Hachi: A Dog's Tale facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hachi A Dog's Tale
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Lasse Hallström
Produced by	Richard Gere Bill Johnson
Screenplay by	Stephen P. Lindsey
Starring	Richard Gere Joan Allen Erick Avari Jason Alexander
Music by	Jan A. P. Kaczmarek
Cinematography	Ron Fortunato
Editing by	Kristina Boden
Studio	Hachiko, LLC Grand Army Entertainment, LLC Opperman Viner Chrystyn Entertainment Scion Films Inferno Production
Distributed by	Stage 6 Films
Release date(s)	June 8, 2009 (2009-06-08) (Seattle)
Running time	93 minutes
Country	United States United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	$16 million
Money made	$46.7 million

Hachi: A Dog's Tale is a heartwarming movie from 2009. It's a drama film based on a true story about a loyal dog named Hachikō. This famous dog lived in Japan in the 1920s. The movie changes the setting to modern America. It was directed by Lasse Hallström. Famous actors like Richard Gere and Joan Allen star in the film.

The movie first showed at the Seattle International Film Festival on June 13, 2009. It was released in Japan on August 8, 2009. Later, it came out in the UK on March 12, 2010. The film was shown in over 60 countries. It earned more than $45 million from other countries. In the U.S., the movie was released on DVD on March 9, 2010. It also played on the Hallmark Channel on September 26, 2010.

Story of Hachi

The movie begins with a boy named Ronnie. He is giving a presentation at school. Ronnie tells his class about his hero: his grandfather and his dog, Hachiko.

Ronnie's grandfather, Parker Wilson, is a music professor. One day, he finds a lost puppy at a train station. Parker takes the puppy home for the night. The puppy was sent from a Japanese monastery. Its tag got torn during travel.

No one claims the puppy. Parker and the dog become very close. Parker's friend, Ken, is a Japanese professor. Ken tells Parker the dog is an Akita. He also says the symbol on its collar means "eight" in Japanese, or "hachi." Parker's wife, Cate, eventually grows to love Hachi. Hachi sleeps outside in his own special shed.

One spring morning, Hachi, now grown, digs under the fence. He follows Parker to the train station. Hachi refuses to go home. Parker misses his train. He leaves Hachi with Cate and takes the next train. That afternoon, Hachi hears the train horn. He jumps the fence again. Parker is surprised to see Hachi waiting for him. He learns Hachi wasn't waiting all day. The dog somehow knew when Parker would arrive.

This starts a daily routine. They walk to the station together. Hachi goes home. Then, he returns when Parker's train is due, around 5 p.m. Parker tries to teach Hachi to fetch, but Hachi doesn't. Ken explains that Akitas are special. If Hachi fetches, it will be for a very important reason.

Later, Parker's daughter, Andy, marries Michael. Hachi is in their family wedding photo. Andy then announces she is going to have a baby.

One winter morning, Hachi acts strangely. He follows Parker to the station with a ball. To Parker's surprise, Hachi fetches the ball for the first time! They play for a bit. Parker puts the ball in his pocket. Hachi barks and barks as the train leaves. Parker is holding the ball when he has a sudden stroke in his classroom. He passes away. Hachi waits at the station. At 9:30 p.m., Michael comes to get him. Hachi watches the family from his shed. While Parker's family and friends are at his funeral, Hachi goes to the station to wait.

Cate sells the house and moves away. Hachi goes to live with Andy, Michael, and their baby, Ronnie. One day, Hachi escapes. He follows the train tracks back to Bedridge. Andy and Michael find him and bring him home. But Andy realizes Hachi misses Parker. She opens the gate for him. Hachi licks her hand and runs off.

Every day at 5 p.m., Hachi waits for his best friend. The hot dog seller, Jasjeet, and others feed him. A reporter writes a story about Hachi. People send cards and money to the station. Ken reads the story and visits. He sees how much the community loves Hachi. Ken speaks to Hachi in Japanese, sharing his own sadness.

Ten years after Parker's death, Cate returns to visit his grave. Ken is there too. She is touched to see an elderly Hachi still waiting at the station. At Christmas, Cate tells ten-year-old Ronnie about Hachi and Parker. The old dog slowly settles into his spot. We see flashbacks of Parker and Hachi together. Then, a passenger pauses in the train door. It is Parker, who calls "Hachi!" The old dog raises his head. We see him run to Parker's hug. A bright light fills the screen. Hachi lies still, his long wait finally over. The camera moves up to the night sky. Ronnie tells his class that Hachi and his grandfather taught him about loyalty. They showed him to never forget someone you love.

The class applauds Ronnie. At the school bus, Ronnie meets his dad. His dad has a tiny new puppy. They have also named this puppy Hachi. The movie ends with Ronnie and the new puppy walking on the same tracks Hachi walked years ago.

Main Characters

• Layla, Chico and Forrest – These three dogs played Hachi.
• Richard Gere – Plays Professor Parker Wilson. He is Cate's husband, Andy's father, and Ronnie's grandfather.
• Joan Allen – Plays Cate Wilson. She is Parker's wife, Andy's mother, and Ronnie's grandmother.
• Erick Avari – Plays Jasjeet, the friendly hot dog seller.
• Jason Alexander – Plays Carl Boilins, the train station master.
• Sarah Roemer – Plays Andy Wilson. She is Parker and Cate's daughter, Michael's wife, and Ronnie's mother.
• Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa – Plays Ken Fujiyoshi. He is a Japanese professor and Parker's good friend.
• Robbie Collier Sublett – Plays Michael. He is Parker and Cate's son-in-law, Andy's husband, and Ronnie's father.
• Davenia McFadden – Plays Mary-Ann, the bookstore owner.
• Kevin DeCoste – Plays Ronnie. He is Michael and Andy's son, and Parker and Cate's grandson.
• Tora Hallström – Plays Heather, one of Ronnie's classmates.

Movie Facts

On May 19, 2012, a bronze statue of Hachiko was placed at the train station in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. This is where parts of Hachi were filmed. The train station at One Depot Square is now called Hachiko Place. The statue was dedicated during a Cherry Blossom Festival. Important people, including the Mayor of Woonsocket and the Consul General of Japan, attended. Two cherry blossom trees were planted by the statue. A dog named Hachi, who was an Akita-mix, was also there. He was a "real-life stand-in for Hachiko" at the ceremony.

Film Music

The music for Hachi was created by Jan A. P. Kaczmarek. This music is called the film score. It helps tell the story and makes you feel different emotions.

Music Tracks

1. "Japan" (03:26)
2. "New Home" (01:47)
3. "The Foot" (02:40)
4. "Dance Rehearsal" (02:15)
5. "Storm and the Rescue" (01:36)
6. "The Second Dance" (00:51)
7. "Under the Fence" (01:51)
8. "Treats from Cate" (01:52)
9. "Parker's Dance Played on Piano" (03:42)
10. "Parker and Hachi Walk to the Station" (02:04)
11. "Baby" (01:23)
12. "Marriage Bath" (03:27)
13. "Fetch" (02:12)
14. "To Train Together" (03:25)
15. "Packing Boxes" (02:15)
16. "Parker and Hachi" (03:28)
17. "Hachiko Runs Away" (04:27)
18. "Memory of the Storm" (01:36)
19. "Hachi Waiting for Parker Again" (02:51)
20. "Hachi's Last Trip to the Station" (02:06)
21. "Goodbye" (02:10)
22. "Hachi, Parker, Cate and Memories" (03:58)
23. "Hachi's Voice (Version 1)" (Bonus track) (00:14)
24. "Hachi's Voice (Version 2)" (Bonus track) (00:10)
25. "Hachi's Voice (Version 3)" (Bonus track) (00:11)
26. "Hachi's Voice (Version 4)" (Bonus track) (00:09)

See also

In Spanish: Siempre a tu lado, Hachiko para niños