Hachiko statue is a famous landmark in front of Shibuya station, located in a subcenter of Tokyo. Any Tokyoite knows the history of Hachiko. It was a male dog born in Odate City, Akita Prefecture in 1923. Hachiko was then adopted by Ueno Hidesaburo, who was a university professor in Tokyo. Ueno and Hachiko had a close bond with each other. Every morning, they walked together to Shibuya station, where Ueno got on a train to work. Hachiko then spent the day waiting for Ueno to come back. This routine continued until Ueno suffered a brain hemorrhage and abruptly died in 1925. Even after Ueno died, Hachiko continued waiting for him every day at the station exit for a decade. Hachiko died in 1935. Local people were moved by the faithful dog, and erected the statue of Hachiko. Today, Hachiko statue is a famous meeting spot among Tokyoites.
Well, I can't be written off here as this is a railway blog. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Hachiko, a special plate is being displayed on the front of train set 5158 of the EMU 5050 series on the Tokyu-Toyoko line. As you know, the Toyoko line is one of the main transportation arteries connecting Shibuya and Yokohama. The trains on the Toyoko line are directly operated onto the Tokyo Metro-Fukutoshin line via Shibuya Station, and the Yokohama Minatomirai Railway via Yokohama Station. Displaying the memorial plate of Hachiko will be a good memento for Tokyoites.
