TAMA , the CAT STATIONMASTER Japan - Tama train station - Tama cat Japan - stationmaster cat Japan

Tama, Japan's cat station master. This is an interesting story of a cat who became the station master of a Japanese railway line. Kishi station is a train station on the Kishigawa line in Kinakawa, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. Kishigawa railway line of 14.3 kilometers long, operated by the private railway operator Wakayama Electric Railway. Tama, a female calico cat, was raised with a group of stray cats that used to live close to Kishi station. They were regularly fed by passengers and by Toshiko Koyama, who was the informal station manager at the time. The station was near closure in 2004 because of decrease in the number of customers. Around this time, Koyama adopted Tama. Eventually, the decision to close the station was withdrawn after the citizens demanded it stay open. Several strategies were formed to help the line come back to life. Station masters were selected from employees of local businesses near each station, and Koyama was officially chosen as the station manager. On the 5th of January 2007, railway officially awarded Tama the title of station master. Tama became the first feline station master ever in the world. Kishigawa railway line started being famous not only across Japan, but also all over the world after Tama's appointment. Tourists rushed there to see Tama and the number of people coming to meet this special representative of the line helped to ensure the comeback of the line itself. As station master, her primary duty was to greet passengers. In lieu of an annual salary, the railway provided Tama with a year's worth of cat food. A gold name tag for her collar stating her name and position. A station master's hat was specially designed and made to fit Tama. The publicity from Tama's appointment led to an increase in passengers by 17% for that month as compared to January 2006. A study estimated that the publicity surrounding Tama has contributed 1.1 billion yen to the local economy. Tama's boost to the local economy is part of a larger phenomenon recognized in Japan called Nekonomics, which charts the positive economic impact of having a cat mascot. By the end of 2007, she had been given the railway's top station runner award. In lieu of a cash bonus, she was given a cat toy and was fed crab by the company president. On the 5th of January 2008, Tama was promoted to super station master in a ceremony attended by the president of the company, the mayor, and approximately 300 spectators. As a result of her promotion, she was the only female in a managerial position in the company. Her new position had an office, a converted ticket booth containing a litter box. In early 2009, railway introduced a new Tama train which was customized with cartoon depictions of Tama. The train is equipped with a library that passengers can freely borrow books to read from and even a children's area so even those traveling with children can relax and enjoy the ride. In January 2010, railway officials promoted Tama to the post of operating officer in recognition of her contribution to expanding the customer base. Tama maintained the station master's job while taking over the new job and was the first cat to become an executive of a railroad corporation. Her staff consisted of two feline assistant station masters, Tama's sister Chibi and Tama's mother Miiko. In August 2010, in honor of Tama's third year as station master, the station building at Kishi was rebuilt with a new structure resembling a cat's face. On the 6th of January 2011, Tama's fourth year as station master was celebrated with a ceremony and her promotion to managing executive officer. On the 5th of January 2013, at the ceremony celebrating her sixth year as station master, Tama was elevated to honorary president of Wakayama Electric Rail for Life. In April 2013, it was announced that due to Tama's increasing age, her work hours would be reduced and she would only be on view in the station office Tuesday through Friday, a reduction of two days from her original Monday through Saturday hours. Tama died on the 22nd of June 2015 at the age of 16 of apparent heart failure at an animal hospital. After her passing, thousands of her fans from all over Japan came to pay their respects. An estimated 3,000 people, including railway officials, attended Tama the Cat's Shinto-style funeral. She was honored with a Shinto-style funeral at the station and was given the posthumous title Honorary Eternal Station Master. The Tama train was redecorated for mourning and the first ceremonial passengers were children from a local nursery school. The plaque and a bronze statue of Tama are located in a small Shinto shrine next to the station. Railway president said in a appeared in this world as a savior for this railway as well as regional train lines throughout the nation. We will name her as Eternal Station Master Emeritus. After the traditional 50-day mourning period, Tama was succeeded by her deputy, Ni-Tama. Ni-Tama's name comes from the fact that as well as the fact that she is Tama's second-in-command. Ni-Tama and her subordinate, Yon-Tama, still take care of railway's official duties. Google Doodles celebrated Tama's 18th birthday on the 29th of April 2017. Thanks for watching and please drop your comments below.