Redditors Learn About Hachiko, The Dog Famous For Waiting For His Owner For Years After The Owner's Death, Was Stuffed And Put In A Museum

This cute doggo turned into quite the celebrity, inspiring numerous works of art

Maryjane

• Published in Animal Stories
• November 20, 2022

If there was one thing Professor Ueno could count on, it was seeing his devoted friend waiting for him when he got off the train each night after work. The golden Akita, known as Hachik, would go to Shibuya Station with his owner every day for a year.

He would then wait for the professor to get off work so they could walk home together. The train arrived one gloomy day, but Professor Ueno was nowhere to be seen.

Hachik came back the following day and the one after that, but there was no way to let the poor dog know what had happened to his owner. The Professor would never get off the train to welcome him again because he had passed away from a stroke.

Hachik awaited the train every day for nine years, only to board alone. There are only 30 purebred Akitas left in the world, according to an old student of the professor who traced the dog's ancestry.

Commuters and station employees would give him treats and keep him company. Over the years, he developed into quite the celebrity, inspiring numerous works of literature, film, art, and poetry.

He also attended the unveiling of his own bronze statue, a replica of which is still present at Shibuya Station and is a well-liked gathering place.

This Redditor reveals a TodayILearned story about a dog who was stuffed and put in a museum

Here is Hachiko, the dog famous for waiting for his owner for years after the owner's death

Unfortunately, Hachik passed away in the streets of Shibuya in 1935 from a cancer and worms complication. His remains were stuffed and mounted, and they are now on display at the National Science Museum of Japan in Ueno, Tokyo.

Here are what redditors had to say.

The episode always gets this Redditor

The Jurassic bark? I guess it's park

The OP actually visited the museum

Where the rest of the dog's body is

Hopefully...

The oldest studded dog on display

This redditor wants the same thing done to their remains

Pets are emotional beings as well

This Redditor is revealing one of their faves

This Redditor is guessing they skinned him after he died

What he came out looking like

Look closely and see the wound

Hmm...

This Redditor is suggesting they bury it

The best dog this Redditor has had

Something to research on

It's rather small and easily missed

The stuffed famous dog era

This Redditor is giving their own version of the story

Okay

Hachik is displayed at a low angle to better reflect his actual height. The viewer is encouraged to get down on their knees and pet the image as they would a real dog.

Additionally, it puts him face-to-face with the kids who joyfully run his way while yelling "Hachik! Hachik!" when they spot him around a corner. At the Tokyo Plaza, you can now have a virtual walk with the famous dog thanks to a virtual Hachiko.

Maryjane