I often tell people one way of gaining a greater understanding of a culture’s beliefs and values is by exploring its children’s stories. The stories each culture tells its children helps shape those children into the kind of adult that is valued and respected in that particular culture.

The story of Hachiko is 100 years old. It’s about a real dog in Japan who demonstrated devotion and loyalty to his owner, even after his owner had died. You can read his story here and learn a little about Japanese culture and values in the process.

If you would like to spend some time exploring children’s stories from other cultures this is a great place to do it!