Hachikō is a dog that probably needs no introduction. A symbol of loyalty and neverending love, Hachikō went on to become a cultural phenomenon, an icon not only in his native Japan but to the whole wide world as well. The golden-brown, pure-bred Akita was born back in the late fall of 1923 on a farm in Ōdate, Akita Prefecture, Japan. A year later, Hachikō was adopted by a professor, Hidesaburō Ueno, who took him in to live in Shibuya, Tokyo. Hidesaburō Ueno was a professor in the agriculture department at Tokyo Imperial University. The man would take the train to his work only to be greeted by his loyal dog on his way back. At the end of each day, the smart dog would leave the house to wait for his owner at Shibuya Station. Then, sadly, on May 21, 1925, Hidesaburō Ueno did not return. He had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while giving a lecture and died without ever returning to the train station where Hachikō waited for him. And now, we can finally share some rare photos on the beloved Akita with you.

Rare Photos Of Hachiko Patiently Waiting For His Owner Have Surfaced And It’s Heartbreaking To See

This went on for the next nine years, nine months, and fifteen days—Hachikō would patiently wait for his owner at the same train station every day. Each day, at the same time, that Hidesaburō Ueno’s train was due at the station.

After his owner’s death in 1925, Hachikō would still wait for him every day at the train station

Hachikō would go there every day at the same time that his owner would have come back after work

Naturally, the commuters quickly took notice of the adorable dog. Many of them had seen the loyal furry friend and his owner Hidesaburō walk home together from said station. Not everybody was friendly, at least not until October 4, 1932, when the first article on Hachikō was published—after that, Hachikō gained national attention, and people would often bring the famous dog food and treats. You can see the loyal Akita immortalized in the vintage photos from several publications of the time.