1.
Hachiko; famously loyal dog
The Akita dog who kept waiting at Shibuya Station for his deceased owner every day for years; now a byword for loyalty, and his statue there is a famous meeting spot.
ハチ公 was a real Akita (秋田犬) who continued going to 渋谷 Station every evening for about nine years after his owner died, waiting for a return that never came. The story made him a national symbol of loyalty (忠犬, "loyal dog").
Common expressions
- ハチ公前: "in front of Hachiko" — Shibuya's best-known meeting spot, marked by his statue
- 忠犬ハチ公: "the loyal dog Hachiko," his full commemorative title
The suffix 公 here is an affectionate, old-fashioned way of naming a male animal or child, not the more common "public" reading of the kanji.
Related Words
Related:
犬 (dog)