I just finished watching the movie Hachiko.  It's definitely a tearjerker, especially for pet lovers. 

Here's the synopsis for those of you who haven't seen it or don't already know the story:

"This heartwarming true story is an American adaptation of a Japanese tale about a loyal dog named Hachiko. This very special friend would accompany his master to the train station every day and return each afternoon to greet him after work. Sadly his master departs one day, passes away and never returns to the station. Hachiko faithfully returns to the same spot at the station the very next day, and every day for the next nine years to wait for his beloved master. During his daily visits, Hachiko touches the lives of many who work near and commute through the town square. He teaches the local people love, compassion and above all unyielding loyalty. Today, a bronze statue of Hachiko sits in his waiting spot outside the Shibuya station in Japan as a permanent reminder of his devotion and love."

OK.....I'm going to go hug my dogs now! 

Hachiko is also stuffed and on display at the National Science Museum.

I have this movie in my Netflix queue, but I have mixed feelings about it. It's an extremely touching story (reading the Wiki article on it a few months ago left me in tears), I don't know why the movie couldn't have been set in Japan. And made without Richard Gere.

It's funny that in Scotland, they have an almost identical tale, but it's called Grey Friar's Bobby. I've seen the statue of that dog as well, and they made a movie about it years ago.

http://www.greyfriarsbobby.co.uk/home.html

Ya.....I too thought it was a little strange that the movie didn't take place in Japan.  It was very touching.  I already knew what the movie was about before watching it and thought it was a good movie and all, but it still left me a kinda depressed after watching it.  

The movie "Hachiko: A Dog's Story" was basically a remake of a 1987 Japanese movie Hachiko-monogatari (Hachiko Story).

Original Japanese version DVD:
http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%83%8F%E...970&sr=8-1

Hollywood's marketing changes the place of the story. They know that most U.S. people don't like to see movies setting in Japan unless the place (Japan) is treated as some "strange place", but the most important subject of the movie isn't "Japan" but the dog's story, so that, I think, Hollywood version was set in U.S. This change prevent watchers from paying too much attention of the place or some strange occurrences (such as peak hour super packed trains) and let wathers concentrate the story. This must be a required change.