[CAT] On Nitama, Tama, and the Kinokawa railway station

[rfmcdonald]

In April 2010, I reported the the story of Tama, a cat who had become master of a railway station in the Japanese city in Kinokawa.



In June of this year mentioned that Tama had died at the ripe old age of 16. Happily, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Tama has been officially replaced by deputy Nitama.

A Japanese railway station famous for its stationmaster cat has appointed another feline as its replacement.

The station's previous cat, Tama, was mourned at a lavish funeral after she died from heart failure in June having patrolled Kishi station, south-west of Osaka, for eight years.

Tama quietly patrolled the station dressed in a custom-made cap and uniform and became a popular mascot who attracted tourists from across Japan.

The new cat — reportedly named Nitama — will take over where its much-loved predecessor left off.

The station hopes the new cat will continue to bring more visitors to the struggling local railway.