She was impressed by the dog’s loyalty when she watched “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale,” a 2009 film starring Richard Gere, when she was 10. The ardent fan has studied about Hachiko and published a ...

Kuroi, 96, saw the famed Hachiko, aka Hachi, on his daily trek to wait for his deceased owner as he had done for many years. One evening in 1934, Kuroi was on her way home from elementary school.

Parker's Japanese college friend Ken inspires naming the pup Hachi(ko), and is pleasantly surprised when Parker successfully tackles the challenge to get it to fetch, which Akitas don't usually do.