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Hachiko Waits |  | Author: Leslea Newman
Creator: Machiyo Kodaira
Publisher: Square Fish
Category: Book
List Price: $6.99
Buy New: $2.87
as of 3/21/2010 02:02 MDT details
You Save: $4.12 (59%)
New (23) Used (9) from $2.81
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Rating:  14 reviews
Sales Rank: 4189
Media: Paperback
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Pages: 96
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.5
ISBN: 0312558066
EAN: 9780312558062
ASIN: 0312558066
Publication Date: December 23, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | ISBN13: 9780312558062 | | • | Condition: NEW | | • | Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark. |
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Product Description
“What a good dog you are. What a fine dog you are. Hachi, you are the best dog in all of Japan.” Professor Ueno speaks these words to his faithful dog before boarding the train to work every morning. And every afternoon, just before three o’clock, Hachi is at the train station to greet his beloved master. One day, the train arrives at the station without the professor. Hachi waits.
For ten years, Hachi waits for his master to return. Not even Yasuo, the young boy who takes care of Hachi, can persuade him to leave his post.
Hachiko Waits, a novel inspired by a true story, brings to life the legendary Akita who became a national symbol for loyalty and devotion. This is a must-read for dog lovers of all ages.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 14
Hachiko Waits September 28, 2009
Judith M. Finstuen (Gig Harbor, WA)
If you are a pet lover, this story is for you! It is about the faithfulness of a dog to his master and is based on truth. After I read the library edition, I knew I had to purchase it for my collelction plus one for my friend. When I went to the vet with my cat, I found out she had an Akita dog as in the story. She had purchased five copies of the book, one for herself and the rest for other pet owners. You will not be sorry you bought it!
Akita Lover's must have!!! May 8, 2009
V. J. Briggs (Way Out West)
As an Akita fancier, I have heard this story before, but the author of this book takes appropriate literary license in order to put the reader into the story and explain the nature of the relationship between the professor, the Akita Inu and the young boy who meets them. Anyone who appreciates Akitas for any reason should make this book a must-read, if not a must-have!
Akita Lovers Must Have!!! December 22, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Hachiko Waits
This book is very well written and the illustrations certainly add much. Anyone who appreciates the Akita should consider this required reading. While every breed book typically mentions (briefly) the story of Hachi, the dog who earned his own monument in Shibuya station, this book takes you inside the experience of the legend. A bit of literary license is used (and explained in the book) to make this story truly come alive in a personal way. I am an Akita owner and everyone in my house has read this book and been moved by this incredible story!
Hachi, you are the best dog in Japan. April 15, 2008
Judy K. Polhemus (LA)
16 out of 18 found this review helpful
There is a statue of a dog in the Shibuya train station in Tokyo. It was first set in place in 1934 to commemorate the loyalty and devotion of an Akita who waited for his master for ten years. The master was a university teacher, who died unexpectedly at work. It was the Akita's habit to wait for his master's return from work then walk home together. Because he could not understand why his master did not return, he faithfully waited until he died in his place at the station, where the statue was erected in his honor. This is the dry version of a true story.
"What a good dog you are. What a fine dog you are. Hachi, you are the best dog in Japan." These are the words Professor Ueno speaks to his Akita everyday at the train station just before he departs for his teaching job at the university. And they are the last words Hachi ever hears the professor say. The dog waits until the station is closed and the train master encourages him to go outside the gate.
A little boy whom the professor befriends, Yasuo and his mother take the dog in, but Hachi is one of those rare one-master-only dogs. He escapes. No one knows where he goes during the day or night, but each afternoon at five minutes until three, Hachi reappears to wait until closing. This continues for ten years.
Meanwhile, people begin to notice Hachi. They pet him, worry about him, feed him, offer to take him, write newspaper stories about him, come from far and near just to see him. He becomes a symbol of the devoted, loyal dog, man's best friend. Through it all, Hachi remains calm, but most importantly, patient. He waits for his master.
Today, Hachi's story is told in Japanese schools all across the country. Each year he is honored during a special ceremony at the Shibuya train station at the foot of Hachi's statue. During his lifetime he was proclaimed Chuken Hachiko (Chuken=faithful dog, -iko, a term of respect), for people loved, respected, and honored him for this total loyalty. Still, this is the dry version.
In a historical novel a writer is allowed a certain freedom or license to get into the story and bring the reader with her. Leslea Newman and artist Machiyo Kodaira take the reader right there on that train station, right there beside Hachido, feeling his extraordinary devotion and dedication. Right there with each person who attends Hachiko. We are right there as Yasuo grows into a man and watch him meet a young woman. Early in the story the train master tells Yasuo that his promise to care for Hachi will bring him an unexpected happy result. And so it does. This is a story not to miss.
Being inside the story with Hachiko and all the people whose lives he touches and influences is the wet version. For there is no way you can escape deep emotion reading this story. The tears will come, but they are cleansing tears. Hachiko will win your heart.
Loved it. March 25, 2008
Suzanne C. Simpson (woonsocket. r.i.)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
It was a truly sad story. I enjoyed the kindness and dedicated love of man,dog and family. It was an easy read even I as an adult truly enjoyed. It was beautiful, everyone should read it. I enjoyed it for another reason. They filmed some of this story for the movie in my hometown of Woonsocket,R.I. I was able to see some of the shoots and re-doing our original train station to resemble the one in the book. It was fantastic. Loved it!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 14
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