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Pam Turner
Pam Turner has brought one of the more famous stories from contemporary Japan to American readers. Even before she established herself in her profession, Pam had an urge to write and travel. She was one of those kids who had not really been anywhere while growing up, but she ended up in some of the more remote places of the world--Egypt, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa and Micronesia. While an undergraduate at the University of California, she studied for a year at the University of Nairobi in Kenya. She spent her summers backpacking and living on $5 a day. She met her husband while traveling in college and married him seven years later. Her expertise in international health law took her to many places in the world, and she loves to let people know that each of her three children was born in a different country. Finally, a day came when the World Health Organization asked her if she could pick up and go the Sudan. With two young children that was just too difficult, so she took a position with Laguna Research Associates in San Francisco for a couple of years. When she arrived in Japan, her two older children attended a Japanese preschool so they could develop a more intimate relationship with the culture. She lived in an area close to Shibuya Station in Tokyo, a place where hundreds of thousands of people pass by each day. When people wanted to meet, they would always refer to the statue of the dog as a meeting point. Pam was intrigued and learned the story which she turned into her first children's book-Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog . In many ways it is the quintessential Japanese story-love, loyalty and remembering and honoring someone who has died. It is the story of a young dog who went to the station each day to meet his master. After the master died, the dog continued to come to the station for many years to await the evening arrival of his master. Hachiko was taken care of by the gardener at the old master's house, and the people who saw the dog patiently waiting chipped in and provided funds for his care. After seven years, the story was written up in the newspaper. That drew visitors from all over Japan, because for the Japanese the story strikes a real cord and reaches deep into the roots of the culture. Although Pam had heard the story in the 1990s and she likes dogs, she really didn't think about writing a children's book at that time. She was busy raising three kids, and with her husband working as an attorney, she really did not have to work outside the home. However, once the kids were pretty much on their own, she felt strongly that it was time to write and while in England she was scratching around for a story. All her life she had loved animals, reading and drawing. Although as she told me, her art is not good enough for her to become a processional illustrator, it does give her great personal pleasure. She checked to see if the story of Hachiko had been told and found that other than in Japan, it was not widely known. It did show up occasionally in books about the breed (Akita). Pam deliberately avoided reading the Japanese stories because she did not want her work to be influenced by someone else's retelling. She also did some careful research as to potential publishers and submitted her story to those that she though would be appropriate. Her story is framed around a young boy who is now older and looking back in time. She based the boy, Kentaro, on her son's best friend. It was a bit scary since she had no prior experience and no professional opinion or critique group to work with. She did send the manuscript to a professional for review who made comments that it was too much a nonfiction story and that she should consider submission to a magazine. It was a bit disheartening. But within a week, Pam got an e-mail from Houghton saying that they wanted to buy her story. The real icing on this cake was the selection of Yan Nascimbene as the illustrator. He was able to capture the period and really did a wonderful job with an emotional story. He never let it descend into schmaltz. They met at a conference where he was describing how he shows the progression of time in the illustrations-it is subtle and shows a truly creative touch. He handles the emotional scenes so well, such as the time that the son meets his Dad and you can't see his Dad's head, but the puddle reflects the father's face and his emotions. What now, after the publication of her first book, which has been well received? Pam told me that she is working on a nonfiction book-scientists (epidemiologists) in the field, which is aimed at kids ages 9 to 12. Pam has a thing for primates and went to Ziare in 1978 to see gorillas and chimps. She has been fascinated by the Mountain Gorilla Project created by Diane Fosse before her premature death. In addition, she has met Dorris Keisling and followed the work that she has been doing in Uganda and Zaire. Many of us may not be aware that gorillas are affected by human diseases, such as measles, respiratory diseases, and scabies. Next spring she anticipates having a new book in print entitled Gorilla Doctors: Saving Endangered Great Apes. At the moment, she is working on picture book manuscripts and developing nonfiction ideas. She now has an agent. Her time is also spent marketing the book and visiting schools. She feels that Hachiko will be a big hit with Japanese Americans. Pam is also undertaking some nonfiction writing for Highlights and she also does adult work. She loves nonfiction because it gives her a chance to hang out with "real scientists--up close" and to share in some of their experiences. Contributor: Marilyn Courtot
Reviews Hachiko ISBN: 0-618-14094-8
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In Tokyo's Shibuya Station, a large bronze statue of a dog watches the crowds waiting
for the train. In this work of historical fiction, Pamela Turner explains the story
behind the statue. Kentaro and his family have just moved to Tokyo. One day, he asks
his mother if they can go to the train station to meet his father when he gets back
from work. When they get there, they are not the only ones waiting for someone to get
off the train. Hachiko the dog waits for his owner, Dr. Ueno, to return from work.
Kentaro and Hachiko wait every day at the train station for Kentaro's father and Dr. Ueno.
One day, Kentaro's father returns alone with some very sad news: Dr. Ueno died at work
that morning. Hachiko refuses to give up: he waits at the train station every afternoon
for almost ten years. When Hachiko finally dies at the train station, the spot where he
waited so faithfully is soon covered in flowers. Later, a statue of Hachiko was erected.
This touching story is accented by Nacimbene's beautiful watercolor illustrations.
The true story of Hachiko and the statue is also included at the end of the book. Dog
lovers of all ages will really enjoy this wonderful story inspired by true events.
2004, Houghton Mifflin, $15.00. Ages 4 up. Reviewer: Amie Rose Rotruck (Children's Literature)
