A moving story of "love, hope and courage"

Even international tourists, not just expats, know the story of Hachikō; the loyal Akita breed of dog who waited for his owner at Shibuya Station every day, even after his owner had died. But did you know that Japan has several different heartwarming dog stories? And one of them is remembered annually on January 14th.

That is the story of Taro and Jiro. It is such an incredible and moving story that they made January 14th Taro and Jiro Day タロとジロの日. It is also known as Love, Hope and Courage day 愛と希望と勇気の日. The day marks the 1959 discovery that two sled dogs, Taro and Jiro, had survived a full year alone, at the Showa station in Antarctica, after an expedition team was forced to leave them behind due to extreme weather. When the next research group returned to Showa Station, they found the pair alive and still working together; a moment that moved the entire country.

For many people in Japan, the story represents resilience and loyalty. It inspired books, documentaries, and the well‑known film Antarctica. Jiro continued to support the research team until his death in 1960, while Taro returned to Japan and lived out his life at Hokkaido University. Monuments dedicated to the dogs can be found in several cities, including Nagoya Port, where Antarctic research materials are also displayed.

The feature photo of this post is just a visual of "love" and not related to this story.