Hachiko Waits

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death.

Professor Eizaburo Ueno has a new Akita puppy named Hachi. Every morning, Hachi knows exactly when the Professor wakes up, even if Professor Ueno doesn’t move or make a sound. 

On this particular day, Hachi and the Professor greet each other before starting their daily routine. The Professor reads Hachi the date—it is April 1, 1924—and tells the puppy that it is going to be a good day. The Professor says the exact same thing to Hachi every day, as he is “a man of habit” (10). The housekeeper prepares Hachi’s breakfast of rice and miso soup, but Hachi is reluctant to eat it. The Professor knows that Hachi wants yakitori, a chicken skewer, instead. The Professor has taught Hachi how to pull the chicken off the skewers. Eventually, the Professor convinces Hachi to eat his breakfast.

After breakfast, they begin their daily training session. Hachi practices commands like “sit” and “down” and obeys perfectly. The only command he refuses to obey is “speak,” which disappoints the Professor. Hachi has never barked, and the Professor wants to hear Hachi’s voice.

Professor Ueno leaves the house to go to work, and Hachi follows.