In Rhode Island, Hachi and Professor Ueno Together Forever

I heard there’s a new Hachi statue at the Woonsocket train station and I had to see it. So, after a 5 hour flight — I was back in the town where we had filmed Hachi: A Dog’s Tale.

The statue is located in the same spot where Hachi patiently waited in the film. The station looks the same. Even the building directly across the street, where the book shop was located, is still intact. The big difference was the quiet of the area.

Back when we filmed, it was a circus. We had converted an old bank building for our production offices and it was teaming with activity 24/7. Besides the director, the executive producer, production managers, assistants, many people…and me — there was wardrobe, set design, lighting, sound, transportation…virtually a small village of individuals who together — created the end result, the film.

As a movie goer, I never thought about all the parts and pieces that made a film come alive. By the time the end credits rolled, I was out the door. Not any more!

Barbara Dixon, Special Events Coordinator for the Blackstone River Valley Tourism Council, graciously welcomed me inside the depot. During the shoot, Barbara and the small staff used a small portion of the building for their offices. She showed us a beautiful promo card especially created for the Hachiko destination. 

We exchanged stories while sitting next to Hachi’s statue. Barbara recalled plenty of excitement when star and co-producer Richard Gere was in sight and of course, seeing all the gorgeous dogs.

The dedication ceremony for the new statue was attended by the Japanese consulate general and local officials on May 19th, 2012. Hachi friend Michael Sultana first told me about the new statue. Along with his dog Hachiko, Michael was a special guest at the event.

The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council created a site to increase awareness of the monument along with Hachi’s story. It’s full of info on the filming of Hachi: A Dog’s Tale along with pictures taken on the dedication day. You can even walk The Hachi Trail that takes you past film locations in a figure “8” loop. By coincidence, Hachi translates to the number eight in Japanese.

Many visitors from around the world come to see Hachi at the train station. Barbara shared a story of a man who flew in from Japan with a special banner in honor of the loyal dog. Now, that’s loyalty!

To portray the town on Bedridge in Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, Woonsocket had the perfect ambiance. You really need to experience the warmth and charm of this quaint town with its welcoming people… and, of course, see Hachi.