Cat gives station new lease of life
* Justin McCurry in Tokyo
* The Guardian,
* Tuesday May 27 2008
The Japanese faith in cats as harbingers of good fortune is paying off along one suburban railway line.
When passengers arrive at Kishi station in western Japan they are greeted by a tortoiseshell cat named Tama, whose feline charms are bringing the sleepy Kishigawa line back to life. But Tama is not the ticket collector's pet. The nine-year-old moggy sports the formal black cap worn by all employees of Wakayama Electric Railway and is addressed by her official title of stationmaster.
The former stray is attracting cat lovers from all over the country, as well as creating a much-needed injection of cash for the heavily-indebted line. The nine-mile-long line was losing 500m yen a year and at one point only 5,000 passengers a day were using it. When the station's last human employee packed his bags as part of a cost-cutting drive in 2006, Tama stayed on. Her loyalty paid off: since her appointment as stationmaster last year she has seen passenger numbers rise 10% to 2.1 million a year.
Japan - Cat gives station new lease of life
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Re: Japan - Cat gives station new lease of life
Cat puts Japan rail firm on track
BBC updated at 12:36 GMT, Tuesday, 27 May 2008 13:36 UK
A loss-making Japanese railway company is back on track thanks to the popularity of a stray cat.
Wearing a black cap and posing for photos with passengers, Tama the tabby is credited with boosting Wakayama Electric Railway's revenue by 10%.
The firm had to axe all staff at Kishi station in western Japan two years ago.
But Tama stuck by her post and was rewarded with promotion to station manager. The pet mascot even has her own office, a former ticket booth.
The feline, who was born and raised at the station in the city of Kinokawa, Wakayama prefecture, is living proof of the Japanese belief that cats are good luck.
"She never complains, even though passengers touch her all over the place. She is an amazing cat. She has patience and charisma. She is the perfect station master," said Yoshiko Yamaki, a spokeswoman for the rail company.
The nine-year-old - who receives cat food in lieu of a salary - won national stardom last year when the firm formally appointed her as "station master".
Since then passengers have been gradually returning, recently rising 10% to about 2.1 million a year.
The cat has spawned a range of popular merchandise, including a picture book called: "Diary of Tama, the Station Master."
BBC updated at 12:36 GMT, Tuesday, 27 May 2008 13:36 UK
A loss-making Japanese railway company is back on track thanks to the popularity of a stray cat.
Wearing a black cap and posing for photos with passengers, Tama the tabby is credited with boosting Wakayama Electric Railway's revenue by 10%.
The firm had to axe all staff at Kishi station in western Japan two years ago.
But Tama stuck by her post and was rewarded with promotion to station manager. The pet mascot even has her own office, a former ticket booth.
The feline, who was born and raised at the station in the city of Kinokawa, Wakayama prefecture, is living proof of the Japanese belief that cats are good luck.
"She never complains, even though passengers touch her all over the place. She is an amazing cat. She has patience and charisma. She is the perfect station master," said Yoshiko Yamaki, a spokeswoman for the rail company.
The nine-year-old - who receives cat food in lieu of a salary - won national stardom last year when the firm formally appointed her as "station master".
Since then passengers have been gradually returning, recently rising 10% to about 2.1 million a year.
The cat has spawned a range of popular merchandise, including a picture book called: "Diary of Tama, the Station Master."
