What sounds like a quirky internet joke is actually an official job in Japan — being a cat stationmaster.
A small rural railway line in Wakayama has been appointing cats as station staff since 2007, a move that famously helped rescue the struggling line by turning it into a major tourist attraction.
On 7 January, a calico cat named Yontama was formally promoted as the new stationmaster at Kishi Station. The ceremony was attended by railway employees and fans, with Yontama receiving a medal to mark her new role.
She was not alone in her promotion. A younger cat named Rokutama was also introduced as a stationmaster-in-training, joining the team as the latest feline recruit.
All station cats are named after Tama, the first cat stationmaster appointed in 2007. Each new cat receives a number in the name, making Yontama the fourth and Rokutama the sixth in the long-running line of feline railway staff.
The event also paid tribute to Nitama, a former stationmaster who died last year and has since been honoured with the title of honorary stationmaster.
Tama, the original cat, remains a local legend, widely credited with saving the once-struggling railway by drawing visitors from across Japan and beyond.
More than just mascots, these cats have become symbols of how an unconventional idea can revive an entire community.
