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Japanese railworkers hold funeral for 'stationmaster' cat who helped save railway line from bankruptcy | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A cat appointed stationmaster of a struggling Japanese railway has been mourned by railworkers at its funeral and elevated to the status of "honourable eternal stationmaster". | A cat appointed stationmaster of a struggling Japanese railway has been mourned by railworkers at its funeral and elevated to the status of "honourable eternal stationmaster". |
Tama, who died of heart failure earlier this month, was well-known among staff and visitors at the Kishi station in western Japan. | Tama, who died of heart failure earlier this month, was well-known among staff and visitors at the Kishi station in western Japan. |
The calico cat joined the staff of the local Kishigawa railway line in 2007 when she was appointed stationmaster and given a custom-made stationmaster's cap and a jacket. | The calico cat joined the staff of the local Kishigawa railway line in 2007 when she was appointed stationmaster and given a custom-made stationmaster's cap and a jacket. |
Her fame brought in large numbers of tourists to the station, giving a boost to the the Kishigawa railway line which had been close to bankruptcy, as well as the local economy. | Her fame brought in large numbers of tourists to the station, giving a boost to the the Kishigawa railway line which had been close to bankruptcy, as well as the local economy. |
Tama's death was marked in a Shinto-style funeral on Sunday. | Tama's death was marked in a Shinto-style funeral on Sunday. |
Tama's fame brought in tourists, giving a welcome boost to the local economy (Getty) Speaking at Tama's funeral, Mitsunobu Kojima, the president of Wakayama Electric Railway, thanked Tama and said she would be enshrined at a nearby cat shrine next month. | Tama's fame brought in tourists, giving a welcome boost to the local economy (Getty) Speaking at Tama's funeral, Mitsunobu Kojima, the president of Wakayama Electric Railway, thanked Tama and said she would be enshrined at a nearby cat shrine next month. |
Mr Kojima said appointing Tama as stationmaster was initially an excuse to keep the cat at the station. | Mr Kojima said appointing Tama as stationmaster was initially an excuse to keep the cat at the station. |
"But she was really doing her job," he said. "Tama-chan really emerged like a saviour, a goddess. It was truly my honour to have been able to work with her." | "But she was really doing her job," he said. "Tama-chan really emerged like a saviour, a goddess. It was truly my honour to have been able to work with her." |
During her tenure, Tama had contributed an estimated 1.1 billion yen ($8.9 million) to the local economy, Mr Kojima said. | During her tenure, Tama had contributed an estimated 1.1 billion yen ($8.9 million) to the local economy, Mr Kojima said. |
Another calico cat named Nitama, now an apprentice stationmaster, is to take over Tama's duties. | Another calico cat named Nitama, now an apprentice stationmaster, is to take over Tama's duties. |