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| image from google |
Tama was raised with a group of stray cats that used to live close to Kishi Station. They were regularly fed by passengers and by Toshiko Koyama, who was the station manager at the time. The station was almost shut down in 2004 because of financial problems. Around this time, Koyama adopted Tama. Eventually the decision to shut down the station was withdrawn after the citizens demanded it stay open. In April 2006, the Wakayama Electric Railway cut the staff at all stations on the Kishigawa Line to cut costs. Station masters were selected from employees of local businesses near each station, and Koyama was officially chosen as the station manager. In January 2007, railway officials decided to officially name Tama the station master. As station master, her primary duty was to greet passengers. The position came with a station master's hat; in lieu of a salary, the railway provided Tama with cat food.
Read more about Tama HERE
What a pretty cat-and what an interesting life she led. That's quite an honor to be named station master....she had one very important job and by the sound of it, did it very well.
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine the smiles on people's faces when they saw her walking around in her hat and cape. What a great story. Thanks Linda!
What a nice story...She really was a pretty cat, as Carol says. Really brought in a lot of money with the t shirts and other things they sold to boost the railway. She looks so cute in the cap and cape. This makes me smile!!! Thanks Linda for this heartwarming story.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda for the great smile reading this. She is so cute. What a loss and a great tribute to this little sweetie.
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