[null and void]

The story of Hachikō, the Akita Inu Dog is a modern tale, asking someone to meet you at his statue in Shibuya Station implies an intimate and loyal relationship with that person.

Dad was stationed in Japan several times, in the 50s and early 60s told me several of them, but I don't know the names.

Usual themes were something along the lines of a person entertained a Kami (a spirit, or perhaps what we might call an angel) unawares, generously sharing a humble table, and asked for nothing or a very modest token consideration and was richly rewarded, a conniving neighbor arranged to lavishly entertain the Kami, demand a large payment and was rewarded with a box of torment.

[Jamestown1630]

I DO remember that one! Very lovely; and I think we have in the West similar stories, of dogs attending the graves of their people.

Thank you for bringing it back to mind.