A rare photo has been discovered of Hachiko, the famous Akita dog known for his loyalty, raising his paw for a human. The photo is believed to be the only existing material showing Hachiko offering his paw, as it was previously thought that he had not been taught any tricks. The enlarged version of the photo will be on display at the Shibuya Folk and Literary Shirane Memorial Museum until October 1st.
The photo was donated to the museum in February by Kenji Gomi, whose father Kasaburo Gomi can be seen feeding Hachiko in front of Shibuya Station. Keita Matsui, an official at the museum who is knowledgeable about Hachiko, estimates that the photo was taken between December 1933 and January 1934 based on Kasaburo’s work schedule.
Hidesaburo Ueno, Hachiko’s owner and a professor at the University of Tokyo, did not teach him any tricks because he believed it would give him a ”vulgar spirit.” This is why there have been no other documents or photos showing Hachiko offering his paw. However, Matsui speculates that after Ueno’s death, people at Shibuya Station may have interacted with Hachiko and taught him some tricks informally.
In addition to this newly discovered photo, several other photos of Hachiko have surfaced recently due to increased attention on him during events commemorating his 100th birth anniversary. Last year, two photos were donated specifically for an exhibition at the museum celebrating this milestone. Another photo was offered by a man whose father had posed with Hachiko in front of his statue during a trip to Tokyo.
The museum has confirmed around 80 photos of Hachiko so far but expects more to be found in the future. They encourage anyone who comes across even blurry photos of him to contact them as it demonstrates how beloved he has been over generations.
