2017.06.23

Where is HACHIKO? - Where is Hachiko statue?

Speaking of number one of the sightseeing spots that represent Shibuya, it is "Hachiko, the faithful dog" that everyone knows.
In the meantime, I guess I do not even have to talk. Nonetheless, foreign visitors to Japan who visited Shibuya for the first time and travelers who came from the district seem to be surprised to find "Hachiko statue" unexpectedly.

When asked the staff who tour guide in the city of Shibuya, the best 5 questions frequently asked by foreign travelers are as follows.

１位：「ハチ公像」
２位：「原宿までの行き方」
３位：「寿司屋」
４位：「東急ハンズ」
５位：「ドン・キホーテ」

By far the top says that "Where is Hachiko?" If you answered "Immediately there, you are behind", there are many tourists surprised that "Ah, I did not notice." It is certainly not surprising that some people misunderstood that Hachiko statue is as big as Singapore's Merlion as long as you see it in a photograph of a sightseeing guide book. It can be imagined that finding the small bee statue in the Hachiko square in front of people who are meeting again is not as easy as it seems.
If you think so, you may be able to say that you need a "big sign" to show the location of the "faithful dog Hachiko statue".

By the way, when I look over the whole city of Shibuya, I realize that there are quite a lot of statues made by imitating "Hachiko" in addition to the real "Hachiko Hagio" image. As a symbol of "Shibuya Lessiness", each shop independently produced and installed it. Let's see concretely next.

◎ "Tower Records - Hachiko statue" commemorating the 20th anniversary of Tawareko relocation
First of all, it is "Tower Records - Hachiko statue" that is settled at the shop front of Tower Records Shibuya store. Speaking of music and dogs, I think that there are many people who remember Victor dog "Nipper" which was once in the shop of Victor, but here in Tower Records of Shibuya is "Tower Records · Hachiko Statue". This bee statue appeared in 2015 two years ago from now. Originally Tawareko Shibuya store followed the Sapporo store, Shibuya · Udagawa Town opened as the second shop in 1981. After that, in 1995 it has moved as a large flagship store to the current Jinnam 1-chome. Just 20 years after the relocation 2015, various commemorative campaigns were carried out, "TAI RECO · Hachiko statue" appeared with "HA TA CHI (Hatachi = 20 years old)" fare.
By the way, it is said that "Hachiko statue" is skewed according to "Towareko typeface".

◎ In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of VANQUISH "daughter daddy public"
Shibuya 109 MEN 's shop in the third floor of the apparel brand "VANQUISH (Vanquish)" also has an image that deformed "Hades of the faithful dog". Opened the first vanquish shop in Shibuya in 2006. Celebrating the tenth anniversary in 2016, a new character "Tadayuki Pachi Dempa", a symbol of the flag ship store Shibuya store, was born. By the way, this work was handled by a young artist, Kikuchi Takaya.
Both size, pedestal, name plate, texture of texture and color taste are close to the real thing, but the appearance is the impression that the appearance of man (male) is oozing than the real thing.
Furthermore, in Vanquish, from the strength of "Hachiko Ai", products such as Sukajan, T-shirts, caps and the like which made "Hachiko" as a motif are also being developed. In addition, this year, "Shibuya Hachi Ice" opens at Shibuya 109 MEN 's 1 F entrance for the summer only. The theme of "Shibuya" such as "Fire street (Ichigo Milk)" "Bee on snow (Milk cookie)" "Miyashita Park construction under construction (Tiramisu)" "Today Shibuya 5 o'clock (milk tea) We offer shaved ice of seven original menus.

◎ bustle of the city, lucky winner of a million guests "beckoning bee"
Along the Cultural Village Street in May this year, "MEGA Don Quijote Shibuya Main Store", which is a flagship store of Don Quijote, opened and gathered a big topic. Actually this MEGA Donkey also has a new "Hachiko statue" appearing. That name is also "beckoning bee". The same image, which is said to have been invented by director Terry Ito, is characterized by the left foreleg is cited as "hand-inviting cat" though the left ear is broken like the real "father dog Hachiko statue". The height is 62 cm, unlike the real Hachiko statue, it is finished with color painting.
Photo = Toyoko Hachiko. Shot at the fashion show in April 2016, 2 nd birthday
If anything, I feel like "Toyoko Hachiko" rather than "faithful dog Hachiko ...". By the way, "beckoning bee" is not located on the cultural village side of the main entrance but on the back door of the center street side.

◎ Hachiko? Miyoshi Momijigoku Shrine's unusual "Japanese wolf's guardian dog"
Extra is a bonus. On the way to Miya Masuzaka, there is a "Miyazumi Mitake Shrine" with a long history. The stone guardian of the same shrine is a stone statue of a very rare Japanese wolf nationwide and it is 300 years ago or more. Since the breakage of the prototype is advanced, it is currently located in the company office, but in front of the shrine there is a bronze Japanese wolf picture stone guard dog which was reproduced based on the original shape.
Both ears are pinned, a sharper and handsome look than Hachiko.

I gathered statues imitating "Hachiko" around Shibuya station. No doubt it may be that some foreign tourists misunderstand such "Hachiko statue" as genuine. If you discover such a traveler in town, please give us the real thing by all means.