MikeLigalig.com

Nitama The Cat Named Stationmaster At Japan’s Kishi Station

The calico cat is the successor to Tama, the iconic feline stationmaster who saved the Wakayama Electric Railway from financial ruin.

Dominique Mosbergen
Senior Writer, The Huffington Post
08/26/2015

The newly appointed stationmaster at a rural railway station in Japan has some pretty big shoes to fill. Her predecessor was world-famous, credited with saving the once-struggling station and its railway line from financial collapse.

She also happened to be one cute feline who knew how to perfectly wear a hat:


TORU YAMANAKA VIA GETTY IMAGES
Tama in 2008

Tama the cat served as stationmaster at Wakayama Electric Railway’s Kishi station for about eight years before she died at the age of 16 this June. A beloved icon in Japan, Tama’s passing was mourned by thousands.

Following the feline stationmaster’s death, a traditional 50-day mourning period was observed before a successor was named.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=80836.0

He added that the main requirements for the role are the ability to “feel comfortable with people at the workplace” and a willingness to wear a hat.

“The reason I appointed Nitama as a successor to Tama is that she had teaching experiences from Tama directly,” said Kojima. “Tama was very mild and she seldom got angry, though she was strict with her subordinate Nitama.”

Nitama is only 5 years old, but she's already had quite the career.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=80836.0

"Tama-chan really emerged like a savior,” Kojima said in a speech delivered at the cat’s funeral in June. "It was truly my honor to have been able to work with her.”

The railway's president said that he expects similarly great things from Tama's successor.

Nitama will be an “excellent” stationmaster, he said this month.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=80836.0