Hachiko, Japan's most famous dog, now has his own pair of Adidas sneakers

Adidas has teamed up with sneaker specialist Atmos Tokyo to create a pair of shoes that pay tribute to Hachiko, Japan's most famous dog. Covered in a beige faux fur, evoking the Akita dog's coat, the sneakers will be subject to a pre-order lottery before being released on September 18.

Dogs are often credited with being loyal, but Hachiko became famous in Japan for showing an unwavering level of devotion to his master. In the 1920s, the dog used to accompany his owner, a professor teaching at Tokyo University, to Shibuya Station every morning, then return alone in the evening to wait for his master's return. Even after his master's death, Hachiko returned to the station every day to wait, year after year, until his death in 1935.

The story became known all over the world and Hachiko now has his own statue at Shibuya Station. Now, Hachiko will also have his own pair of sneakers: the Adidas Superstar Dog, designed by Adidas in collaboration with Atmos Tokyo.

The sneakers have a beige faux fur outer fabric, chosen for its similarity to the dog's coat, contrasting with three brown stripes. An address, the location of the Hachiko statue, is written on the sole.

This dog is so famous in Japan that many specialized websites are already predicting stock shortages. This is no doubt why a lottery is being held online until September 17 for anyone hoping to pre-order a pair. Successful applicants will then be able to buy the precious fur-covered shoes from September 18, at the price of 15,400 yen (about $140).