It's become quite famous these days! Cat stationmasters!! I remember being shocked when I first heard about it... Nowadays, there are many stations where cats are stationmasters... it's so relaxing. It's a must-see for cat lovers!! Here are some of the stations!!
Love & Peach at Ashinomaki Onsen Station
Ashinomaki Onsen Station is a station on the Aizu Railway, a local line in Fukushima Prefecture. Love, a male American Curl cat, serves as the stationmaster here. His curly ears and captivating eyes have made him a popular cat, making him famous as the stationmaster cat. He looks amazing in that stationmaster hat he wears. Before Love, there was a senior cat named Bass who served as stationmaster at Ashinomaki Onsen Station. Bass was rescued by a local elementary school student and settled at the station. He was a popular cat, and a kind of poster boy for the depopulated station. Bass served as stationmaster until he was 18 years old, before passing away across the Rainbow Bridge in 2016. The friendly and gentle Bass is sure to still be watching over Ashinomaki Onsen Station from the sky. Love isn't the only one to take over from Bass. Love has a younger cat named Peach who works alongside him! Peach, an American Curl like Love, is a cute boy with short, fluffy fur and a round face. Together with Love, he livens up Ashinomaki Onsen Station, but he is currently working irregularly.
What kind of work do Love and Peach do?
Love seems to be interacting with tourists, seeing them off from the ticket counter and patrolling the station. He also actively promotes the local area by working on tourism PR for Aizu Railway, a role he took over from Bus, developing collaborative products to decorate the packaging of local specialties, and appearing in anime. Love has also been appointed a tourism ambassador for Ashinomaki Onsen!
What is an American Curl cat?
American Curls are characterized by their curly ears, and are a breed that rarely has the typical cat-like, prickly personality. They are cheerful, affectionate, and love exercise, making them like dogs! Cats like "Love", who loves to be petted by customers, and "Peach", who is easygoing and gentle, are typical American Curl cats. For American Curls, who don't like to be bored, a train station where they can be loved by many different people may be the ideal workplace.
"Tama II Stationmaster (Nitama)" and "Yontama" at Kishi Station on the Kishigawa Electric Railway Line
Tama, the first cat stationmaster on a private railway, worked at Kishi Station on the Kishigawa Electric Railway Line. He sparked the cat stationmaster craze and was a legendary cat with many fans overseas. After Tama became a star, the job of stationmaster was taken over by Tama II, nicknamed Nitama. Nitama is a calico cat like the previous stationmaster, Tama, and is a cute girl with gorgeous, fluffy long hair. Nitama's younger sister cat, Yontama, also a calico cat, is working as an apprentice stationmaster. As the story of the previous stationmaster, Tama, and Nitama spread across the country, they were inundated with inquiries asking if they could take in a cat. Among them, Yontama landed an interview with the company president and secured the position of apprentice stationmaster. In the last year of the Heisei era, the Nitama/Yontama duo achieved double promotions and are working hard today as stationmasters of both Itakiso Station and Kishi Station on the Kishigawa Line!
You can see a train with a Tama and Nitama motif!
At Wakayama Electric Railway, you can encounter a train with a motif of the former stationmasters Tama and Nitama. It is beloved as the "Tama Train," and many tourists come to see it from all over the world! Also, on August 4, 2010, a new station building with a motif of Stationmaster Tama, "Tama Museum Kishi Station," was completed. Cat ears sprout from the roof, and the word "TAMA" is written on it. The window decorations, which resemble cat eyes, are also very cute, and you'll want to take pictures.
"Nyantaro" at Kareigawa Station on the JR Hisatsu Line
Kareigawa Station on the JR Hisatsu Line is famous for being the oldest station building in Kagoshima Prefecture and is a nationally registered tangible cultural property. It's a rare station in Japan where express trains stop despite being unmanned. At Kareigawa Station, a place rich in history and tradition, Nyantaro, a cute raccoon-like boy, plays the important role of the District Revitalization Promotion Committee's "Karigawa Tourism Ambassador." He's been living at the station for several years, charming local residents and train users alike. As a "sakura cat" with no owner and because Kareigawa Station is unmanned and there is no stationmaster, Nyantaro has taken on the job of promoting tourism as stationmaster. He has a gentle personality and loves to be held, and is happy to patrol the area around the station and assist with photo opportunities!
What is a Sakura cat?
Sakura cats are cats whose ear tips have been cut as a sign that they have undergone spay/neuter surgery. Males have their right ears cut, while females have their left ears cut. Many doctors cut the ears in a V shape, which resembles a cherry blossom petal, hence the name "sakura cat" or "sakura ears." The cut ear tips are a sign that "cats are being looked after in the community." We hope that more efforts will be made to protect cats throughout the community, and that the number of unfortunate cats that lose their lives to disease or euthanasia will decrease.
summary
In Japan, there are many cats working hard as stationmasters. Seeing these cats' brave faces inspires us to do our best too! Japan's efforts to cherish cats and live together with them have attracted attention and praise from around the world. The day may be approaching when working cats will save Japan and the world!
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