Uchikura & Co., LLC

About Loyalty

 

「犬は三日飼えば三年恩を忘れぬ」
(Inu wa mikka kaeba sannen on o wasurenu)

 

One of Japan's best-known proverbs says:

 

"If you keep a dog for three days, it will remember your kindness for three years."

 

The numbers are symbolic rather than literal. The message is simple: even a small act of kindness can leave a lifelong impression. If a dog remembers kindness, shouldn't people do the same?

 

Perhaps no story illustrates this better than Hachikō, Japan's most famous Akita dog. Every afternoon, Hachikō waited at Tokyo's Shibuya Station for his owner, Professor Hidesaburō Ueno, to return from work. When the professor suddenly died in 1925, Hachikō continued to wait at the station every day for nearly ten years until his own death. His unwavering devotion touched the nation, and today his bronze statue outside Shibuya Station stands as one of Japan's most cherished landmarks.

 

This proverb and Hachikō's story reflect values that have been admired in Japan for generations: gratitude, loyalty, and never forgetting those who have helped us. While the world has changed dramatically, these values remain timeless.

 

The lesson applies far beyond our personal lives. In business, success is rarely achieved alone. We all remember the mentor who gave us our first opportunity, the customer who trusted us before anyone else did, the colleague who stood beside us during difficult times, or the family members who supported us when success seemed uncertain.

 

In an age when relationships often feel temporary, this old Japanese proverb offers enduring wisdom: