Late popular cat stationmaster inducted into Hall of Fame in Japan
Xinhua, February 2, 2016 Adjust font size:
Japan's Wakayama prefectural government inducted on Tuesday the late popular cat stationmaster Tama into a local Hall of Fame that has been recently established.
Tama was the No.1 inductee of the Hall which was set up to memorize the people or animals that have made great contribution to promoting reputation of the region and are beloved by the prefectural residents.
"I want to honor Tama and make sure her achievements are recorded in history," Wakayama Governor Yoshinobu Nisaka told a press conference on Tuesday.
Tama, a female calico cat, was famous for being the first honorary stationmaster of Kishi railway station in Wakayama prefecture, western Japan.
She was made the stationmaster in January 2007. Since that, her cuteness and the novelty of a cat stationmaster had turned the money-losing Kishigawa Line to a popular sightseeing spot.
The cat died last June at the age of 16, the equivalent of about 80 years in human age. Her death was very much mourned by the local people.
The railway appointed Nitama, another calico cat, to be the stationmaster of Kishi Station after Tama's death to carry on the tradition of cat stationmaster and to promote tourism. Endit