Customer Reviews

Hachiko: The True Story of The Royal Dogs of Japan and One Faithful Akita

5 star:		(3)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Very impressed with the story behind the movie. Knowable story on the begining of this breed of dogs found it very helpful. Still hard to believe the love this dog had for its master. Gives me a must different feel for this animal in many ways.Very special story!

Hachiko was a real dog from Tokyo, Japan who lived between 1923 and 1935. He is known all over Japan and a good portion of the world as "Chuken" Hachiko, meaning "faithful dog", because, when his master, a Japanese agriculture professor, died suddenly, Hachiko, for some 10 years, came to the same train station in Tokyo where he had greeted his master each afternoon as the professor returned from the university. "Hachiko - The True Story of the Royal Dogs of Japan and One Faithful Akita" tells the actual tale of this marvelous dog without fictionalization and also includes information about the Akita breed. Although the book probably is aimed at an elementary school age audience, I found it quite engaging and informative as an adult, too.

I first learned about this remarkable dog by watching "Hachi - A Dog's Tale" [DVD\Blu-Ray], an Americanized version of this story starring Richard Gere and a couple of pretty wonderful Akita dogs. When you pop it into the DVD player, be sure to have a box of tissues handy. Although it is both a little sanitized from what really happened to the real Hachiko and more sad than what actually happened, it still packs an emotional punch.

There are a couple of other books available on Amazon that are partially fictional accounts of caring and concerned young persons who grow up as Hachiko maintains his vigil. These books, "Hachiko Waits" and "Hachiko - The True Story of A Loyal Dog" probably are aimed at a child of maybe 3rd or 4th grade, but, it never talks down, and is certainly a gentle reminder that being faithful, concerned, and caring are good characteristics for humans to have as well as faithful dogs.

Get the movie and read the books. Or read the books and watch the movie - either works.

I wanted to read more about Hachiko after seeing a movie preview. I can't believe I waste 5 bucks on this book. It is written for an elementary school child to read. Very simple sentences and not many details. Part one is a quick run through of how the owner was connected with his pet and the love they shared. Part two is mainly about the breed itself.

i thought hachi was a great story. its sad, funny and made me cry but i love this tale so much. i love animals and definetly wish that i could remember that true story forever. when you start reading this book you will be awed by the story and will want to share it with your friends and family when you finish this. aand this is coming from a blond, blue-eyed, small, eleven year old midle school girl.

amazing story about a dog and its owner
really shows a mans best friend in a different persective

This story was heart warming and beautiful! The end left me with a lump in my throat and a sad knot in my stomach. I found a stray puppy who is now a very loyal pet and from the 2nd and 3rd parts of this book I now think that the veterinarian mistook the part akita in her as part chow. The 2nd and 3rd parts were very informative from a historical point of view. I had no idea Helen Keller had gone to Japan to get an akita for herself after her teacher died. And of course I learned a lot about the suffering the Japanese people went through during WW2. The "Its a Fact" sections were a great enhancement to the book. Readers can learn alot from this book. The only thing I suggest is that amazon.com sell it as a Kindle Single for 2.99 instead of 4.99. I read the whole thing in about 2 hours.

I have Akitas so I am always on the look out for books about them. This was a nice little book with stories and pictures about Akitas in Japan.