Tokyo Day 1b: Visiting Hachiko And The Professor

After visiting the real Hachiko at the museum, walking around Ueno Park and the temple, our next stop was Hachiko and the Professor at the University of Tokyo. This statue was unveiled on 8th March 2015, 80 years after the passing of Hachiko and it shows an excited and happy Hachiko greeting Professor Hidesaburo Ueno after work. The statue stands right outside at the Department of Agriculture, University of Tokyo, where the professor worked.

http://en.japantravel.com/tokyo/hachiko-statue-university-of-tokyo/20013

We could have taken a train from Ueno to a station near the university, but we thought we’d walk and experience spring in Tokyo. It should not be very far, but yet, it can seem really far, especially when you are unfamiliar to the place, which we were!

The University of Tokyo is huge and its many gates look exactly the same. We got to the nearest gate and found that it was the entrance to the hospital at the university. He mentioned Hachiko to the kind elderly guard and he knew what we were looking for. He then gave us a map, drew in the directions and gave us verbal instructions (in Japanese and haltering English) to get to the statue, which is at another gate.

I studied two semesters of Japanese while at university, more than 30 years ago, and have forgotten most of it, but some of it came back during this visit!

We walked “very far” (at least it seemed that way) but I figured if Hachiko waited 10 years, what’s just an hour’s walk to honour this great dog? Of all the three locations, I think this one is the most meaningful as it shows the reunion between Hachiko and the professor.

Checking the map…

I remembered vaguely that it should be at the Nou-Seimon Gate, at the Yayoi Section of the Hongo Campus.

Finally, we reached another gate (all the gates look exactly the same)…could this be the gate?

We went in with anticipation…

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh…look!! It’s the correct gate!!

Right on the left, there’s the statue of Hachiko and the professor!! This is the Dept of Agriculture.

I couldn’t help but shed tears. After walking for so long, finally….!!

How many photos did I take?

Well, no less than 50, I think. From every possible angle.

Look at Hachiko’s expression…

 What a great sculptor!

There were just two groups of people at the park when we were there – a very elderly Japanese lady who was clearly shedding tears (as I was) and taking many photos, a group of Filipinas who obviously knew everything about Hachiko as they too were taking photos from many angles. One of them was even dressed in a kimono.

We sat there for a long time, just taking it all in – it was overwhelming and poignant, especially after the long walk and anticipation – to finally see this great monument. I thought about how Hachiko waited for 10 years for the return on his master. You can’t help but shed tears and my eyes were so wet.

It was only after visiting this statue and spending time here, in the quiet and very peaceful surrounding amidst the falling leaves that I felt I had finally paid a modest tribute and my highest respects to Hachiko and how he represents the unflailing loyalty that all dogs have for their humans.

If I had a choice, I’d sit here the whole day…

But there’s another stop next: Shibuya Station…

I sure hate to go….

More pictures, more pictures!!

Don’t forget the professor too.

Sayonara, Hachiko-san…

Source: https://myanimalcare.org/2016/04/05/tokyo-day-1b-visiting-ha..

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