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31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely New Children's Book for Animal Lovers, November 18, 2004
Hachiko is a wonderful young puppy who lives with his master, Professor Ueno. Each morning the Professor tells Hachiko these same words, as he boards the train: "What a good dog you are. What a fine dog you are. Hachi you are the best dog in all of Japan." And every afternoon, at 3 o'clock on the dot, Hachiko arives back at the train station to greet his owner once again. However, one day, the Professor doesn't step off the train. So Hachiko waits. He waits for ten years. Not even the kind young boy known as Yasuo can persuade Hachiko to leave his post, and take shelter in a warm home. Soon Hachiko is known around the country, and the world, as the dog who never gave up on his owner's return.
I love animal stories, and I've always been interested in the Japanese culture, so I adored HACHIKO WAITS. Leslea Newman has done a marvelous job of capturing the love an animal - whether a dog, cat, etc. - holds for his or her owner, as long as they treat him/her well. The prose is wonderful, and will hold young readers enamored for hours, while the gorgeous black and white illustrations by Machiyo Kodaira bring the story even more to life. This is an absolute must read for all animal lovers.
Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper
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26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hachi, you are the best dog in Japan., April 15, 2008
There is a statue of a dog in the Shibuya train station in Tokyo. It was first set in place in 1934 to commemorate the loyalty and devotion of an Akita who waited for his master for ten years. The master was a university teacher, who died unexpectedly at work. It was the Akita's habit to wait for his master's return from work then walk home together. Because he could not understand why his master did not return, he faithfully waited until he died in his place at the station, where the statue was erected in his honor. This is the dry version of a true story.
"What a good dog you are. What a fine dog you are. Hachi, you are the best dog in Japan." These are the words Professor Ueno speaks to his Akita everyday at the train station just before he departs for his teaching job at the university. And they are the last words Hachi ever hears the professor say. The dog waits until the station is closed and the train master encourages him to go outside the gate.
A little boy whom the professor befriends, Yasuo and his mother take the dog in, but Hachi is one of those rare one-master-only dogs. He escapes. No one knows where he goes during the day or night, but each afternoon at five minutes until three, Hachi reappears to wait until closing. This continues for ten years.
Meanwhile, people begin to notice Hachi. They pet him, worry about him, feed him, offer to take him, write newspaper stories about him, come from far and near just to see him. He becomes a symbol of the devoted, loyal dog, man's best friend. Through it all, Hachi remains calm, but most importantly, patient. He waits for his master.
Today, Hachi's story is told in Japanese schools all across the country. Each year he is honored during a special ceremony at the Shibuya train station at the foot of Hachi's statue. During his lifetime he was proclaimed Chuken Hachiko (Chuken=faithful dog, -iko, a term of respect), for people loved, respected, and honored him for this total loyalty. Still, this is the dry version.
In a historical novel a writer is allowed a certain freedom or license to get into the story and bring the reader with her. Leslea Newman and artist Machiyo Kodaira take the reader right there on that train station, right there beside Hachido, feeling his extraordinary devotion and dedication. Right there with each person who attends Hachiko. We are right there as Yasuo grows into a man and watch him meet a young woman. Early in the story the train master tells Yasuo that his promise to care for Hachi will bring him an unexpected happy result. And so it does. This is a story not to miss.
Being inside the story with Hachiko and all the people whose lives he touches and influences is the wet version. For there is no way you can escape deep emotion reading this story. The tears will come, but they are cleansing tears. Hachiko will win your heart.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loyal & Loving, October 26, 2006
Hachiko, a beautiful golden brown Akita pup is the loved and revered pet of his owner, Professor Ueno. The curly tailed dog was named Hachi because Professor Ueno considered the Japanese character for the number of 8 fortunate. This is his 8th Akita and he feels the dog has very special qualities. Professor Ueno and his dog walked to the commuter station each morning. Hachiko would trot back to the Shibuya station every afternoon at 3:00. The station master said that one could set their clock by Hachiko.
In May of 1925, some 15 months after buying Hachiko, Professor Ueno died suddenly at work. His loyal dog continued to wait at the train station for him, even though others made overtures to him. The fictional subplot of Yasuo, a young boy who first sees the dog and meets Professor Ueno at age 5 and his partial ownership of the dog when his owner dies is moving and lovely. So are the beautiful illustrations that grace this book.
This is a wonderful book about cultural sharing; I like the way Japanese words are included along with a glossary and a thumbnail history of Japanese foods and traditions.
This is a beautiful book that might make you cry, but it is well worth the read. People of all ages will love the gentle Professor and his loyal Akita who never gave up waiting for his owner to return.
In 1935 Hachiko was immemorialized in statue form as the symbol of unflagging devotion. Hachiko, like another curly tailed dog, the malamute Balto, who in 1925 braved an Alaskan blizzard to bring in a shipment of medicine share a history of being immemorialized in statue form and were recognized for their unflagging spirits.
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