Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death and animal death.

Through the story of Hachiko’s enduring devotion to Professor Ueno, the novel not only celebrates loyalty but suggests that it has a ripple effect. Not only can mutual devotion bind two people (or one person and one dog) together, but even “unrequited” displays of loyalty can have a profound influence, inspiring similar actions in those who observe them and ensuring that loyalty never truly goes unrecognized. 

In the six months before Professor Ueno’s death, he and Hachiko are devoted to each other. The Professor takes excellent care of his dog, maintaining a strict schedule of feeding and training Hachiko while praising him every day. As a result, Hachiko is extremely loyal to his master. He walks to the train station to wait for the Professor every day without fail and refuses even to approach anyone else who calls him. After the Professor dies, Hachiko continues to wait at the station every day for the rest of his life, unflagging in his commitment to a master who (through no fault of his own) never returns.

Hachiko’s loyalty quickly generates admiration. Partly out of preexisting love for both Hachiko and the Professor, Yasuo begins to look after Hachiko when the Professor passes away, and he pledges to remain devoted to the dog for life.