Tama the cat is probably the most famous cat in Japan. So popular that her recent death just after turning 16 years old has been important news in Asahi, one of the most read newspapers here.
Tama was an abandoned cat that used to live around the Kishi station in Wakayama. With the passing of time the neighbors liked her so much that in 2007 they made her the “Station Chief”. The station was remodeled with a cat shape and the trains were decorated with Tama drawings.
Since Tama became the station chief, the amount of travellers has risen and the economy of the area has improved. After her death, probably one of her two assistant cats Miko or Chibi will replace her as the station chief.
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