Shibuya Station gets a new giant "pet"

A giant Akita dog that recently appeared in Tokyo has been attracting attention online.

We're not talking about a real dog, though. This is a giant 3D digital pup appearing on the eight digital billboards operated by Hit Inc. in the bustling Shibuya Station area.

The eight billboard screens include the "Synchro 7 Shibuya Hit Vision" installed in three buildings on the Miyamasuzaka Exit side of Shibuya Station and the "Shibuhachi Hit Vision" facing the world-famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing.

As soon as videos were posted on Twitter, many of them went viral. For example, this Tweet has over 147,000 likes at the time of writing:

You can get a clearer, closer look at the main screen in this video:

Why an Akita dog?

Shibuya is famous for the statue of the Akita dog, Hachikō, just outside Shibuya Station, a popular meeting spot. The dog, remembered for his remarkable loyalty to his owner, for whom he continued to wait for over nine years following his death, has inspired many dramatizations in Japanese TV and film, as well as the 2009 Hollywood film Hachi: A Dog's Tale, starring Richard Gere.

Although Hit Inc. has not stated any clear connection with Hachikō in their press release, it is perhaps only fitting that the new 3D digital mascot to appear in Shibuya should also be an Akita dog.

Shinjuku has its Calico cat, Shibuya has its Akita dog

As we reported last year, Shinjuku Station was temporarily in the international spotlight when a giant Calico cat appeared on a new 3D digital billboard in early July 2021. It has now become a new landmark for the area.

Only time will tell, but just based on the popularity of his videos on social media, chances are that this new giant digital furbaby, with his cute frisbee-catching antics and dynamic performance across eight screens, is poised to become a new Tokyo landmark to rival the Shinjuku cat.

The next time you're in the area around Shibuya Station, cast your eyes up at the beginning of each hour and you'll see him!