The bronze statue “Loyal Dog Hachiko” in Shibuya Station in Tokyo is the inspiration for this story by Pamela S. Turner. The real Hachiko belonged to Dr. Ueno, a university professor in Tokyo. Late each day, the young dog waited at the train station for his master’s return. One day Dr. Ueno did not get off the train—he had died unexpectedly at work. For ten years, Hachiko continued to return to the station each day. His story was told in newspapers, and he became a favorite of all who saw him. Even before Hachiko died in 1935, a statue of him had been erected at the station. Today a replica of the original statue stands at the station—a favorite meeting spot in Tokyo. Turner has created a fictional narrator to tell Hachiko’s story and fill in several events between the death of the professor and the death of his companion. A young boy when he first meets the dog at the station, Kentaro is a teenager by the time Hachiko passes away. This spare, stirring first-person narrative draws its strength from Turner’s lack of embellishment, as well as her intuitive understanding of a how a child—and later young adult—might respond to the sometimes sad, always extraordinary facts of the story. After Hachiko dies, Kentaro says, “I was seventeen, and too big to cry. But I went into the other room and did not come out for a long time.” Yan Nascimbene’s watercolor illustrations perfectly match the loveliness and restraint of the text. (Ages 5–9)

Imagine walking to the same place every day, to meet your best friend. Imagine watching hundreds of people pass by every morning and every afternoon. Imagine waiting, and waiting, and waiting. For ten years. This is what Hachiko did.
Hachiko was a real dog who lived in Tokyo, a dog who faithfully waited for his owner at the Shibuya train station long after his owner could not come to meet him. He became famous for his loyalty and was adored by scores of people who passed through the station every day. This is Hachiko’s story through the eyes of Kentaro, a young boy whose life is changed forever by his friendship with this very special dog. Simply told, and illustrated with Yan Nascimbene’s lush watercolors, the legend of Hachiko will touch your heart and inspire you as it has inspired thousands all over the world.