Hachi Spirit Blog

In the film Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, we show Hachi, the main character, seeing the world through his eyes. While we feel closely attuned with our canine friends – they see and think of the world a bit differently from us; through a dog’s eyes.
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By nature, humans and dogs are wired to experience an incredible bond, something we’ve been well aware of for quite some time. I know I have with my dog. New scientific research is continuously revealing just why this connection is so strong, showing that dogs and humans actually influence each other in more profound ways than we ever knew. Through dog cognition, we can understand this profound bond.
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Question of the day: We can all relate to our dogs doing seemingly crazy things! What behaviors do you notice in your pup? And why do you think they’re doing it? Let me know in the comments on the blog!

After Hachi passed away in 1935, Japan entered into a challenging war with China and the United States. During this tumultuous period, Hachi’s beloved bronze statue was taken down in 1944 as part of a metal recycling campaign. Despite heartfelt protests from Saitō Hirokichi and the sculptor, Andō Teru, the government moved forward with its […]

After Hachi passed away, his fur coat was not disposed of. Instead, Sakamoto Kiichi, the best taxidermist in Japan at that time, was entrusted with making Hachi’s mount. Inspired by Hachi’s loyalty, just as sculptor Andō Teru had been, Sakamoto was determined to create the finest mount for Hachi among all his works. His assistant, […]

Unusual Circumstances On March 8, 1935, the day Hachi died, a team of veterinarians from the College of Agriculture at the Imperial University of Tokyo conducted his necropsy. Back then, performing a necropsy on a dog was quite unusual, but Hachi was no ordinary dog. Controversial Claims There was a controversy surrounding the cause of […]

Remembering Hachi On March 12, 1935, a formal funeral service was conducted on the grounds of Dr. Ueno’s grave at Aoyama Cemetery in Minato-ward, Tokyo. It was a heartfelt tribute to Hachi, a soul who had captured the hearts of many. Unprecedented Display of Reverence In a touching display of reverence, sixteen Buddhist monks from […]

On March 9, the day after Hachi died, an elaborate memorial service for the loyal Akita was conducted in front of Shibuya Station.  Hachi Receives a Traditional Ceremony The area was filled with bouquets of colorful flowers, huge floral wreaths, and other offerings. Dr. Ueno’s widow Yae and the gardener Kobayashi Kikusaburō carefully combed Hachi’s […]