|
'Hachiko Waits'
Send a link to a friend
[AUG. 18, 2005]
"Hachiko
Waits,” by Leslea Newman, illustrated by Machiyo
Kodaira, 2004, Henry Holt and Company, 96 pages, ages 8-12
|
Review by
Louella MorelandLeslea Newman's book “Hachiko
Waits” is a quiet story of companionship, loyalty
and love. What begins as a relationship between a man and his dog in the
spring of 1924 continued to touch the hearts of Japanese people even after
the two original personalities were no longer alive. Any reader who loves
dogs will surely have the heart warmed by this simple and poetic story.
Professor Ueno, a teacher at a university in Japan, raised and trained an
Akita from puppy to young adult. Each day they would walk together to the
train station, where the professor would board his train to the city and
tell Hachiko, "What a good dog you are. What a fine dog you are. Hachi, you
are the best dog in all of Japan. I will return at 3 o'clock."
Each day, after the train pulled out of station, Hachiko would leave and
return again at 15 minutes before 3. No one knew where Hachiko spent his day
or how he knew what time to return to the station, but each day he met the
professor as he returned home on the train.
The stationmaster and other commuters became familiar with both the dog
and his kind master, building a community of people who looked forward to
seeing each of them every day.
This pattern continued until the day Professor Ueno did not return home
at the usual time. The professor had died of a sudden heart attack while he
was at work.
[to top of second column in
this article]
 |
Hachiko still waited throughout the evening, scanning the faces
of each person leaving each train. He left the station only when the
stationmaster had to close for the night.
However, the next day and each day following, he returned to his
accustomed spot to wait for his master. He continued this ritual
until he became a very old dog, cared for by the stationmaster and
all the other commuters who came to respect his loyalty.
One day, as the time neared for the 3 o'clock train, Hachiko sat
up, howled and died.
The people of Japan wished to honor this loyal canine friend. A
statue by a famous Japanese artist was commissioned and erected on
the spot where Hachiko waited for the master who would not return
again. The statue sits in the Shibuya train station today, for you
see, this beautiful little tale is based on a true story from Japan.
To those who enjoy “Hachiko Waits,”
I would also recommend stopping by the library to check out “The
Cat Who Went to Heaven,” by Elizabeth
Coatsworth. Perhaps it is the simple, understated way each story is
told, perhaps it is the Japanese custom of deep reflection on values
of loyalty and respect, or perhaps it is that I just love a story of
animal loyalty that both of these books will remain in my memory
forever.
[Louella Moreland, youth services librarian,
Lincoln Public
Library District] |
