Japan Mourns Passing of Tama, the Cat Stationmaster

[TexasTowelie]

Tama

Tama the stationmaster, Japan's feline star of a struggling local railway, was mourned by company officials and fans and elevated into a goddess at a funeral Sunday.

The calico cat was appointed stationmaster at the Kishi station in western Japan in 2007. In her custom-made stationmaster's cap and a jacket, Tama quietly sat at the ticket gate welcoming and seeing off passengers. The cat quickly attracted tourists and became world-famous, contributing to the railway company and local economy.

Tama died of a heart failure on June 22. During Sunday's Shinto-style funeral at the station where she served, Tama became a goddess. The Shinto religion has a variety of gods, including animals.

Wakayama Electric Railway President Mitsunobu Kojima thanked the cat for her achievement, and said Tama will be enshrined at a nearby cat shrine next month.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Weird/wireStory/japan-mourns-passing-tama-cat-stationmaster-32079801



Cross-posted in the Asian Group.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. She is a goddess.

Of course. They all are.

[Ino]

2. Calicos are the best

[TexasTowelie]

3. I'm not prejudiced,

but I do love my girl in the bottom corner of my sig line.

Right now I have a Siamese kitten that seems pretty feisty and I'm going to have to trim her claws soon since I'm getting too many scratch marks.

[kwolf68]

5. Agree

I'll be getting another one at some point, but now isn't the right time, but my calico that passed a couple years ago was the most awesome cat ever.

[shenmue]

4. Squee in peace

[Xyzse]

6. I've heard of Tama from a long time ago. Sad to hear of her passing.

Much like I'd be so sad if I hear that Maru is gone.