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By Konayuki PrologueThere is a statue of a dog at Shibuya Train Station in Tokyo, Japan. One day, a little boy and his mother stopped by. "Look at that statue!" said the boy. "This is Chuken Hachikou (Faithful dog Hachikou). Hachikou’s master loved him very much, and Hachikou did not forget his master until his own last day. This is where Hachikou waited for his master for nine years," explained the boy’s mother. A Puppy Was BornThe snow had stopped. The moonlight glistened on frosted trees. The dark blue of the winter sky was tinted with snow. In the winter of 1923, four Akita1 puppies were born in a town in the northern part of Japan. While the puppies were sleeping beside their mother, she licked her babies. "Sleep well my children," she said as she gazed on them with love. "Mommy, I love you. I will stay with you forever..." one of the puppies said. Mother smiled, but she knew he would be adopted someday. "You will have a master. He will love you and care for you," answered his mother gently. The Puppy Went to TokyoDr. Eizaburo Ueno, a professor at Tokyo University, wanted an Akita. A puppy was sent to him for adoption. The puppy was carried to the train going to Tokyo in the spring of 1924. The puppy was sad, for he missed his mother and siblings. He rode the train for a long time. Tired and hungry, he cried, "Mommy..." The Puppy was delivered to Dr. Ueno, who lived in a big house with a huge yard. "Such a handsome dog. You must be hungry." Dr. Ueno hugged the puppy, and his wife brought milk. The puppy drank the milk. "Yummy!" "He must be hungry. He drank it all. Now, we should name him," Dr. Ueno said. "How about Hachikou?" "That is a good name. Hachikou. You are Hachikou," his wife smiled. Master kissed Hachikou's nose. Hachikou Took a Bath"I will give you a bath today," Hachikou’s master said as he held and took him to the FURO, the bathtub. The master took off his clothes and went to the bath with Hachikou. He poured the warm water onto Hachikou's body. "Now, I will wash your body." Master said as he put soap on Hachikou and scrubbed Hachikou's body. Then the master rinsed Hachikou's body and they both soaked in the FURO. "How do you like it, Hachikou?" Hachikou felt so good in the warm water, and he was so happy to take a bath with his master. "Woof," Hachikou barked, thanking his master. After the bath, Hachikou was hungry. He ate MISO2 soup with rice, fish, DAIKON3 , WAKAME4 , and carrots. "Yummy..." Hachikou wagged his tail. Hachikou Loved to be SickMaster had no child, and he loved Hachikou very much. So Hachikou was like his only child. At the time that Hachikou was growing up, most Japanese dogs stayed in outside doghouses. However, Hachikou was often allowed to stay in the house. Sometimes he had an accident in the house, and Master's wife was unhappy about it. One evening, when master came home from work, his wife said "Hachikou has not eaten anything since this morning." "He must be sick. I will give him some medication." Master took a little bottle and poured the medicine into Hachikou's mouth. "You will be well soon. You can sleep with me tonight." That night, Hachikou slept with his master in the FUTON. The FUTON was soft and felt good. “Maybe I should get sick often so I can sleep with my master,” Hachikou thought. Hachikou slept with his master for three days until he got better. Hachikou Loved YakitoriHachikou sat under a cherry tree. The sun was warm and the cherry blossoms were dancing with the wind. "Hachikou, we are having a party today. It is called HANAMI5 . Everyone will come to see our cherry blossoms," master said. His wife was busy cooking. There was a lot of food on the table. "Hachikou, this is YAKITORI6 . His master gave him YAKITORI. "Yummy!" Hachikou loved the BBQ. "I wish we had a party every day. Woof, woof..." Two children, Ken and his little sister Hana, from the house next door, came to the party. Hachikou played with Ken. Every time Ken threw a ball, Hachikou caught it. Hachikou also watched Ken's little sister, Hana. She loved to crawl everywhere, so Hachikou watched out for her. 1 Akita is a working dog, which can grow up to 120 pounds. 2 A thick fermented paste made of cooked soybeans, salt, and often rice or barley. 3 Radish 4 Seaweed 5 Cherry Blossom Viewing 6 BBQ back to Parents and Children Together Online Issue 9
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