Page 6 - İngilizce 12 | 2. ünite

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THEME FRIENDSHIP

5 A. What animals or pets are known for loyalty?

B. Have you heard or read about a story based on loyalty?

C. Read the text and find out some examples of loyalty.

A Life of Dedication
1 Dogs have always been loyal to their owners but in the case of Hachiko and Professor Ueno, it was much more.
The true story was so impressive that it spread across Japan and then the world and was made into a Hollywood
movie.

2 Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor of agricultural science at Tokyo Imperial University, was known for his dedication
to his job. He was also fond of dogs of Akita breed. He adopted a puppy of that breed and called him Hachiko.
The dog grew up together with the professor’s daughter, who was also fond of dogs and was able to get on
very well with her father. She was unmarried and loved her
fiancé very much. She married and went to live with her
husband. The professor had grown very fond of the dog
and kept Hachiko instead of giving him away.

3 Ueno led an orderly life. He traditionally focused on his
home and work. He went to work by train every day and
Hachiko became his faithful companion. Every morning,
he accompanied Ueno to Shibuya train station and in the
afternoon, he met him when he returned from work by the
4 o’clock train. Soon, the professor, who was well-known
in the neighborhood, walking to and from the station with
Hachiko became a common sight of everyday life. This
went on until, one day, the professor died when he was
lecturing and couldn’t get back, in May 1925.

4 The professor had a gardener. He was very respectful to
the professor and showed his fidelity to him throughout
his life. He was nice at garden work. He inherited the
house in the Kobayashi district and started to take care of
Hachiko. Although he treated Hachiko well, the dog was
not happy without his professor. For the next ten years,
Hachiko would go to Shibuya station every day to meet
the 4 o’clock train, hoping to see his beloved owner again.
Those around the train station knew and fed the dog. The
story got around and a statue of Hachiko was erected at
the station. One day, in 1935, Hachiko’s dead body was
found next to the statue. He had died while waiting for the professor to arrive. The world would know him as
Hachiko, the faithful dog.
5 The Hollywood movie which was inspired by the story appealed to millions all around the world. Richard Gere

cast the professor. For some, Gere was a good choice because of his resemblance to the Japanese. He
resembles a Japanese man because he has eyes angled downward. He also has the charisma of a professor.
His glasses give him an intellectual look as well. He has millions of fans worldwide. On the other hand, there
were those who were critical of Gere’s acting in the movie. According to them, Gere’s appearance was much
different than that of Ueno's.

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