Hachi, the Faithful - the Legendary Akita Inu in Limelight

I wonder how many of you folks recall a legendary Akita dog "Hachi, the Faithful"? How about an American movie "Hachi: A Dog's Tale" (2009)? Well, here's a little episode of one loveable dog that once made history by winning the title "Hachi, the Faithful".

On May 3, in Odate City, Akita, a bi-annual Akita Inu (dog) Contest was held under the auspices of the Akita Inu Preservation Society with 180 Akita dogs from all over the country competing for poise and appearance. Odate is the home town of that legendary Akita dog "Hachi".

Hachi was born on a farm near Odate in 1923 and is remembered in Japan for his devotion to his master and won himself the title "Hachi, the Faithful". His story has been told in many versions and films made to remember him by - even an American film, titled "Hachi: A Dog's Tale" in 2009.

Let me elaborate on this American film, really a British-American drama film. It was directed by Lasse Hallström, written jointly by Stephen P. Lindsey and Kaneto Shindo, starring Richard Gere, Joan Allenand Sarah Roemer. It was a remake of the Japanese movie "Hachiko Monogatari (The Tale of Hachiko)".

The film was premiered in Seattle in 2009 at an international film festival on June 13, released in Japan on August 8 the same year, in Britain in March the following year 2010. It has been shown worldwide in 25 countries throughout 2009 and 2910 with a total foreign box office of $46.7 million.

Now, back to the contest in Odate, a number of foreign tourists visited to see firsthand a grand contest of now internationally popular Akita Inu.

A 79 male from Nagano was looking forward to participating in the contest. "Aikita inu stands out in faithfulness and charming physique, I tell you...", he said.

Good show, Akita inu. (Nathan Shiga)