In 2012, Akita Prefecture presented Yume, an Akita dog, to Russian President Vladimir Putin in thanks for his country's support following the Great East Japan Earthquake that struck the year before.

Putin showed Yume to us when we interviewed him in 2016.

S/ Vladimir Putin, Russian President / Yume, come here.

Yume was once a symbolic presence of friendly relations between Japan and Russia.

On May 15, the Russian government said that Yume died of old age last year.

She would have turned 14 on April 24 this year.

We asked the farmer in Akita Prefecture who raised Yume how he feels.

S/ Hatakeyama Shoji / She lived to be 12 or 13 years old, so I think she lived a good, long life.

S/ Reporter / Do you have any messages for Yume?

S/ Hatakeyama Shoji / All I can say is thanks for a great job.