Hachi, Loyal Dog of Japan

Lafayette, New Jersey

Hachi-Kou was an Akita dog that belonged to Professor Eizaburo Ueno, who commuted by train to his job at Tokyo Imperial University -- where he unexpectedly died. For the next ten years, Hachi returned to the same spot in front of the train station, faithfully waiting for Ueno every day, until his own death in 1935.

Eighty years later the University erected a life-size bronze statue of Ueno being happily greeted by Hachi-Kou, his loyal patience finally rewarded.

The owners of a New Jersey pet cemetery heard about the statue and asked if they could pay for a copy. After six months of scrutiny the University agreed, and the New Jersey statue was unveiled on Oct. 16, 2016, attended by Ambassador Reiichiro Takahashi, the consul general of Japan.