Undying puppy love

This is a very touching love story about a dog couple. It all began in 1986, a mongrel named Shiro accompanied his master Toshikazu Nakamura across the Kerama Islands strait. There, in a place called Zamami, Shiro met with another mongrel named Marilyn and it was love at first sight. Then the time came when Shiro must leave the island with his master.

After that, they noticed that Shiro was frequently missing from the house since morning and he came back late in the night. When he came back, he was wet and shivering. Mr Nakamura was curious. "Where does Shiro go?" he wondered. "Why is he wet when he comes back?"

One morning Mr Nakamura followed Shiro. Shiro walked to the beach, ran into the water, and began to swim. Mr Nakamura jumped into his boat and followed his dog. Then when he was tired, he climbed onto a rock and rested. A few minutes later he jumped back into the water and continued swimming.

Shiro swam for three hours. Then he arrived at an island. He walked onto the beach, shook the water off, and walked toward town. Mr Nakamura followed him. He saw Shiro walked to a house and a dog was waiting in front of the house. Shiro ran to the dog, and the two dogs began to play. It was Marilyn! He just couldn't forget Marilyn and dying to see her. Shiro also love his master, that's why he's swimming back and forth everyday in order to be with both his master and his love.

People were amazed when they heard about Shiro. The distance from Aka to Zamami is two and a half miles (4km), and the ocean between the islands is very rough. "Nobody can swim from Aka to Zamami!" the people said. Shiro became famous. After that, the locals frequently sighted Shiro dog-paddling across the 3.6km strait.

This feat was so amazing that it gained a national reputation. Many people went to Zamami because they wanted to see Shiro. During one Japanese holiday, 3.000 people visited Zamami. They waited on the beach for Shiro. Marilyn died in August 1987, bringing an end to Shiro's seafaring days.

In 1988 a movie titled Marilyn ni Aitai (I want to see Marilyn), was made, featuring Shiro. The dog Shiro was acted by himself, but by time the movie was filmed, Marilyn has passed away, so Marilyn was acted by a Shetland Sheepdog in the movie. Finally in 2000, at the age of 17 Shiro was rested in peace and joined Marilyn.

The people of Aka Island have been raising money in order to construct a monument honoring the two. on Nishihama beach (Shiro's point of departure), they will build a statue of Shiro at the edge of the coast, facing Zamami Island. Meanwhile, the people of Zamami are constructing a monument of Marilyn on their bank, facing Shiro.

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