About

 Helen Keller and Hachiko Exhibition

Consulate General of Japan in New York Gallery

I was given a 1948 Japanese magazine which has a truly moving picture of “Helen Keller touching the statue of Hachiko” from an American Hachiko fan last summer. The beautiful picture was taken on the occasion of the unveiling ceremony of the second statue of Hachiko in front of Shibuya station (the first statue was taken down during the war). Helen Keller loved the famous loyal dog Hachiko. When she visited Japan in 1937 she asked for an Akita dog and was given an Akita puppy. This was the first Akita dog introduced to the world outside Japan. She was given another Akita in 1939. In the exhibition I will introduce much less-known relations between Helen Keller and Hachiko through rare pictures and letters I collected in Japan and America. Other pictures taken by my grandfather and things my mother cherished when she was a little girl will be on display. These photos and items will take you back to the nostalgic 1930s Tokyo, when Hachiko was waiting for professor Ueno at Shibuya station every day.

Hachiko played a key role for the US-Japan friendship and is continuing to do so today. Two newly built statues of Hachiko in America will be introduced

Exhibition: Tuesday, January 9 to Thursday, January 25, 2018,   9:30AM to 4:00 PM (closed on weekends)  Please bring photo IDs.