Talk:Hachikō

Date of Death
In case anyone is curious, I got the date of death from a recent episode of Hey! Spring of Trivia. --Do Not Talk About Feitclub (contributions) 12:39, 9 March 2006 (UTC)

Wonderful article Feitclub! Simply wonderful. I saw the film about Hachiko years ago and just came across this now. Thank you so very much. perhaps later I will add some links to actual photos of Hachiko during his life and his grave. Thanks again. 172.140.145.18 19:19, 12 March 2006 (UTC)

Fietclub, either the date of death is wrong, or the word 'next' is misleading: "Even after Ueno's death in May 1925, Hachikō returned every day to the station to wait for him, and did so for the next 11 years." - "Hachikō died on March 8, 1935", if Hachikō returned every day till he died, that'd only be the next 9 years 10 months. I'm thinking that the 11 years includes the year that his owner was alive. Suggested reword: Either change 11 to 10, or "Even after Ueno's death in May 1925, Hachikō returned every day to the station to wait for him, and did so for 11 years." The 2nd reword still slightly implies that he visited after his owners death, but doesn't actually state it.

If there is no discussion about this I'll alter 11 to 10 in a couple of weeks. Hapveg - 2007 Aug 19th

altered 11 to 10 Hapveg - 2007 Sept 9th

Hachiko and the war
Would you say that Hachiko's popularity was directly causally connected to the rising war effort? Or a circumstantial connection? It seems somewhat disingenuous to connect the two considering that a story like Hachiko's has a certain universal appeal to any dog lover, (eg. Man's best friend, etc.). Is there a citation for this statement? Or is it merely the author's opinion. I mean, clearly militarism was on the rise (Manchurian incident in 1932) and all, but can you honestly say that Hachiko's popularity was enlisted for the war effort? Seems like a stretch. . .Especially considering the manner in which Hachiko's statue was so easily scrapped for metal during the war. If Hachiko was so important as a symbol of loyalty then why would the statue be so easily scrapped? It's not like they scrapped the statues around the Byakkotai memorial in Aizu-Wakamatsu, which was much more closely configured as tied to fascism than Hachiko. {Anonymous Comment}

Citations Needed
I've always liked the story of Hachiko and have been to his statue, but I think this story is thin on citations. 203.213.7.131 00:21, 30 January 2007 (UTC)
 * I started one version of this article (which was later merged with another version titled "hachi-ko") by translating it from the japanese version. I doubt you can use Wikipedia itself as a citation, but I'm open to suggestion. adamrice 18:46, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

Do you really need a citation for "people's hearts were touched"? Do you really need a citation for "people use their mouth and nose to inhale"? Of course people are going to be touched. That's why they're obsessed with the damn dog in the first place! But I'm sure there is a scholarly article published somewhere that details the scientific nature of the "touched" sensation felt by those who witnessed the dog. I am being sarcastic. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.35.105.173 (talk) 01:50, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Hidesaburo Ueno
The name, according to the Japanese wikipedia article on the man, is Hidesaburō, not Hidesamurou. The name order, according to the MOS for Japan articles, is given name first. The romanization, also according to the MOS, is to use a macron'd o for the long o. Please leave it be. adamrice 14:35, 10 March 2007 (UTC)

Hi Adamrice! Please see Ueno Hidesamuroh or. At his stature, his name is represented as the Hidesamuroh. please come to Tokyo Uni.Tokyo Watcher


 * Referring me to a page written entirely by you isn't exactly kosher. Nevertheless, if his name really is Hidesamurõ, you might want to correct the article 上野英三郎 adamrice 19:09, 10 March 2007 (UTC)

Oh…Dear Adamrice!!
Please see Tokyo Teikokudaigaku Jinjiroku『東京帝國大學人事録』.Then, you will be able to understand the truth.I want for you to have the stout heart which turns eyes to the truth. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Tokyo Watcher (talk • contribs) 00:10, 11 March 2007 (UTC). Tokyo Watcher

such loyalty
mention that can result in million of dead japanese

Yakitori......
I constantly hear from Tokyo people that the "loyalty" story is a myth, the truth is the dog was waiting for chicken.

Why not represent this better in Wikipedia?--Sean-Jin 23:02, 17 April 2007 (UTC)
 * It's mentioned. No doubt Hachikō eventually came to see the station as his home with a source of food. However, in the beginning, he was a fairly young animal who was immensly attached to his owner.  The Professor's family attempted to place him with another family and he kept running away, back to the station.  If you've never had an Akita or known one, I guess you might not understand how very loyal they can be.  Their very close bond with one person is often a problem for families that can't accomodate this trait.  Another famous Akita story is that of Kato, Nicole brown Simpson's dog who stayed by her body for some time, eventually running down the street and leading some people out walking back to the scene of the murder.  They knew something was up when they saw the blood on his paws.  It's heartbreaking to think of him sitting there nudging his mistress trying to get some response.  My neighbors had a japanese akita who was incredibaly attached to my dog, a German Shepherd.  Whenever a friend of theirs took care of him during their absence, he would drag them to our house (quite literally) so he could be with our dog.  They form sincere and lasting attachments. it's one of the reaosns people admire them.LiPollis 23:52, 17 April

2007 (UTC)

I don't know where to put this reference, but I would like to share a similar case that happens in Futurama ;). Fry is cryogenized, but Fry's dog waits for him until dead.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akf-H0OVpLA --87.219.18.161 18:52, 20 August 2007 (UTC)
 * There's a general consensus that we should avoid mentioning every media citation of a vaguely Hachiko-like nature. That was in the article before and has been removed. adamrice 00:35, 21 August 2007 (UTC)

Pop Culture References
While I dont think it qualifys as trvia (though it comes awfully close), the pop culture references needs to be cleaned up and constructed into an actual paragraph. Say a paragraph dealing with influences on movies, another on television etc. Showers 20:43, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

The episode of Futurama mentioned is almost identical to this story, although the roles are slightly reversed. Watch it and see what I mean. Excellent show and one of the best episodes.. --Nothingnowhere (talk) 06:06, 11 August 2009 (UTC)

In the Futurama episode mentioned, Jurassic Bark, Seymour (Fry's Dog) does not die at the end of the episode. He was fossilized quickly in a standing position, and the reason for this is given in Bender's Big Score. This is also referenced in the continuity section of the Wikipedia article for Jurassic Bark. Asplode (talk) 21:36, 20 February 2010 (UTC)

Unsourced tag removed & request for help in finding a sound file of him barking from that record
Today I removed the tag that claimed this article had NO references. While it could certainly use more references, it has four and a proper reference section which is more than many wikipedia articles. Please do not put inappropriate tags on articles. If you want to see more references for facts in the article, use Google or Google Books. it's more constructive than deleting statements you suspect may not be factual simply due to lack of a cite for each and every sentence.

Hachiko's story touches some people very deeply and there is a tendency to assume that his fame is not deserved or that the facts of his life are hagiography which leads to lots of cite tags on statements. In truth, his story is rather simple and quite similar to a number of other famously faithful dogs. I suspect it is the tone of the article that offends some editors. If that's the case, I suggest they do what they can to tweak it here and there but not gut the article. People searching for info on this famous dog are often children. Please keep that in mind. They want to see his photo, read about his life and how his story still touches people across cultures.

One thing I'd really love to get is a link to the record of him barking. That would be wonderful. I've looked and searched and not come across a file of it. If anyone out there can help, please do. It was broadcast over radio in japan so we know a sound file exists somewhere.LiPollis 03:14, 2 November 2007 (UTC) Updated this post with spelling and format corrections.LiPollis 09:02, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

Yakitori = bias?
It's one thing to say that the comment on Hachiko returning to the station looking for handouts is speculative. It's a very different thing to say that it's biased, and frankly, I don't understand how it can be considered biased. The "some speculate" phrasing is quite delicate, in fact. The idea that Hachiko was looking for handouts the accepted wisdom among everyone I ever met in Tokyo. The accepted wisdom could be wrong, I suppose, but calling something "biased" just because it doesn't fit one's preferred fairytale storyline is, well, at least as biased. What is established is that whether or not he was looking for handouts, he was getting them. adamrice (talk) 18:41, 20 December 2007 (UTC)
 * I don't see anything wrong with the former version of the article that had a line or two about the yakitori sticks. It was worded as kindly as possible.  I think it's reasonable to assume that Hachiko simply came to accept the station as his home.  He was able to get food, shelter and affection there.  It wasn't a posh life but it was a stable life.  How long he remembered the Professor is a question for dog psychologists to answer.  I would guess that it was more the routine of going to the station and waiting for that train that stuck in his little doggie mind.  Dogs love routines and become very hesitant to change them once established.  I don't feel including a brief statement about the chicken handouts is somehow dissing hachiko's memory or besmirching his loyalty to his dead master.  However, his story brings out strong emotions. Perhaps we should take a brief poll here and ask how many are opposed to putting those lines back in and how many favor it.  I vote in favor.LiPollis (talk) 05:20, 21 December 2007 (UTC)
 * Frankly, I'm not convinced that the anonymous edits were made in good faith, and therefore, I'm not convinced that compromise is worthwhile. adamrice (talk) 21:02, 21 December 2007 (UTC)

Yakitori?
I feel a lot of curious the relation with this dog and yakitori. I known the meaning of yakitori (fried chicken) but also Yakitori was the name of my former dog (yes, a bizarre name for a dog), he died by old also by the injuries caused to fight with a Akita (here an Akita is a exotic dog). Coincidence?. maybe.

Also, the hypothesis about the "leftovers" is quite implausible because :if happens then there are more dogs also the location is not a good place to ask for a food.

Anyways, dogs love to eat but they love even more their master, my ex-dog (Yakitori) sometimes did bring me a dead chicken, a rabbit and even a rat (!), he really loved to eat meat but still he was even more loyal to bring me food and not to keep it for himself. So yes,may be at first Hachiko did wait for food but later he did wait for the teacher. Everyone that raised a dog knowns how loyal can be a dog they even can sacrifice themself for save their master.

--200.104.187.13 (talk) 00:17, 20 July 2008 (UTC)

More about another loyal dog that wait for their master
 --200.104.187.13 (talk) 00:26, 20 July 2008 (UTC)
 * I've another which I'll add to section "See Also" if no objections arise within 4 weeks: "Wayne Giroux of Lone Oak, Texas passed away in June 2010, but his dog Spot still sits on the country road waiting for him to come home daily ." Richardc020 (talk) 06:12, 16 November 2010 (UTC)

Minor re-structuring of article
Today I did some minor restructuring of the article, moving the bit about the hoaxed theft of the statue up to the section on the statues and breaking out the section on Hachikō in the media into it's own subheading with subsections. it just looks better this way and makes more sense when you look at the contents box. LiPollis (talk) 22:08, 15 August 2008 (UTC)

Dog on the Tuckerbox
The story about the dog on the tucker box is just plain rubbish. There is nothing in the poem bullocky bill which even mentions a dog, and the dog on the tuckerbox at Gundagai was not guarding the tuckerbox - a ridiculous story in the first place. You have been conned, Wikipedia. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.17.235.24 (talk) 07:37, 31 May 2012 (UTC)


 * The monument Dog on the Tuckerbox exists. As the article notes, there are two poems that were the impetus for the statue. 7&amp;6=thirteen (☎) 10:59, 31 May 2012 (UTC)

Hachiko reference
The movie "Scooby Doo and the Samurai Sword" (I think that is the correct title) features the statue of Hachiko and his story. Mathiusdragoon (talk) 17:35, 25 May 2009 (UTC)

Death
I edited this page back in June - with sources - that showed Hachiko dies on a street in Shibuya (not on the steps) and that the autopsy showed that he had heart worm and yakitori sticks in his stomach. A susbseqent editor has removed this. This is plain fact and should be included. I will ammend the section on death in one month's time from today's date - unless discussion here can tell me why verified fact should not be includedKunchan (talk) 11:38, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

IN fact the reference the editor uses for the assertation that Haciko died on his master's steps is in fact the reference used for my deleted comments that cites a professor of the UNiversity of Tokyo - were the details re Hachiko are kept. THe professor states he was found in a street and the casue of death. I am reinsting the original text - if someone wants to change it again, I think we need to have a source and a discussion on talk Kunchan (talk) 11:44, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Picture needed
Rather obviously, this needs a picture of the statue erected at the station, melted down during the war, and then recast. 7&amp;6=thirteen (☎) 13:36, 4 October 2011 (UTC)

is used on the Japanese version of this article, we should be able to use it, too. Chrisrus (talk) 04:18, 4 October 2012 (UTC)


 * I have added the image at File:Hachiko 20040803.jpg. To prevent this from being deleted could someone please add details of whether the sculptor is alive or when he died. Also need name of the photographer (sorry cannot read the Japanese page). Details of the location of the statue on the image page would also be useful. --Traveler100 (talk) 06:45, 4 October 2012 (UTC)
 * Sorry, but I had to remove the image. The statue is copyrighted. It was erected at the outside of Ōdate Station on Nov.14, 1987 and the sculptor is Yoshio Matsuda/松田芳雄 (b. 1035). He is still alive as his name can be found as a member of this organization. The uploader/photographer at ja:WP seems to be ignorant of the copy right law. We cannot use current statues images, but the first statue images. The sculptor Teru Ando died in 1945.
 * As a piece of art in a public place in Japan is copyrighted in that it cannot be used for commercial purposes; therefore cannot be uploaded to Commons. However this does not preclude it from being uploaded to a Wikipedia under non free fair use rules.--Traveler100 (talk) 18:05, 4 October 2012 (UTC)

Two last pictures needed Akita (dog)
That article is a GA candidate. Picture of Helen Keller with Akita. Picture of Helen Keller with Akita. There are several others at Google Images. Anybody got one for Commons? Helen Keller at Wikimedia Commons 7&amp;6=thirteen (☎) 15:45, 4 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Neither this article not the Hachikō article have a picture of the bronzed statue. Bronze of Hachikō  We need one of those in Commons, too.  7&amp;6=thirteen (☎) 16:27, 4 October 2011 (UTC)
 * We cannot use images of the second/current statue as the statue is copyrighted. These old images are pd. The first statue,, , , , and Dr. Ueno. Oda Mari (talk) 08:44, 5 October 2011 (UTC)
 * The statue is on display outdoors in public. Thousands of people see it every day.  It stands on public land.  Anyone can photograph it, there's no way to restrict photos as with a statue in a museum.  We need a picure of the statue. Chrisrus (talk) 14:07, 31 May 2012 (UTC)
 * Yes it is in a public place, you can take a photograph of it and therefore under Japanese laws use it for non-commercial purpose. However for 50 year after the death for the artist it is still under copyright and cannot be used for commercial purposes. It therefore cannot be uploaded to Commons. The photograph can however be uploaded to Wikipedia and used in an article about the subject when you define the correct Non-free use rationale.--Traveler100 (talk) 19:31, 31 May 2012 (UTC)
 * It doesn't matter if it cannot be used for commercial purposes, because we are not using it for commercial purposes. If we were using it for commercial purposes, that Japanese copyright law would matter.  But we're not, so it doesn't.  Chrisrus (talk) 02:43, 1 June 2012 (UTC)
 * See this, Chrisrus. Oda Mari (talk) 07:51, 1 June 2012 (UTC)

If I may just swipe this from there and paste it below so we can have a look at it in this context, I quote:

Japan

 * for artistic works:  except in cases governed by article 46.
 * for buildings only:

Japanese copyright law allows the reproduction of artistic works located permanently in open places accessible to the public, such as streets and parks, or at places easily seen by the public, such as the outer walls of buildings, only for non-commercial purposes; therefore, such photographs are not free enough for Commons.

Architectural works (i.e., buildings) located in such places may be photographed and the photos may be reproduced for any purposes; §46(iv), which contains the "non-commercial" restriction, applies only to "artistic works". Some buildings like the Tower of the Sun can be regarded as artistic works (discussion).
 * Japanese copyright law, §46

Note: According to Article 51 of Japanese copyright law, Japan has a copyright lifetime of 50 years after the death of the author (ie. creator/designer) or following "the death of the last surviving co-author in the case of a joint work." Heceforth, the author's works shall become copyright free and enter the public domain.

(unquote, Chrisrus (talk) 14:40, 1 June 2012 (UTC))

discussion of the quote
First, I don't understand why the links are red in the quote. I just copied and pasted it exactly, so if the links are blue there, why are they red here?

Second, let's remember to correct that word "Heceforth" back where we got this from.

Third, why does a no-commercial-use clause prohibit non-commercial uses such as using it in this article? Chrisrus (talk) 14:40, 1 June 2012 (UTC)
 * it does not prohibit its use in this article but does prohibit its use on other articles and uploading to Commons. The image must be uploaded to this Wikipedia project and added to it Template:Non-free use rationale filled out appropriately.--Traveler100 (talk) 16:47, 1 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Can you take care of that please? We need that picture of the statue back in the place where it goes. Chrisrus (talk) 05:28, 2 June 2012 (UTC)

is used on the Japanese version of this article, we should be able to use it, too. Chrisrus (talk) 04:18, 4 October 2012 (UTC)

Apparently this topic has not been discussed enough to be a dispute. If you believe an image can be added here under WP:NFC or that it cannot because it still violates Japan's copyright rules please add your view here. --Traveler100 (talk) 13:01, 6 October 2012 (UTC)

Constantine the dog AKA Kostya
The recently added story about Constantine the dog seemed legit right after it was added. I checked the citation given at the time, http://petsparadise.ru/reading/14-14/168-168. But now, just a day later, it doesn't seem to be working, and I can't find another citation for it. Can you? Is there something fishy about constantine, or does the story check out? Chrisrus (talk) 02:51, 14 March 2012 (UTC)
 * The page is working fine and so is Google Translate but you kinda have to have a little patience and knowledge of Russian becuase Goggle Translate garbles the grammar and some of the words quite badly. It appears legit to me and back when the story was first all over the web, I did some confirmation via other non-English language sites.  There seem to be 2 stories about Constantine aka Kostya: 1st is that he stayed by the site of the place where he was thrown from the car for 7 years and the 2nd (from some legend sites) is that after he died, people claim to still see his ghost waiting faithfully for his master.  None of this is in English but Google Translate is a great tool.  He has a monument and a date for the accident is given as 1995 with the city of Tolyatti erecting the statue in 2003 some while after Kostya was found dead in the woods.  Even the sculpter is Identified in several pages as Oleg Kluev.  Maybe Kostya needs an article of his own?LiPollis (talk) 05:21, 17 May 2013 (UTC)

Photograph of a statue of Hachiko WP:Copyvio?
User:Oda Mari reverted the addition of a photograph of a statue of Hachiko saying "rm copyvio image. the statue is copyrighted." It is true the statue is copyrighted however the photograph of the statue may not copyright violation. Please see the following exception. "If the work is displayed in public permanently" "建築物や公園にある銅像などを写真撮影したりテレビ放送したりすることを認めるもので、建築物をまねて建てたり、銅像などのレプリカを作ったり、絵はがきとして売ったりするような場合には、著作権者の許可が必要です. "
 * Taking photos of copyright works in public places
 * 14. 公開の美術著作物の利用
 * ―― Phoenix7777 (talk) 08:25, 18 May 2012 (UTC)
 * As far as I know, the image should be 100% copyright free in order to eliminate the possibility that someone would use it for commercial purpose and that would be copivio. Oda Mari (talk) 09:51, 18 May 2012 (UTC)
 * Please provide a relevant source supporting your assertion. My personal feeling is a photography of a public statue should not be copy right violation as supported by above sources. ―― Phoenix7777 (talk) 11:49, 18 May 2012 (UTC)
 * Under copyright rules in Japan you can reproduce work that is in a public place as long as it is not for commercial purposes. So under that rule  this is not 100% copyright free in that someone could reuse it for another purpose once found on wikipedia. However copyright in Japan is only for 50 years after the death of the author/artist, the statue was erected in 1934 but does anyone have any details about the person who sculpted it?  --Traveler100 (talk) 13:58, 18 May 2012 (UTC)
 * See this. I thought it was OK last year. But it wasn't. See Commons:Deletion requests/File:Hachiko200505-2.jpg and Commons:Deletion requests/File:Hachiko statue.jpg. I asked for SD at Commons and the image above was deleted. As for the statue, it was erected in 1948 and the sculptor is Takeshi Ando. See and . Oda Mari (talk) 14:36, 18 May 2012 (UTC)

Astonishing but maybe not correct
Can this be? Anna Frodesiak (talk) 06:44, 2 October 2012 (UTC)
 * Huh. ....hmmm. ...? Chrisrus (talk) 15:51, 3 October 2012 (UTC)
 * Is it because of the "Digg" tag at the top of this talk page? Chrisrus (talk) 15:55, 3 October 2012 (UTC)
 * I don't understand what Digg is, but I gather it's a popular site that provides visitors with a link to this article. If so, that was 5 years ago, right? Still such huge hits? Anyway, I'm very pleased it's now the lede image at List of dogs. This was a great dog, and clearly better than the former lead image, a stupid dog in a some sort of waistcoat, as I recall. Anna Frodesiak (talk) 03:07, 4 October 2012 (UTC)
 * The page views continue to hold up. Nice to know that we contributed to an article that somebody reads.  <b style="color:#060">7&amp;6=thirteen</b> (<b style="color:#000">☎</b>) 13:08, 6 October 2012 (UTC)

The last picture of Hachiko
Anna, everybody, look what I found at Digg: Can we get this photo? http://www.wildpic.co/2012/06/23/the-last-picture-of-hachiko/ ? We lost our photo of the statue. HACHIKO FOREVER!!! Chrisrus (talk) 16:00, 3 October 2012 (UTC)
 * Yes, we can. It's a PD. Upload the image. See the link #5. It was taken about a year before his death and it's also a PD. Oda Mari (talk) 16:21, 3 October 2012 (UTC)
 * Oops, we have it already. About the statue, though, Oda Mari, please try to figure out a way to get one.  There must be some way. Chrisrus (talk) 16:34, 3 October 2012 (UTC)
 * It is completely reasonable under NFC that a non-free image of the statue can be used on this article since the status itself is the subject of discussion as part of the dog's legacy. It just has to be uploaded to en.wiki, not commons. --M ASEM (t) 18:27, 4 October 2012 (UTC)
 * The image is available under WP:NFC here File:Hachiko 20040803.jpg. I do not want to add it as I have done so twice already today, and do not want to run foul of some over enthusiastic want to be controller. --Traveler100 (talk) 19:11, 4 October 2012 (UTC)

Notice of Dispute resolution discussion
There is currently a discussion at Dispute resolution noticeboard regarding a content dispute with this article. Content disputes can hold up article development, therefore we request your participation in the discussion to help find a resolution. The thread is "Hachikō". --Traveler100 (talk) 11:17, 6 October 2012 (UTC)

Statue paragraph and photo
There have been a number of requests for a photograph of the statue. After checking on rule of adding artwork it is recommended that the paragraph on the statue should be expanded, then the image can be added. See. So its up to you guys now. --Traveler100 (talk) 15:40, 10 October 2012 (UTC)

Similar Cases
The "Similar Cases" section has a mix of other real cases and myths. This should be separated. Hachiko is a true story. Similar cases would be other true stories, not myths. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.246.73.55 (talk) 03:01, 15 October 2012 (UTC)
 * Here they are. Chrisrus (talk) 11:53, 15 October 2012 (UTC)
 * The linked page was recently moved and it's at List of individual dogs now. --Kusunose 02:23, 16 October 2012 (UTC)
 * Thanks.
 * Of the faithful afer master's death dogs we have collected here so far, Baekgu, Capitan, Greyfriars Bobby, Heidi, Leao, Squeek, and The yellow dog of Lao Pan, are all dogs that sat vigil with a dead body, which is different from Hachiko, Fido, and Spot, who never found the body of their masters. Hachiko is more similar to Fido (dog) and Spot as they returned to the same place every day to wait for a master that would never arrive.  (I say that past tense, but Spot may still go there every day as far as Wikipedia knows.)
 * How many of these cases do we want to repeat here? How about maybe just some, and then we just direct the reader to the list of faithful dogs? Chrisrus (talk) 08:13, 16 October 2012 (UTC)

The section occupies 23% (650 / 2800 words) of this article. So I removed cases without articles of its own and removed extra explanations described in its own articles.―― Phoenix7777 (talk) 00:20, 5 March 2013 (UTC)
 * Honestly, I feel cases of dogs who are legendary or a monument based on a poem don't deserve to be under the heading Similar Cases but could be put in SEE ALSO. It makes the story of Hachikō less special and less believable to lump him in with Argos and the Tuckerbox Dog.  Why not stick in Gelert while we're at it?  All that is listed on the List of Faithful Dogs page called List of individual dogs. LiPollis (talk) 05:08, 17 May 2013 (UTC)
 * You are wrong about the reality of Dog on the Tuckerbox; that he became the subject of a poem does not diminish his existence. Argos is an archetype, and Hachikō was used in a similar way to support an attitude toward the Emperor of Japan, and has been put forth in numerous books and movies in the same way. Putting it in see also diminishes the comparison. What these all have in common is that they became iconic dogs.  The myth is at least as important as the reality, and may even transcend the reality. That would be the way to break this up. <b style="color:#060">7&amp;6=thirteen</b> (<b style="color:#000">☎</b>) 11:17, 17 May 2013 (UTC)
 * Thank you for your correction regarding the Dog on the Tuckerbox. Much appreciated. Clearly I will have to delve further into the hsitry of this dog to find out out his origins. Since I love such stories, that is not a hardship! However, the changes to the article have now removed the most closest real-life examples that were listed under SEE ALSO, and I feel that hurts, rather than helps the article.  It might be best to simple add to the SEE Also section the link to  Dogs famous for remaining faithful long after the death of their master and leave Greyfriars Bobby and Dog on the Tuckerbox.  If other editors want to add a brief section on Legendary dogs, that could be done leading with Argos, if you wish but a separate, longer article would be needed to explore the cross-cultural attraction to such stories both legendary and true.  I'd be happy to help develop such an article since it would be of interest to the Dog Project and to the many readers who continue to visit this page whenever a new case of a "Faithful Dog" hits the media and Hachikō or Greyfriars Bobby story is brought up to bolster the claim that such things actually happen.  Feel free to let me know how I can be of service!  I do, however, feel that the SEE ALSO section should be mlimited to cases of actual dogs who have been proven to have lived and whose faithful devotion to their master(s) after their death became famous, either locally or worldwide.  For example, I'd like to work up an English Language article on Kostya AKA Contantine, the dog from Tolyatti in Russia.  Since I can translate most of the articles and there are a few, his story might be enjoyed by those who visit Hachikō's article .  That's a separate issue, of course, but anyone interested inhelping out is welcome to discuss it with me on my page. LiPollis (talk) 20:07, 11 June 2013 (UTC)

Bronze Paw-Prints - Where? Do they exist?
Article states "The exact spot where Hachikō waited in the train station is permanently marked with bronze paw-prints and text in Japanese explaining his loyalty."

I can find no pictures of these by searching in English and Japanese. Nor can I find any reference to these in Japanese.

I think if there is no actual evidence of these, then this text should be deleted. Whats up skip (talk) 00:11, 8 January 2014 (UTC)

There was an inquiry about this in Trip Advisor's Japan Forums. At least two visitors had searched for them in vain and none of the very knowledgeable regular contributors had seem them. Two of us also conducted an internet search. I will delete this section. --RRMarsh (talk) 15:31, 12 February 2016 (UTC)

Hachiko - Akita or Akita Inu?
I am surprised that no one has taken up this topic so far. Under the photo of Hachiko to the right hand side of the article his breed is stated as being Akita Inu. Yet throughout the article Hachiko is described as being an Akita. The two breeds though related, are distinctly separate and exist each with their own breed standard and distinct personality. It would be so much appreciated if the Wikipedia would be so kind as to describe Hachiko in the written article itself as being an Akita Inu, which, apparently, he was. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.44.111.65 (talk) 02:12, 23 March 2014 (UTC)
 * The article Akita (dog) identifies two distinct referents, the Japanese and the American. Hachiko must have been a Japanese Akita, because what are the chances that he was an American Akita.  So it's safe to assume he was a Japanese Akita. Chrisrus (talk) 02:55, 23 March 2014 (UTC)
 * At the time there was essentially only one breed. The existence of one or two breeds now is controversial; but this split did not occur until after World War II, particularly when Akitas were sold to GIs stationed in Japan.  Hachikō predates all of that. <b style="color:#060">7&amp;6=thirteen</b> (<b style="color:#000">☎</b>) 11:04, 23 March 2014 (UTC)

kō
Hachikō is known in Japanese as chūken Hachikō (忠犬ハチ公, "faithful dog Hachikō") — hachi meaning eight, the number referring to the dog's birth order in the litter, and a suffix kō meaning affection.[3]

Despite the footnote which seems to say so, kō does not imply affection. It is an ancient Chinese title (Duke) which has come down in the world over the centuries and by the nineteenth century had come in Chinese to be a term of respect for commoners. In Japanese, however, it has been a title for dogs and monkeys, and indeed a denigrating title for human beings considered to be inferior. It has therefore gone almost entirely out of use in Japan on the grounds of being discriminatory. It therefore means (in a derogatory, ironic or at best in a teasing sense) Lord Hachi, or Mr Hachi.

Dr Marguerite Wells124.171.1.238 (talk) 07:18, 13 June 2014 (UTC)

I second this. I have an okay handle on reading japanese, enough to see that the "source" disproves the claim about kou. AnotherToast (talk) 04:14, 15 June 2020 (UTC)

I think the full context of the use of kō as a name ending should include that many female first names end in kō in Japan. In this context, the word kō originally meant "child". Since Hachikō was a male, the ending might have implied "little"; not quite a term of endearment, but possibly still respectful. Drbillellis (talk) 16:55, 26 December 2020 (UTC)


 * This was years ago, but you're thinking about 子, not 公. Duckduckgoop (talk) 14:28, 26 February 2023 (UTC)

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A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion
The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion: Participate in the deletion discussion at the nomination page. —Community Tech bot (talk) 22:07, 24 July 2020 (UTC)
 * Statue of Hachiko at Odate Station-02.jpg

Eighth puppy
I've always heard Hachiko was the 8th puppy born in his litter. Can this be added? — Preceding unsigned comment added by MisawaSakura (talk • contribs) 00:58, 1 October 2022 (UTC)

HACHI THIS BRAED FAMOUS AND COSTLY AND ITS CALLED AKITA
TGV 103.194.242.110 (talk) 11:16, 19 January 2023 (UTC)

Poorly AI-upscaled photo of Hachiko
The colorized version of the last photo of Hachiko has been very poorly AI-upscaled. It has outright fabricated details not present in the original image. These are most visible on Hachiko's jaw, the face of the man in the top left and the man near the right facing the camera. Worst of all, the face of Yaeko Ueno, Hachiko's owner's partner, is completely misshapen and deformed.

Can the image be removed? In general, are AI-upscaled images accepted? I don't believe they should because they imply an appearance that does not match reality. Kafgha (talk) 21:36, 7 June 2024 (UTC)


 * After reading about a similar case in a separate article (Motilal (actor)), I've gone ahead and removed the image. Kafgha (talk) 22:30, 7 June 2024 (UTC)