You’ve Heard of Hachiko. Now Meet Shiro.
2026-10-07
You’ve Heard of...

You’ve Heard of Hachiko. Now Meet Shiro.
 
You may have heard of Hachiko, the loyal dog who waited faithfully for his owner. Now meet Shiro, a dog remembered for making a pilgrimage to Ise Jingu.
 
Long ago, Shiro’s owner wanted to visit Ise, but he was too sick to travel. So he asked Shiro to go in his place. He wrote a note, or fuda, explaining Shiro’s journey, put it around his neck, placed some money in a pouch, and sent him on his way.
 
As Shiro traveled, people helped him. They believed that caring for a dog making a pilgrimage to Ise would bring good fortune. They fed him, added money to his pouch, and showed him the way.
 
Shiro eventually reached Ise Jingu, where a kannushi, a Shinto priest, welcomed him. Then Shiro began the long journey home, carrying the kindness and good wishes of the people he had met.
 
Stories of dogs making pilgrimages to Ise are known as Oise-mairi dogs. Hachiko is remembered for his loyalty to one person. Shiro’s story reminds us of something more: how an entire community can come together to help a traveler reach his destination.
 
 
Disclaimer: I use AI as a tool to help create images and proofread my writing. However, the ideas, opinions, experiences, and messages in my posts are my own. AI does not generate my posts for me. It simply helps me present my own words and ideas more clearly.






Kenichi Uchikura
Founder & CEO

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc. (PSPINC)
Uchikura & Co., LLC.

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ABOUT THIS BLOG

I was born and raised in Japan and have spent most of my adult life in the United States. Through this blog, I share Japanese culture, language, expressions, and wisdom. My goal is not to say one culture is better, but to explore different perspectives and what we can learn from them.

Your comments are always welcome.

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