Summer in Japan #3

Episode 3.1: Visiting Hachiko's Hometown in Odate, Akita Prefecture

The story of Hachiko, a loyal dog who waited for his master at the train station every day, even after his master's death, is one of the most famous and heartwarming tales of canine devotion.

The story of Hachiko, a loyal Akita dog, begins with Professor Ueno, an agricultural scientist at the University of Tokyo, who purchased the dog for ¥30, a significant sum considering the average civil servant salary of ¥20 at the time. Hachiko accompanied Professor Ueno to Shibuya Station every morning, faithfully seeing him off to work. However, tragedy struck when Professor Ueno suffered a fatal brain hemorrhage at the university. Unaware of his master's passing, Hachiko continued to wait for him at the station every day, even after being taken in by others. For nine years, Hachiko's unwavering loyalty led him to the station, where he eventually breathed his last breath. The tale of Hachiko's devotion captured the hearts of the Shibuya community, becoming national news and inspiring the Hollywood film "Hachi."

Referring back to the previous review about Hachiko, you can click on this link to read it again.

> > > [EN][TOKYO] Driven by my love for dogs, I embarked on a journey to find 'Hachiko'

The previous time, the seals took us to find Hachiko in three different locations in Tokyo:

1. Shibuya Station

The place where Hachiko faithfully waited for his master's return from work every day, even after his master's passing, until his own final breath.

2. Department of Agriculture, Todai University

The place where Hachiko and its owner, Professor Ueno, were reunited after being apart for over 90 years (even if only symbolically).

3. A replica of the skeleton of the Asian elephant, "Ha-chi", at the National Science Museum.

(National Museum of Nature and Science) at Ueno Park

In that thread, Maenam expressed her desire to visit Hachiko's hometown in Akita Prefecture if the opportunity arises.

This summer's trip to Japan was a success for Meow. But where is Hachiko's hometown? What's interesting about this city? Let's go on another journey to find Hachiko!

Our destination today is Odate City, Akita Prefecture, located in the Tohoku region.

Odate is a city located on the border of Aomori and Akita prefectures. To get there, you can take a direct train from Aomori Station. The journey takes approximately 76 minutes on a Limited Express train.

Upon arriving at Odate Station, the dog-like seal let out an excited bark-howl.

Wakayama boasts Kishi Station, a cat-themed station renowned for its feline mascot, Tama. This station is a must-visit for cat enthusiasts.

... However, Odate boasts its own claim to fame: Hachiko, the loyal Akita dog. Oh my...

The Hachiko statue is also located on the platform. ^^

Drop a donation in the box in front of the statue, and Hachiko will bark in gratitude. Adorable!

This small station features a waiting area immediately accessible from the platform, along with a charming souvenir shop selling adorable Akita dog plushies.

This is clearly a place where people melt their assets.

Hold your wallet tight, don't shop yet, take it easy.

This trip to Odate is not just about arriving at the station and leaving. We must go all the way.

The purpose of this visit is to visit a museum, which may sound nerdy, but it is the 'Akita Dog Museum'.

... If I didn't love dogs, I wouldn't have traveled this far ^^

So, how do we get there? I had read that there was a shuttle bus or something, so I asked the staff at Odate Station for information. However, communication was a bit difficult, so I showed them a picture of the Akita Dog Museum. The staff member said, "Ah, I see," and handed me a piece of A4 paper. It was a map to the museum.

The elder brother then asked if I could ride a bicycle. I quickly replied that I could. He then asked where I would rent a bicycle to ride.

The station offers free bicycle rentals.

Despite the scorching sun and sweltering heat of 40 degrees Celsius, I decided to embark on another cycling adventure. This marked my third bike ride in just four days since arriving in Japan. If the weather were cooler, it would have been a more enjoyable experience. Nevertheless, I persevered and set off on my journey.

Subsequently, another male relative opened the garage and presented two bicycles.

Look, the bicycle even has a picture of a dog on it. Isn't it cute?

In front of the station, there is a statue of Hachiko. It's adorable, isn't it? It sits at Shibuya Station all day and night, just like Hachiko waiting for its owner.

Even city buses are adorned with Akita dog patterns.

"Why is Hachiko, the Akita dog, so important to this city?"

Indeed, Akita dog images are ubiquitous throughout the city, even adorning manhole covers. However, the extent of my knowledge on this topic is limited.

1. National treasure

The Akita dog breed is a true Japanese breed. Originally known as the Odate breed, after the city of the same name, the Akita dog gained fame for the Akita prefecture, leading to its name change to the Akita dog breed.

2. Famous for Hachiko

The story of Hachiko, the loyal dog whose devotion to his master became famous throughout Japan and the world, actually began in the city of Odate.

Hachi's owner purchased him from Odate for 30 yen, a significant sum considering the average civil servant's salary at the time was only around 20 yen.

3. Serve as a goodwill ambassador, fostering international relations.

The Akita dog has served as an ambassador for friendship between Japan and America. American writer Helen Keller visited Odate and brought an Akita dog named Kamikaze to America. After raising it for only a year, the dog died. She was so heartbroken that she wrote a eulogy. When the Japanese government learned of this, they sent a new dog named Kenzan to her. This marked the beginning of the Akita dog's role as an ambassador of goodwill between Japan and America.

In Asia, the Akita dog has also fostered a strong relationship with Russia. In 2012, the governor of Akita Prefecture gifted an Akita dog named Yume, meaning "dream," to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a companion. Yume originated from the city of Odate.

(Credit: Akita dog story: https://www.con-akita.com/2367/)

4. A city that conserves the Akita dog breed.

As mentioned, the Akita dog breed is considered a national treasure, having been a companion to the Japanese people for centuries. In Odate, there is an Akita Dog Conservation Center and Museum, where an annual competition for this breed is held.

Our destination is the Museum, which we are now cycling to with great enthusiasm. Let's ride together!

Cycling under the midday sun, the temperature is around 37-38 degrees Celsius. Songkran is said to be hot, but here it is no less. I can feel the heat waves a little. I didn't sleep well last night and haven't eaten much, so I'm feeling a bit weak now.

As we cycled across the bridge over the Nagaki River, the main river that flows through the city of Odate, I glanced to my left and saw a mountain with the character 大 on its peak. It felt like a déjà vu, as if I had seen it somewhere before. Ah, it was the image I had seen in a comic book.

During the summer, a festival related to the character 大 is held on this mountain. 大 means "big" and is written the same way as the word "big" in Chinese.

The Odate Daimonji Festival is held on the Nagaki River, where the character "大" is set ablaze at 8 pm, followed by a celebratory fireworks display. During the summer festival, there are also carnival-like activities for visitors to enjoy. This year, 2017, the festival will be held on Wednesday, August 17th. If you have the opportunity to visit Akita during that time, be sure to check it out. It's only held once a year, so it's a real treat to see it. ^^

We followed the map provided by the station staff and cycled across the bridge. Finally, we arrived at our destination. Hooray! We cycled for about 5 kilometers (including the distance we got lost, haha).

The statue in front is of Hachiko, there's no mistake (the real Hachiko statue has one ear folded, he was bitten).

This building houses the Akita Dog Conservation Center, with the museum located on the third floor. It was established to preserve the purebred Akita dog, a national treasure of Japan.

I climbed up to the 3rd floor. Oh my, I'm going to faint. It's so hot. I rode my bike and walked up to the 3rd floor, which doesn't have air conditioning. I'm panting like a dog.

Admission to the museum costs 200 yen per person. Purchase a ticket and enter.

This museum is incredibly small, taking only about two and a half minutes to walk through entirely.

This is a stamp collection. It includes a stamp with an Akita dog.

Fortunately, I had watched the "Sugoi Japan" program by Mr. Hiro before, so I could guess what the museum was about.

This paragraph describes the history of the Japanese Spitz, a breed that has been a loyal companion to the Japanese people since ancient times. Traditionally, these dogs were used for hunting due to their muscular build and strong hunting instincts.

How about this? You can also fight bears. Do you know the cartoon Silver Fang? ... I don't know. Haha.

The Japanese manga "Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin" features an Akita dog named Gin as its protagonist. Gin possesses the remarkable ability to hunt and combat bears, as depicted in the story.

In the past, bear skin was used to make clothing for the winter season.

This is a hunter's outfit. In the past, the collar was also made of iron.

The Akita dog breed has three main coat colors: brindle, fawn, and white.

The Akita dog's physique resembles a stuffed animal, with a muscular and robust body the size of a real one. Its tail curls upwards, and its face has a distinctly Japanese look, reminiscent of a samurai.

Have you ever seen Hachiko's face? Here's a picture of the real Hachiko.

The real dog is a white Akita with one ear folded due to a bite wound.

This place features a hall of fame showcasing champion Akita dogs that have won competitions. These dogs are known for their adorable and endearing appearance.

This page is very ethnic, very Japanese.

We have now explored the entire museum, which was surprisingly quick given its miniature size.

This is a photo review. This is all there is. ^^

Although I've come all the way to Odate, where is the real Akita dog? I only see statues, but no live dogs.

There is a dog cage next to the building, but I wonder if there will be any dogs for us to see.

Here it is, it really exists! It's so cute and cuddly.

However, she seems to be indifferent to us.

Akita Inus are typically friendly towards guests, especially when their owners are present. However, owning an Akita requires significant time commitment for care and training. Due to their strong attachment to their owners, Akitas can become overly protective. Additionally, their large size, high energy levels, and strength necessitate daily exercise.

However, today it might be because of the hot weather, so he wasn't very interested in us.

Okay, goodbye. We won't bother you and have a good dream. ^^

The red bridge leads to a public park called Keijio.

Dog lovers, assemble! If you're eager to witness the majestic Akita dog breed in all its glory, then mark your calendars for this grand event.

Every 3rd of May, this park hosts an Akita dog competition, where approximately 200 dogs from across the country compete.

Oh, mother... I wish I could be surrounded by Akita dogs like that day.

Today is extremely hot. I'm starting to feel dizzy and almost fainted. I'm wondering if I can still ride my bike back to the station.

Halfway through the ride, I came across a refreshing well. Seeing a mother and child playing nearby, I quickly parked my bicycle and took a dip in the cool water to rejuvenate myself.

Phew, that's a relief.

This is the real life-giving spring. This spring is located near the Nagaki River Bridge that I mentioned earlier.

Despite the scorching heat, the water here is refreshingly cold. . . . Dipping my feet in provides some relief.

With renewed energy, we cycled back to the station. Upon returning the bicycles, we had some time to spare, which we used to browse the charming souvenir shops at Odate Station.

My wallet is trembling with fear...

Japanese souvenirs are so adorable that you can't buy enough of them, no matter how much money you have.

Authentic Hachiko glasses must have folded ears.

A dog as a souvenir? In a word, "disaster".

Akita dog poop is also available for tasting.

Odate is renowned for its Akita dogs.

Among the nationally renowned OTOP products is the "Chicken", a popular local delicacy.

Indeed, Hinai-Jidori chicken is renowned for its exceptional flavor and quality, ranking among the top three chicken breeds in Japan (alongside Nagoya Chochin chicken and Satsuma Jidori chicken).

It is said that raising Hinai chickens requires more meticulous care than ordinary chickens. It takes three times longer to raise Hinai chickens to the optimal selling point, and the price is five times higher than that of ordinary chickens. The meat of Hinai chickens is known for its fragrant aroma, tender texture, and exceptional taste.

In addition, they have a chicken festival in Odate. Dog events, chicken events, they have it all in this city. ^^

Every year, at the end of January, the Chicken Festival in Winter is held.

If you're visiting during the festival, be sure to try the delicious chicken dishes on offer. If you're not visiting during the festival, you can still find delicious chicken dishes at local restaurants or buy chicken-based snacks and souvenirs.

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Today's visit to Hachiko's hometown was a total success. While our previous encounter with Hachiko was limited to Tokyo, this time we had the opportunity to visit his birthplace in Odate. It was an incredibly fulfilling experience for any Hachiko enthusiast.

Dog lovers and admirers of Hachiko's loyalty will find Odate in Akita Prefecture a delightful destination. Despite its small-town charm, Odate offers a surprising array of attractions.

The train has arrived. I will continue my journey to Hirosaki to see the rice paddy art in Inakadate. Japan has so many festivals in the summer. If you like this kind of thing, you won't be disappointed if you come during this time.

See you next time!

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