Woman: He's Hachi.
Man: Ok.
Woman: Ahh...He's good dog.
Man: .....Ok.
Then they walked away to continue their magical date.
Hachiko is here because he used to meet his owner at the station everyday after work. Then, in 1925, the owner died and never came home. I guess no one explained this very well to Hachiko, because he waited for his owner everyday for nine years until his death. It seems crazy that dogs were allowed to run around Tokyo by themselves. Even today, Hachiko is celebrated for being so loyal. This statue was made, and his body was stuffed and put in The National Museum of Nature and Science. That's pretty weird.
Sounds like he is the Cal Ripken of Japanese dogs (perhaps all dogs). For example, at first he was showing up every day and serving a purpose (meeting his owner), just like at first Ripken served a purpose early in his career playing everyday. However, at the end Hachiko was just showing up for no real purpose and was doing it for the notoriety and treats thrown to him by commuters. Just as Ripken kept playing everyday long after his skill as a baseball player warranted playing every day every year. Like Hachiko Cal was doing this for the notoriety and the treats that he (and his bedroom eyes) would receive from fair ladies at every port of call. I mean treats of a sexual nature, like the old "Milwaukee Hidden Bratwurst". Lastly I feel confident that Mr. Ripken will be stuffed and displayed at our National Museum of Nature and Science. For these reason I believe Hachiko is the Cal Ripken of dogs. Just my two cents.
ReplyDeleteArgo fuck yourself gay bot!
Thank you so much, Mr. Ford. I had never made that association before for some reason. Seems so obvious now!
DeleteWho is Cal Ripken? Was that the villain in Milo and Otis?
ReplyDeleteYou might be right, but I'm pretty sure Mr. Ford was talking about Cal Ripken Jr.
DeleteIn Montana, we have a similar legend, and there is a statue of the dog, whose name I forget, in Fort Benton. His master was a train engineer, or something like that, and after the old boy died in an accident, the faithful hound would greet the train every day, supposedly looking for his beloved master. Cynical old-timers in Fort Benton said the railroad cooks perpetuated the myth by feeding the dog tasty table scraps every time the train pulled in. Strange how myths, and the debunking of myths, stay so common across different times and cultures.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting. I'd never heard that story. I looked it up. His name was Shep and he was eventually run over by a train. The statue they made of him depicts him with his front paws on the rail, I guess capturing his final moments. Again, kind of a strange choice.
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