Chiko the one-year-old beagle saves Buddhist priest from bear mauling
Chiko shows it's good to be noisy.
Unfortunately, reports of human-bear encounters have been steadily on the rise as rural populations continue to decline and bears venture out further in search of food. Though sometimes such encounters are humorous and thankfully resolved without incident, bears are extremely dangerous animals and should be avoided at all costs.
Caution should especially be taken when out in or near wooded areas as a bear can emerge at any moment, much like one did for Yoshihara Togen, the head priest of Yokoku Temple in Gosen City, Niigata Prefecture. On 29 May, Togen and a beagle named Chiko took a walk along a mountain trail and crossed paths with a roughly 1.6-meter-tall bear.
As soon as Togen saw the animal it charged at him and tackled him by the legs. The fall and bear's weight on top of Togen caused his shoulder to dislocate and damaged his ligaments. As you can see from the news report below, Togen is actually a pretty swole Buddhist priest, but the attack was so sudden and affected his limbs so badly that even a guy of his physical condition was utterly helpless to do anything.
In most cases, this would have been the end for anyone in Togen's position, but Chiko stepped in, began barking loudly, and charged at the bear. This spooked the bear and made it retreat back into the woods. The one-year-old beagle then bravely chased the bear and disappeared among the trees.
Fearing the worst, Togen immediately got his car and went out in search of Chiko. However, only 30 minutes later he got a call from his wife saying Chiko had made it home safely and reportedly looked rather proud of himself.
As amazing as this story is, it's about to get even more surreal, because Togen was actually fostering Chiko at the time of the incident. Chiko's original family had given him up because his barking — the same barking that saved Togen's life — was too loud. They returned Chiko to his breeder, who then entrusted him to the care of Yukoku Temple.
The possibility of divine intervention was not lost on readers of the news according to online comments, all of which unanimously agreed that Chiko was a very good boy.
'I cried reading that. He must have been scared but he tried his best.'
'There's a god that casts things out and a god that picks them up.'
'Beagles are meant for hunting and can be really noisy. I'm glad he found a good home.'
'Those two came together under such bad circumstances but it felt like he was destined to be there.'
'That priest is ripped.'
'The priest must be pretty tough too, driving a car with a dislocated arm.'
'If a bear could take a guy like that so easily, I'd have no chance.'
'Beagles are sometimes called the 'bells of the forest' because their barking is so loud it resonates.'
'Don't get on Chiko's bad side.'
'Saved by barking… Chiko is the greatest hero!'
Yokoku Temple is said to date back to 1504 and has endured through the legends of many famous samurai and warlords. Now, a new chapter has been added to its history: The Legend of Gosen no Chiko-sama.
Source: TeNY TV Niigata, Yukoku Temple, Twitter/@livedoornews
Featured image: Pakutaso
● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Mainichi
a day ago
- The Mainichi
Hitachi holds memorial for workers killed in WWII bombing to mark 80 yrs since war's end
HITACHI, Ibaraki -- Industrial giant Hitachi Ltd.'s factory here held a memorial service on June 10 for workers who lost their lives during air raids in the final stages of World War II. Marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the war this year, the firm invited surviving family members to a large-scale ceremony for the first time in about three decades. Hitachi President Toshiaki Tokunaga and other company executives also attended the memorial. On the morning of June 10, 1945, more than 100 U.S. B-29 bombers flew over Hitachi. Over 500 one-ton bombs were dropped on the company's coastal factory -- a major military production facility at the time -- killing 634 employees who were either caught up in the bombing or buried alive in collapsed air raid shelters. The attacks continued into July, when naval bombardments and incendiary bomb raids took many additional lives. Every year, the production site observes June 10 as "war damage day," holding a moment of silence throughout the plant starting at exactly 8:51 a.m., the time when the air raid began. The facility's executives also regularly pay their respects at the "martyrs' monument," erected on the site of an air raid shelter. This year, the firm additionally organized a major memorial event at a hotel in Hitachi, establishing a special altar for the victims. About 200 people, including families of the deceased and company personnel, offered prayers amid Buddhist chanting. In an address at the event, Tokunaga reflected, "I myself was born and raised in Hitachi, and since childhood have often encountered records and remnants of wartime destruction that happened in this city." He continued, "Even now, wars still relentlessly break out around the world. But we will continue to pause and remember the precious sacrifices of those we've lost, commit to sharing their stories with future generations, and renew our resolve to contribute toward the peaceful development of the world." Katsumi Yashiro, 89, vice chairman of the Hitachi City bereaved families association, lost his father Michio -- then head of the Ose electrical manufacturing section -- in the bombings. Yashiro said Michio was buried alive when an air raid shelter collapsed and was found dead several days later. "My father's steel helmet was found covered in dirt. I imagine he was desperately digging to try to escape and survive," he said. "Every year I've seen news reports showing current employees paying silent tribute to the fallen workers at the memorial ceremony, and each time I'm moved to tears. I would deeply appreciate it if the company continues passing down the memory to future generations." (Japanese original by Takahiro Tauchi, Hitachi Local Bureau)
SoraNews24
03-06-2025
- SoraNews24
Chiko the one-year-old beagle saves Buddhist priest from bear mauling
Chiko shows it's good to be noisy. Unfortunately, reports of human-bear encounters have been steadily on the rise as rural populations continue to decline and bears venture out further in search of food. Though sometimes such encounters are humorous and thankfully resolved without incident, bears are extremely dangerous animals and should be avoided at all costs. Caution should especially be taken when out in or near wooded areas as a bear can emerge at any moment, much like one did for Yoshihara Togen, the head priest of Yokoku Temple in Gosen City, Niigata Prefecture. On 29 May, Togen and a beagle named Chiko took a walk along a mountain trail and crossed paths with a roughly 1.6-meter-tall bear. As soon as Togen saw the animal it charged at him and tackled him by the legs. The fall and bear's weight on top of Togen caused his shoulder to dislocate and damaged his ligaments. As you can see from the news report below, Togen is actually a pretty swole Buddhist priest, but the attack was so sudden and affected his limbs so badly that even a guy of his physical condition was utterly helpless to do anything. In most cases, this would have been the end for anyone in Togen's position, but Chiko stepped in, began barking loudly, and charged at the bear. This spooked the bear and made it retreat back into the woods. The one-year-old beagle then bravely chased the bear and disappeared among the trees. Fearing the worst, Togen immediately got his car and went out in search of Chiko. However, only 30 minutes later he got a call from his wife saying Chiko had made it home safely and reportedly looked rather proud of himself. As amazing as this story is, it's about to get even more surreal, because Togen was actually fostering Chiko at the time of the incident. Chiko's original family had given him up because his barking — the same barking that saved Togen's life — was too loud. They returned Chiko to his breeder, who then entrusted him to the care of Yukoku Temple. The possibility of divine intervention was not lost on readers of the news according to online comments, all of which unanimously agreed that Chiko was a very good boy. 'I cried reading that. He must have been scared but he tried his best.' 'There's a god that casts things out and a god that picks them up.' 'Beagles are meant for hunting and can be really noisy. I'm glad he found a good home.' 'Those two came together under such bad circumstances but it felt like he was destined to be there.' 'That priest is ripped.' 'The priest must be pretty tough too, driving a car with a dislocated arm.' 'If a bear could take a guy like that so easily, I'd have no chance.' 'Beagles are sometimes called the 'bells of the forest' because their barking is so loud it resonates.' 'Don't get on Chiko's bad side.' 'Saved by barking… Chiko is the greatest hero!' Yokoku Temple is said to date back to 1504 and has endured through the legends of many famous samurai and warlords. Now, a new chapter has been added to its history: The Legend of Gosen no Chiko-sama. Source: TeNY TV Niigata, Yukoku Temple, Twitter/@livedoornews Featured image: Pakutaso ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
27-05-2025
Getting to Know the Many Different Faces of Japanese Fu
A versatile ingredient, fu made from wheat gluten appears in a vast array of Japanese cuisine, bolstering meals, brightening dishes, or providing a hearty snack. Below are some of the many different types and uses of fu . Temari-fu Shaped like traditional embroidered temari balls, this type of yaki-fu (baked or roasted fu ) provides a festive addition to seasonal and celebratory dishes, particularly soups. (© Pixta) Awa-fu A type of nama-fu (boiled or steamed fu ) containing millet flour. (© Pixta) Nama-fu dengaku Nama-fu like awa-fu or varieties containing mochi and other types of starchy flour that are served with a coating of sweetened miso paste. (© Pixta) Fu-manjū Steamed dumplings made with nama-fu , fragrant yomogi (mugwort), and stuffed with adzuki paste or other sweet fillings. (© Pixta) Komachi-fu Small yaki-fu used in soups, stews, and as garnish. (© Pixta) (© Pixta) Hana-fu Yaki-fu formed like colorful flowers. It is often used to brighten or add a seasonal touch to dishes. (© Pixta) Kuruma-fu A wheel-shaped yaki-fu . As it retains its chewiness in liquids, it is used in soups and simmered dishes or is soaked in sweet or savory marinades. A popular recipe resembling French toast features grilled kuruma-fu slathered in syrup and toppings like fresh fruit. (© Pixta) (© Pixta) Ita-fu A flat-type of yaki-fu used in soups and as a meat substitute in stir-fried and simmered dishes. (© Pixta) Uzumaki-fu A small, rolled yaki-fu used to add a decorative and chewy element to soups, broths, and other dishes. (© Pixta) (© Pixta) Chōji-fu A thick, rectangular yaki-fu from Shiga Prefecture. It features as the main or minor ingredient in a variety of cooking, including shōjin ryōri (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine). (© Pixta) Abura-fu An oblong, deep-fried fu associated with northern Miyagi Prefecture. It features in the dish abura-fu don , in which it is simmered in broth with other ingredients and served over rice. (© Pixta) (Originally published in Japanese. Banner photo © Pixta.)
