Cat helps debt-strapped Japanese train

Mon May 26, 2008 7:34 AM EDT

TOKYO — A money-losing Japanese train company has found the purr-fect mascot to draw crowds and bring back business — tabby Tama.

All the 9-year-old female cat has to do is sit by the entrance of western Japan's Kishi Station, wearing a black uniform cap and posing for photos for the tourists who are now flocking in from across the nation.

Her job makes cultural sense in Japan, where cats are considered good luck and are believed to bring in business.

Tama has done such a good job of raising revenue for the troubled Kishikawa train line that she was recently promoted to "super-station-master."

"She never complains, even though passengers touch her all over the place. She is an amazing cat. She has patience and charisma," said Wakayama Electric Railway Co. spokeswoman Yoshiko Yamaki. "She is the perfect station master."

People have been snatching up novelty goods — postcards, notebooks and erasers — bearing Tama's photos.

The cat had been about to lose her place to live, with the nearby store where she was raised being torn down. Now, the station is home.

The Kishikawa line had been losing $4.9 million a year as passenger numbers fell steadily to as low as about 5,000 a day, or some 1.9 million a year.

After Tama's appointment last year passenger numbers have risen by 10 percent to about 2.1 million a year.

In December Tama was rewarded with bonus pay — all in cat food.

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Mari Yamaguchi's Column, All of Newsvine
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Regions: Japan , Tokyo

Public Discussion (6)

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3.9

3.3

{"commentId":1841380,"authorDomain":"rkstech"}

RKSTech.co.uk

This is just great fun

When humans are competing hard for their jobs, now they got to fight against fur too

Ha ha

www.rkstech.co.uk

{"commentId":1841380,"threadId":"269876","contentId":"1512330","authorDomain":"rkstech"}

#1 - Mon May 26, 2008 10:19 AM EDT

{"commentId":1841442,"authorDomain":"alphadog"}

Alpha Dog

What a great idea! I think New York City should follow in suit. Though there is no shortage of business, there are plenty of rats for a cat to feast on. Wait -- scratch that. Kitties deserve better rewards than that!

{"commentId":1841442,"threadId":"269876","contentId":"1512330","authorDomain":"alphadog"}

1 vote

#2 - Mon May 26, 2008 10:42 AM EDT

{"commentId":1841537,"authorDomain":"tacitus13"}

Tacitus13

Tama has been doing such a good job of raising revenue for the troubled Kishikawa train line that she was recently promoted to "super-station-master."

I'm impressed.

{"commentId":1841537,"threadId":"269876","contentId":"1512330","authorDomain":"tacitus13"}

1 vote

#3 - Mon May 26, 2008 11:27 AM EDT

{"commentId":1841599,"authorDomain":"TacitusAndronicus"}

TacitusAndronicus

My cats are busy on their resumes, they want a gig like that.

{"commentId":1841599,"threadId":"269876","contentId":"1512330","authorDomain":"TacitusAndronicus"}

4 votes

#4 - Mon May 26, 2008 12:03 PM EDT

{"commentId":1843541,"authorDomain":"Lis"}

Lis

Actually, I want a gig like that.

{"commentId":1843541,"threadId":"269876","contentId":"1512330","authorDomain":"Lis"}

3 votes

#4.1 - Tue May 27, 2008 4:24 AM EDT

{"commentId":1845465,"authorDomain":"sunnyshine"}

Meggy

Seriously, Lis. She sits all day, gets petted and fussed over, and doesn't have to work at all. Sounds pretty sweet to me. She's such a cutie, though.

{"commentId":1845465,"threadId":"269876","contentId":"1512330","authorDomain":"sunnyshine"}

3 votes

#4.2 - Tue May 27, 2008 5:27 PM EDT

{"commentId":1842978,"authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}

Robert Blevins - AB of Seattle

It's all good...but the cat is thinking about something. Maybe this?

'When are they going to take this stupid hat off my head...?'

{"commentId":1842978,"threadId":"269876","contentId":"1512330","authorDomain":"adventurebooks"}

2 votes

#5 - Mon May 26, 2008 10:15 PM EDT

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	Money Losing Railroad Hires Cat As Station Chief And Turns It Around	Yahoo! News	Mon May 26	7
	Cat gives station new lease of life	Guardian Unlimited	Mon May 26	1

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Cat helps debt-strapped Japanese train

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