hachi-ko went where he could find food, and was probably very dirty as well. But if he was, he was fulfilling a noble tradition.

For instance, more than two thousand years ago, the blind poet Homer wrote a long story about the great difficulties Odysseus had getting home after the end of the Trojan War. It took him twenty years altogether and when he did get back home, he found a bunch of rude freeloaders filling his house, drinking his wine, eating his food and trying to seduce his wife, Penelope.

He couldn't walk right in, so disguised himself as the lowliest of beggars and nobody recognized him. (Not even Penelope would believe her husband had returned until he whispered to her the secret room where they had spent their wedding night -- something only the two of them knew.)

But as he entered the courtyard a very old dog, almost dead from age, raised his head at the approach of this stranger and within a moment saw right through the years and the disguise -- the dog's name was Argus, Odysseus' own dog...

".... Soon as he perceived

Long-lost Odysseus nigh, down fell his ears

Clapped close, and with his tail glad sign he gave

Of gratulation, impotent to rise,

And to approach his master as of old.

Odysseus, noting him, wiped off a tear

Unmarked.

....Then his destiny released

Old Argus, soon as he had lived to see

Odysseus in the twentieth year restored."

Homer, The Odyssey

The German, 20th century classical scholar Gustav Schwab described it this way:

They took counsel with each other and decided that Eumaeus should go first and reconnoiter in the hall, while Odysseus waited in front of the gate. They were still conferring about this, when an old dog lying at the door lifted his head, pricked his ears, and rose. His name was Argus, Odysseus himself had bred him before setting out for Troy. He had been a good hunting dog, but now, in his old age, the men neglected him and let him sleep on a dungheap, swarming with flies. When Argus noticed Odysseus, he seemed to recognize him in spite of his disguise, for he dropped his ears and wagged his tail. But he was too weak to go up to him. Odysseus quickly wiped away a tear, but he hid his sadness and said: "That dog was not a bad sort in his prime. You can still see that he is a thoroughbred."

"He is indeed," Eumaeus replied. "He was my master's favorite hound. You should have seen him racing through the valley and following the scent of game in the underbrush! But now, since his master is gone, no one pays any attention to him. He is utterly neglected, and the servants do not even bother to feed him." And Eumaeus entered the palace. But the dog, who had seen his master again after twenty years, put his head down between his paws and died.

Gods & Heroes, Translated from the German and Greek, Pantheon Books, 1946, pp. 699-700

All of these people from the past, and those that will come in the future, would understand Hachi-ko's story, doubt not his loyalty, and weep at his death.

XYZ

Sashi

April 20 2008 - March 16 2021.

Hachi

[0U · 20 February 2020]

If you really like dogs, please watch this movie.You will learn how to build good relationships with your dogs.You simply need to love your dogs and make them one of the members of your family. Then your dogs will love you and follow you anywhere. Hachi was a Japanese dog.Hachi was born in Japan. He was so loyal to his owner that he was with him everywhere.Today, there is a Hachi's statue at Shibuya station in Tokyo. After this American version Hachi movie, a tatue of the dog, Hachi, was installed in front of Woonsocket Depot Square,NY where the movie was filmed. It was a very nice short film.The story is from Japan.Japanese love this story because Hachi looks like some samurai who was loyal to his lord and died for the lord. If you love the dogs, please watch this movie.

Predictable to a large degree. And yet...

[luckyallstar · 8/10 · 10 March 2021]

If you have a soul, you will rate this at 8/10 minimum.

To be honest the trope is outdated by todays standards. This has been done to some degree too many times, so you're immediately familiar with the plot and you can pretty much guess everything about it. Doesn't make it any less emotional in the slightest however.

It's a beautiful story.

NEW Hachiko statue w/dog + Professor; youtube

[fitjanine · 9/10 · 3 April 2015]

SPOILER ALERT: Link to actual movie (1987), as of April 2015, AND link to new statue that includes owner, too!! (at Tokyo University)

In July '14, one Hachiko film fan posted this link to YouTube, so you may watch the original Japanese version of the film (1987) with English sub-titles. (Running time: 1h 48 min) This is only meant to be a "stand-in" (as the person who posted the video states) until a DVD or streaming version of the original Japanese film is commercially-available (like Amazon streaming, Netflix, etc.), thus is only for "personal use". Apparently very difficult to find any commercially-available versions of this film in original Japanese (w/sub-titles).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfvZuiZPAxM

BONUS: there's a NEW version of the Hachiko statue, in which he is finally re-united with his original master, Prof. Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor of Agricultural Engineering for 20+ yrs, at University of Tokyo in Bunkyo-ku (formerly known as "Imperial University" when Prof. Ueno taught there). Here's a link to some pictures submitted in Mar'2015 by someone living in Japan: tokyofox.wordpress.com/2015/03/22/new-hachiko-statue-in-tokyo/

In case you visit Tokyo (since it has several campuses), the blogger clarifies that the statue's on your LEFT as soon as you enter the University through the gates of the "Graduate School of Agriculture" & "Life Sciences/Faculty of Agriculture".

Enjoy & keep a box of tissues handy!

NEW Hachiko statue w/dog + Professor; youtube

[fitjanine · 9/10 · 7 April 2015]

SPOILER ALERT: Link to actual movie (1987), as of April 2015, AND link to new statue that includes owner, too!! (at Tokyo University)

In July '14, one Hachiko film fan posted this link to YouTube, so you may watch the original Japanese version of the film (1987) with English sub-titles. (Running time: 1h 48 min) This is only meant to be a "stand-in" (as the person who posted the video states) until a DVD or streaming version of the original Japanese film is commercially-available (like Amazon streaming, Netflix, etc.), thus is only for "personal use". Apparently very difficult to find any commercially-available versions of this film in original Japanese (w/sub-titles).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfvZuiZPAxM

BONUS: there's a NEW version of the Hachiko statue, in which he is finally re-united with his original master, Prof. Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor of Agricultural Engineering for 20+ yrs, at University of Tokyo in Bunkyo-ku (formerly known as "Imperial University" when Prof. Ueno taught there). Here's a link to some pictures submitted in Mar'2015 by someone living in Japan: tokyofox.wordpress.com/2015/03/22/new-hachiko-statue-in-tokyo/

In case you visit Tokyo (since it has several campuses), the blogger clarifies that the statue's on your LEFT as soon as you enter the University through the gates of the "Graduate School of Agriculture" & "Life Sciences/Faculty of Agriculture".

Enjoy & keep a box of tissues handy!