Bunkō
Statue of Bunkō in Otaru | |
| Other name(s) | Bun (文) |
|---|---|
| Species | Dog (Canis lupus familiaris) |
| Breed | Mongrel |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | Around 1914 Hokkaido, Japan |
| Died | 3 February 1938 (aged 24) Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan |
| Known for | Known as "the firefighting dog", and took part in over 1000 dispatches during his life. |
| Owner | Otaru Fire Department |
Bunkō (ぶん公, 1914 – February 3, 1938) was a Japanese mixed breed dog, famous for becoming the mascot of the Otaru city fire department. He was saved as a puppy after being found in burnt-down ruins after a fire and lived in the Otaru fire station for most of his life, being looked after by the firefighters.
Bunkō would ride along with the firefighters during their dispatches, finding his role in helping to control the onlookers and in disentangling hoses. It has been said that during his life Bunkō rode along on well over 1000 dispatches. His long life ended at the age of 24, and his remains were stuffed and preserved. To commemorate his achievements, a statue was unveiled in 2006, and picture books and other material for children have been written about his life and specific events within it. He is also known as simply Bun in Japanese.