Hachiko

Hachiko (1987) is a Japanese historical drama directed by Seijiro Kamiyama — watch it online on iFILM. Tatsuya Nakadai leads the cast in this first film ever made about Japan's most faithful dog.

Professor Ueno received Hachi as a gift and named him for being his eighth pet. The Akita fell into a daily routine: walk the professor to Shibuya station each morning, return at three in the afternoon to meet the train. On May 21, 1925, Ueno suffered a fatal heart attack at work. Hachi was at the platform the next day anyway — and kept coming for nine more years, until he died there in 1935.

This 1987 production predates the Hollywood remake with Richard Gere by more than two decades and was made when eyewitnesses were still alive. No manufactured sentiment, no score trying to manipulate you — just the quiet weight of something that actually happened. Stream Hachiko (1987) online on iFILM.