Telling a Dog's Story
Inspired by the true story of Hachiko, a Japanese icon known for his loyalty, this Sansei is helming a feature film about the canine starring Richard Gere.
During her first visit to Japan in the mid 1980s, Vicki Shigekuni Wong found inspiration in a bronze statue. Above the hustle and bustle of Tokyo's Shibuya Train Station, the likeness of an Akita memorialized Japan's most beloved canine named Hachiko.
"I really have an affinity towards dogs, so the moment I spotted Hachiko's bronze statue I was absolutely smitten," wrote Wong in an e-mail from her South Pacific vacation home.
Wong wasn't alone - many fell in love with the real-life Hachiko, the devoted dog that became a fixture at Shibuya Station where he waited for almost a decade starting in the mid-1920s for his master's return.
Man's best friend and its two-legged companion have always shared a special friendship and Hollywood has paid homage to the relationship by immortalizing dog stars like Benji and Lassie. But Hachiko's story stuck to Wong like peanut butter to the roof of her mouth.
"Something about this dog's simple act of unwavering loyalty of waiting is so profoundly moving," said Wong, who is introducing an American audience to the Japanese icon.
In an industry that tends to stamp out ethnicity onscreen and behind the scenes, Wong is co-producing a $15 million feature film called "Hachiko: A Dog's Story" starring Richard Gere and possibly Ken Watanabe. Filming is slated to begin this fall in Connecticut.
"People seem to identify with Hachiko. He symbolizes so many different things to different people. Hachiko represents innocence, fear, hope, joy, loss and loneliness," she said.
'Little Buddha'
On Christmas of 1987, Wong's husband at the time brought home a Japanese Shiba puppy wrapped in a big red bow that they naturally named Hachiko (Hachi for short). The fluffy pup instantly became a serene influence on her life.
"Hachiko's calm manner inspired me to call him 'Little Buddha' and I often mused on what a spiritual lift I received from just being in his presence. We had a deep bond and I took him everywhere. When Hachiko was a puppy, he was so cute that a little boy pointed to Hachiko and asked, 'where are his batteries?' He looked like a plush stuffed toy!
"My parents, Ruth and Tom Shigekuni of Malaga Cove, would take care of Hachiko whenever I traveled. My mother called him her 'grand dog' and my father would be the official dog walker when and if he could convince Hachiko to go outside. They would have these hilarious standoffs at the front door with neither side giving ground," said Wong.
When Hachi passed away at 16, she struggled with a deep sense of loss.
"During this time, I just wanted to keep Hachi's memory alive and this is when I first wanted to make this film."
"Hachiko: A Dog's Story," will be an American adaptation of the famous Japanese true story set in present-day Connecticut. In the film, Hachiko arrives from Japan and is discovered by Parker (Gere, who is also co-producing the film), a university professor.
Like the true story, Hachiko accompanies his master to the train station every day and returns each afternoon to greet him after work. But when Parker passes away, Hachiko faithfully returns to the same spot at the station every day for the next nine years to wait for his beloved master.
"I've seen grown men who don't even like dogs ... shed tears while reading the screenplay. This is the basis for a great film," said Wong.
Learning on the Job
Wong, a Sansei who grew up in Torrance, Calif. didn't have any formal education in the entertainment industry.
She was working as the president of her condo association across the street from the Viacom offices of Paul Mason, senior vice president of production. Mason was looking for an assistant, so he asked Wong to fill in until he found a replacement. A year later, she was jack-of-all-trades doing everything from visiting editing rooms to reading scripts and basically learning all about "the biz."
"It was like enrolling in 'Entertainment 101' and learning about film production, budgets, sound, editing and the legal aspects of the business in a real-life setting."
Wong began pushing the Hachiko film at the same time she had bought a vacation home on the island of Vanuatu.
"My fantasy was to spend six months a year reading, swimming and relaxing amidst my tropical gardens in this dream house overlooking the turquoise sea. The script was completed just days before leaving and I really forgot about it during all the excitement of the move. Within a month of arriving in Vanuatu, I got word that a company wanted to back my little dog film. My ambitious idea of rest and relaxation was not to be!" she said.
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