Hachiko Waits

“‘April 1, 1924,’ the Professor read out loud. ‘It is going to be a good day, little friend.’ The Professor said this every day. He was a man of habit.”

Mentioning the date gives readers a clearer idea of the story’s setting (in Japan, April 1 is the first day of the school year). The fact that the Professor repeats the same words every day characterizes him as consistent and dutiful, traits that help strengthen the Professor and Hachiko’s bond and lay the groundwork for the book’s exploration of The Reciprocation of Loyalty.

“Yakitori was the puppy’s favorite meal. ‘I will buy some for your supper tonight on my way home from the train station, and you can practice pulling the chicken off the skewers the way I taught you.’”

The fact that the Professor immediately understands from Hachi’s body language that he wants to eat yakitori speaks to Hachi and the Professor’s unique rapport. Author Lesléa Newman uses Japanese words—like yakitori—throughout the story to imbue the novel with a sense of place and, more broadly, verisimilitude. This quote also foreshadows a later episode in which Hachiko impresses an audience with his ability to remove pieces of chicken from a skewer. The notion that the Professor teaches Hachi this specific skill, and that Hachi remembers it for life, further reinforces the innate bond and love that Hachi and Professor Ueno share.

“‘Now, Hachi. Speak,’ said the Professor. Hachi stared at him silently, his head tilted to one side.”

Hachi is typically a very clever and responsive dog, at least toward the Professor, but his refusal to bark on command illustrates his stubborn and strong-willed side. As the story unfolds, Hachi’s stubbornness becomes a more obvious and important trait. The fact that Hachi refuses to bark when asked also makes it more impactful when Hachi does bark of his own accord. This only happens twice in the entire novel, the rarity lending these two occasions special importance.

“‘What a good dog you are.’ He bent down until he was almost nose to nose with the puppy. ‘What a fine dog you are,’ he said softly. ‘Hachi, you are the best dog in all of Japan.’”

This is the first time the Professor says these words, which Hachi will hear verbatim many more times throughout his life. The Professor makes a point to repeat these exact words to Hachi every single day before he leaves for work. This is part of the routine between the two that contributes to their loving and devoted bond. After the Professor’s death, Yasuo starts to repeat the same praise to Hachi every day, having heard the Professor say it so many times—a small-scale example of The Creation of Cultural Legacy, as doing so preserves the Professor’s memory.

“The Professor nodded as he thought over the Station Master’s offer. ‘Arigato, Mr. Yoshikawa,’ he said, bowing in thanks. ‘That is very kind of you. I will return at three o’clock.’”

Mr. Yoshikawa offers to look after Hachi as a favor to the Professor, which indicates that the Professor is a well-respected member of society, as Mr. Yoshikawa is happy to do a favor to please him. The interaction also illustrates general social customs in 1920s Japan: The Professor and Mr. Yoshikawa respect each other greatly and wish to please each other. The author includes the Japanese word for “thank you,” “arigato,” which lends the exchange authenticity, helping to convey the setting to the reader.

“‘Eight is my lucky number because the kanji for eight is shaped like a fan held upside down and it is wider at the bottom than at the top,’ the Professor explained, using his finger to draw the shape of the Japanese character in the air. ‘That means that the future is wide open.’”

The Professor uses a simile to explain why he named his puppy “Hachi,” which is Japanese for “eight.” The explanation foreshadows the celebrated future Hachi ends up having, which no one would predict looking at him now. As Newman does frequently throughout the novel, she also uses a Japanese word (“kanji”) here, which helps to ground Western readers in the Japanese setting.

“Akitas are known for their intelligence, loyalty, and extreme devotion.”

This conversation is significant because it is the first time the Professor and Hachiko meet Yasuo, who eventually becomes Hachiko’s closest ally. The conversation also characterizes Professor Ueno as a natural teacher—he is outgoing, and he shows Yasuo patience and kindness. The Professor is eager to impart knowledge about Hachi’s breed, which he is passionate about. The knowledge that Professor Ueno shares is also noteworthy in that Hachi comes to embody the exact virtues he describes. Hachi’s intelligence in combination with his relentless devotion is what makes Hachi such an admirable icon to the Japanese people.

“Mr. Yoshikawa took a few steps back toward his office. But Hachi remained where he was, staring off in the direction the Professor’s train had gone. Then he stood up, turned, and trotted toward the exit of the station.”

This is the first time that Hachi sees the Professor off on his morning train to work. With the exception of his refusal to bark, Hachi has so far seemed to be a very obedient dog. As soon as the Professor is out of sight, though, Hachi doesn’t obey anyone else’s commands. This speaks to his absolute loyalty to Professor Ueno—and no one else, which, while bothersome to Mr. Yoshikawa in this moment, is generally a trait that others admire in Hachi.

“‘Hello, little friend!’ he called, his voice full of happiness. Hachi ran to his master, licked each of his fingers, and then spun in circles before him.”

The Professor and Hachi greet each other at the train station after the first day they spend apart. Hachi’s outward display of glee upon seeing his master is particularly meaningful since he never in his life acts this way upon greeting anyone else. In fact, Hachi refuses even to approach anyone who calls him or to obey commands from anyone other than the Professor. The obvious joy the Professor and Hachi share upon their reunion speaks to the intensity of their bond—and particularly to Hachi’s devotion to the Professor.

“He and Hachi walked to the train station in the spring, when the cherry blossoms bloomed, and in the summer, when the rains came. They walked to the train station in the autumn, when the leaves changed color, and in the winter, when the snow fell.”

Here, Newman uses repetition and seasonal imagery to emphasize the consistency in Hachiko and the Professor’s daily routine, which mirrors their devotion to one another. By listing each season—a structure that repeats throughout the novel—the passage highlights the enduring relationship between the Professor and Hachiko, reinforcing the theme of loyalty.

“The carp is very strong and very brave, little friend. He must swim upstream against the current, and that takes great determination and perseverance. […] Every boy, including you, Hachi, must strive to be as strong and brave as the carp.”

The Professor uses the carp as a symbol of perseverance and resilience, in keeping with traditional Japanese values. By comparing Hachi to the carp, the Professor reinforces his expectation that the dog demonstrate strength and bravery in the face of hardship. This foreshadows the challenge that Hachiko will soon face and endure for the rest of his life—the loss of his beloved master, the Professor.

“Hachi stayed right where he was, watching the train as usual. But then he did something he had never done before. As the train picked up speed, Hachi chased after it and let out a loud bark.”

This is a pivotal moment in the story. Both Hachi and the Professor typically adhere quite strictly to their daily routine, and this is the first time in Hachi’s life that he barks. The change suggests that Hachi senses some change—as if this goodbye between him and the Professor is different from the others. Hachi’s change in behavior foreshadows the Professor’s death, which the dog seems to sense. Notably, the only other time Hachi barks is right before his own death. Thus, Hachi’s bark comes as a warning of impending tragedy while also underscoring the bond between the Professor and Hachi, who are linked by this vocalization.

“‘We will never see the Professor again,’ Yasuo whispered. As he stood quietly beside his mother, his chin trembled and his eyes grew moist. He would miss seeing Professor Ueno every day. And what would become of Hachi?”

Yasuo’s emotional reaction to the news of the Professor’s death shows that he has grown close to Professor Ueno over the past year. His concern for Hachi reflects his attachment to the dog, but it also shows that Yasuo is particularly caring and empathetic for a young child. He is only six years old, yet he understands that, without the Professor, Hachi is lost and in need of support. This recognition allows for the emergence of Love and Grief as Unifying Forces.

“‘Come, Hachi,’ Yasuo said. ‘We are going home.’ He pulled at the rope, but Hachi would not budge.”

Yasuo has just learned that the Professor passed away, and, knowing that Hachi needs someone to take care of him, he tries to take the dog home. Hachi’s refusal to follow Yasuo is a testament to his devotion to the Professor, whom Hachi will always see as his one and only master. Despite Yasuo’s kindness to Hachi, the dog’s focus never strays from his master.

“Yasuo spoke to the dog a little while longer, then fell silent and sat quietly beside him, hoping his presence would bring the dog comfort.”

Though Hachi still ends up escaping from Yasuo’s house, the boy’s presence does seem to soothe him. Yasuo cares deeply for Hachi, and their shared grief for the Professor brings the two closer together.

“He could not even take a sip of miso soup. There was no room for food in his stomach. It was too full of sadness.”

The author figuratively describes sadness as something that takes up physical space in Yasuo’s stomach. This emphasizes the intensity of Yasuo’s despair—it is so profound that it affects his physical body. This quote also links Yasuo’s experience of sadness to Hachi’s. Hachi, too, is so distressed that he cannot eat.

“Hachi waited at the train station in the spring, when the cherry blossoms bloomed, and in the summer, when the rains came. He waited in the autumn, when the leaves changed color, and in the winter, when the snow fell.”

The author uses imagery of changing seasons combined with repetition and parallelism to underscore the constancy of Hachi’s loyalty across time. The story uses the same phrasing—including the same characteristics of each season—several times in different contexts to highlight devotion and commitment. The rhythm of this repeated structure also mirrors the natural rhythms of nature, which echo the rhythms of life and death.

“‘He will not hurt you. He is very gentle.’ Yasuo said the same words to the woman the Professor had said to him on the day they had met, years before.”

Yasuo often repeats phrases that he used to hear the Professor say, which reinforces the story’s motifs of routine and continuity. Echoing the Professor’s words is also a way that Yasuo preserves his legacy and ensures that the Professor’s kindness and devotion live on.

“‘Look how smart he is.’ Yasuo pointed at Hachiko pulling the chicken off the skewer. ‘Yes, he is very bright,’ Mr. Yashikawa agreed. ‘And he had an excellent teacher,’ the Station Master reminded Yasuo.”

This quote harkens back to the story’s first chapter, where the Professor mentions teaching Hachiko how to pull pieces of chicken off a skewer. The fact that Hachiko retains this knowledge years later shows how profoundly the Professor’s guidance has shaped the dog.

“‘You are very good to him,’ he said to Yasuo. ‘Someday he will reward you.’”

Yasuo faithfully takes care of Hachiko every day for years, even when it means he must turn down opportunities to do other things, like play with his classmates after school. Mr. Yoshikawa’s prediction that Yasuo will be rewarded for this foreshadows Yasuo meeting the love of his life—a companion just as devoted to him as he is to Hachiko.

“One spring day, a few weeks after the cherry blossoms had bloomed, Yasuo arrived at the train station a little before three o’clock.”

Cherry blossoms, which flower only for a few days each year, are traditionally a symbol of the transience of life. Mentioning that they have already blossomed foreshadows Hachiko’s death, which occurs later the same day. Linking the spring season to cherry blossoms also continues an established pattern of mentioning the seasons and their traits, which emphasizes themes of continuity and the cyclical nature of life.

“‘Wan-wan!’ Hachiko barked loudly. ‘Wan-Wan!’ Then, all his strength gone, he sighed a great sigh and collapsed to the ground.”

The moment of Hachiko’s death is imbued with meaning that links Hachiko to the Professor, as the only other time Hachiko barks is right before the Professor’s death. Moreover, Hachiko dies on the 10th anniversary of the Professor’s death. These commonalities point to an implied spiritual connection between Hachiko and the Professor that transcends life.

“Every day for the past ten years, Professor Ueno has met this special train to see if his beloved Akita-ken is on it. […] And today, when the special train reaches Heaven and opens its doors, Hachiko will be the first one to step out.”

Mr. Yashikawa tells Yasuo his personal belief about the afterlife, and Yasuo takes great comfort in the idea that Hachiko will finally reunite with his master, whom he spent 10 years waiting to see. Mr. Yashikawa’s theory also builds on the idea that Hachiko and the Professor share a special connection that exceeds the physical realm. The idea even hints that Hachiko’s many years of waiting were reciprocated; the Professor has been waiting for Hachiko at his own train station. Mr. Yashikawa and Yasuo raise each other’s spirits by coming together in their grief.