Hachi, also known as Hachiko, is arguably one of the best-known dogs—or historical figures, even—in Japan. He famously waited for his master outside Shibuya Station for a decade after his death, becoming a symbol of loyalty. Now a statue of Hachiko stands on the spot, an iconic meet-up spot in Tokyo. Unbeknownst to most, there’s another Hachiko statue in the city of Ōdate in Akita Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region up north. The connection? This is his birthplace, the original home of Akita dogs. Hachi was born among eight puppies…
