Hachiko at Depot Square - Woonsocket, Rhode Island - Animal Memorials on Waymarking.com

A life-size bronze replica of the original Hachiko statue was unveiled on May 19, 2012, at Depot Square train station in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. The original statue of Hachiko was erected in front of Shibuya Station (Shibuya City, Tokyo, Japan) in 1934. Both commemorate the story of the Akita dog named Hachiko who lived in Japan in the 1920s and loyally waited at the platform for his owner, Hidesaburo Ueno, who commuted by train daily. This version was placed here as it was a main filming location for the movie Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009) staring Richard Gere.

The statue sits atop a rock platform about two feet tall on a hexagonal island south of the station's primary street entrance. A cherry tree, planted at the time of its installation, and an information plaque are set behind the statue. The plaque reads:

The story of Hachiko, was made famous in Japan due to one dog's loyalty to his master. Hachiko became well known in the United States with a movie filmed in the Blackstone River Valley, Rhode Island produced by actor Richard Gere.

This monument was gifted to the citizens of Woonsocket by the students of the Beacon Charter High School for Arts due to the loyalty displayed by the city to their school.

Dedicated this day by the Honorable Mayor Leo Fontaine of the City of Woonsocket: the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission; the Rhode Island Department of Transportation; the Beacon Charter High School for the Arts; the Counsul General of Japan in Boston Takeshi Hikihara; Koichi Hoshino, President of Hachiko Maintenance Committee representing the Mayor of Shibuya Japan; the Rhode Island Film Commission and the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council.

Dedicated May 19, 3pm, 2012
One Depot Square
Woonsocket, Rhode Island USA

[Photo, captioned: Hachiko Monument, Shibuya, Japan]