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On
January 5, 2013, at the ceremony celebrating her sixth year as stationmaster, Tama was elevated to Honorary President of Wakayama Electric Rail for life. In April 2013, it was announced that due to Tama's increasing age, her work hours would be reduced and she would only be on view in the station
257:
In lieu of an annual salary, the railway provided Tama with a year's worth of cat food and a gold name tag for her collar stating her name and position. A station master's hat was specially designed and made to fit Tama, and took more than six months to complete. In July 2008, a summer hat was also
449:
After the funeral, Wakayama
Electric Railway President Mitsunobu Kojima and other executives went to the area by Kishi River where Tama was born and selected stones to build her memorial. Tama's name was written in calligraphy by President Kojima and carved by a stonemason. The plaque and a bronze
305:
On
January 5, 2008, Tama was promoted to "super station master" (a title equivalent to Superintendent rank) in a ceremony attended by the president of the company, the mayor, and approximately 300 spectators. As a result of her promotion, she was "the only female in a managerial position" in the
355:
In
January 2010, railway officials promoted Tama to the post of "Operating Officer" in recognition of her contribution to expanding the customer base. Tama maintained the station master's job while taking over the new job, and was the first cat to become an executive of a railroad corporation.
246:
to cut costs, and at the same time evicted the stray cats from their shelter to make way for new roads leading to the stations. Koyama pleaded with
Mitsunobu Kojima, president of Wakayama Electric Railway, to allow the cats to live inside Kishi Station; Kojima, seeing Tama as a
511:
On
January 6, 2017, the 10th anniversary of Tama's installment as stationmaster, Yontama ("Fourth Tama"), an eight-month-old calico, was introduced as Nitama's subordinate and the new stationmaster of Idakiso Station, the station Nitama trained at, on Nitama's days off.
237:
The station was near closure in 2004 because of financial problems on the rail line. Around this time, Koyama adopted Tama. Eventually the decision to close the station was withdrawn after the citizens demanded that it stay open. In April 2006, the newly formed
394:
In August 2010, in honor of Tama's third year as stationmaster, the station building at Kishi was rebuilt with a new structure resembling a cat's face. Both the "Tama train" refurbishment and station rebuilding projects were overseen by industrial designer
496:. Sun-tama-tama was considered as a candidate for Tama's successor, but the Okayama Public Relations representative who had been caring for Sun-tama-tama refused to give the cat up, writing, "I will not let go of this child, she will stay in Okayama."
293:
On
December 5, 2007, Tama was recognized as the grand prize winner of the railway's "Top Station Runner Award". The year-end bonus was modified to a special cat toy and a celebratory slice of crab, which Tama was fed by the company president.
423:
Tama died on June 22, 2015, at the age of 16, of apparent heart failure at an animal hospital in
Wakayama Prefecture. After her passing, thousands of her fans from all over Japan came to pay their respects. She was honored with a
265:
by 17% for that month as compared to
January 2006; ridership statistics for March 2007 showed a 10% increase over the previous financial year. A study estimated that the publicity surrounding Tama has contributed 1.1 billion
473:
On
January 5, 2012, Tama's official apprentice, named "Nitama" ("Second Tama") was revealed. Born in Okayama City in 2010, Nitama was rescued from under a train car and adopted by Okayama Electric Tramway. Nitama trained at
402:
On January 6, 2011, Tama's fourth year as stationmaster was celebrated with a ceremony and her promotion to "Managing Executive Officer", third in line in management after the company president and the managing director.
456:
In February 2016, Tama became the first inductee into the newly created Wakayama Hall of Fame and bronze relief plaque showing the story of her life was unveiled on the second floor of the Wakayama Prefectural Library.
576:, published a few months after her death and deification, the authors honored Tama with the "rookie of the year award" as a new goddess of fortune in an in-universe ranking of the most popular Shinto deities.
1298:
1253:
646:
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Nitama is a medium-hair calico cat and is easily distinguished from both Tama and Yontama in pictures by her coat length. She is often drawn as endearingly fluffy on promotional materials.
453:
After the traditional fifty day mourning period, Tama was succeeded by her deputy, Nitama. Nitama's first official duty was to be conveyed to her predecessor's shrine to pay her respects.
460:
Every year on June 23, the anniversary of Tama's death, her successors Nitama and Yontama are carried to her shrine and offerings are presented by the company president on their behalf.
1288:
Appointed the apprentice of the station manager of the" Yomata "! " Wakayama Electric Steel Official Website" Representative Message "(January 7, 2017). Viewed March 7, 2017.
634:
1225:
321:
On October 28, 2008, Tama was knighted and awarded the title of "Wakayama de Knight" (a pun on "It's got to be Wakayama" in Japanese) by the prefectural governor,
1302:
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855:
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issued to Tama for hotter weather. Tama's original gold name tag was stolen by a visitor on October 10, 2007, but a replica was quickly made to replace it.
1187:
1090:
254:
On January 5, 2007, railway officials officially awarded Tama the title of station master. As station master, her primary duty was to greet passengers.
587:
visits Kishi station and meets Tama's successor Nitama. Tony visits Tama's shrine and looks at the impact Tama's death had on the local population.
314:. Her gold name tag was modified to a gold tag with a blue background with an added "S" for "super", also corresponding to the highest grade in the
484:
After Tama's enshrinement in August 2015, Nitama was taken to the shrine to pay her respects and then formally installed as the new stationmaster.
446:
on August 11, 2015. The "Tama train" was redecorated for mourning and the first ceremonial passengers were children from a local nursery school.
229:
that used to live close to Kishi Station. They were regularly fed by passengers and by Toshiko Koyama, the informal station manager at the time.
682:
562:
visits Kishi station, meets Tama and explores the impact she has had on the local economy. Chris also meets Tama's eventual successor Nitama.
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1143:
1120:[Worldwide railway designer Eiji Mitooka reveals the secrets behind the "Sakura" shinkansen and "Tama Station" building].
1022:
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808:"The cat that saved a Japanese train station: Meet Tama, Japan's cutest stationmaster, and her adorable cat-shaped station home"
957:"Congratulations !! Tama-chan Cat railway station inaugural special", " NEKO", cat publishing , February 2008 , page 4-12.
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office Tuesday through Friday, a reduction of two days from her original Monday through Saturday hours.
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1146:" Wakayama Electric Steel Corporation (January 5, 2011) Archived from the original as of July 1, 2015.
297:
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315:
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428:-style funeral at the station and was given the posthumous title "Honorary Eternal Stationmaster".
198:
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807:
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to the local economy. Tama is often cited as part of a phenomenon known in Japan as "Nekonomics"
1166:
492:"Sun-tama-tama" (a pun on "Santama", lit. "third Tama") was a calico cat sent for training in
478:(five stops away on the same line as Kishi Station) before being chosen as Tama's apprentice.
450:
statue of Tama are located in a small Shinto shrine, called Tama Jinja, next to the station.
415:
890:
1047:
652:
Nitama (left) and Tama (right) at announcement of Nitama's apprenticeship, January 5, 2011
8:
1165:(in Japanese). Japan: The Sankei Shimbun & Sankei Digital. 2015-06-24. Archived from
891:"Tama – the station master cat who raised over $ 10 million and helped save a train line"
565:
On April 29, 2017, on what would have been her 18th birthday, Google honored Tama with a
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1124:(in Japanese). Japan: Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. 14 September 2010. p. 5
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500:
322:
948:." Bini Group (July 20, 2008) Archived from the original as of September 24, 2015.
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in German by Italian filmmaker Myriam Tonelotto, broadcast on European TV channel
1263:
1012:." Bini Group (December 5, 2007) Archived from original as of September 24, 2015.
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124:
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Her staff consisted of two feline assistant stationmasters: Tama's sister, Chibi
1188:"Tama the cat: 3,000 attend elaborate funeral for Japan's feline stationmaster"
786:
760:
729:
545:
243:
226:
202:
194:
143:
1048:
Welcome to the Governor 's Office Governor's Press Conference October 21, 2008
290:. "Nekonomics" refers to the positive economic impact of having a cat mascot.
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In early 2009, the Wakayama Electric Railway introduced a new "Tama train"
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train on the line which was customized with cartoon depictions of Tama.
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As of September 2018, Sun-tama-tama is working as the stationmaster in
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Kishi Station building, rebuilt to resemble a cat's face, August 2010
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946:
Tama Spiral Station Manager 's summer cap hat type greeting greeting
640:
Tama wearing a decoration of "Wakayama de Knight" on January 4, 2009
225:
Tama was born in Kinokawa, Wakayama, and was raised with a group of
915:
573:
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She was enshrined at a nearby Shinto cat shrine as spirit goddess
1360:
493:
52:
751:, resident Chief Mouser of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office
863:
768:
425:
549:. The host, John Fulton, honored her with a visit and a song.
1208:"Meet Nitama, the new cat in charge at Japan's Kishi Station"
306:
company. Her new position had an "office" — a converted
214:
71:
16:
Cat that lived at Kishi Station in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
261:
The publicity from Tama's appointment led to an increase in
1356:
1299:"Japanese railway turns to feline 'stationmaster' for help"
1254:"Train station's popular cat mascot meets likely successor"
533:
419:
Shinto shrine next to Kishi Station where Tama is enshrined
152:
968:"Tama is the purr-fect antidote to financial gloom: study"
1211:
558:
in the episode entitled "The Great Japanese Train Ride",
57:
301:
Tama's office inside the old Kishi Station in June 2008
31:
Tama in February 2007, wearing her station master's hat
856:"Tama the Cat Drums Up Business for Railway in Japan"
676:
Tama napping in the new station office, February 2012
697:
688:
Tama on duty in the new station office, October 2012
503:
and appears occasionally on Tama's Twitter account.
1050:". Wakayama Prefecture Homepage (October 21, 2008).
520:Tama appeared in a documentary about cats titled
381:, October 3, 1998 – July 20, 2009)
1367:
1161:[Stationmaster Tama dies at age of 16].
1144:Wakayama Electric Railway representative message
738:, the title of the official resident cat of the
432:
345:
279:
1326:Animalplanet.com accessed online June 30, 2015
1149:
888:
723:, an American cat appointed honorary mayor of
439:
376:
362:
339:
273:
43:
831:
581:Around The World By Train With Tony Robinson
527:
521:
1158:「たま駅長」死ぬ―和歌山電鉄の名物駅長、心不全で １６歳、人間なら８０歳 ２８日に社葬
325:, for her work in promoting local tourism.
61:
25:
1117:世界的鉄道デザイナー水戸岡鋭治が明かす！ 新型新幹線「さくら」と「たま駅舎」の秘密
1093:. Japan Probe. 2010-01-07. Archived from
1091:"Promotion for Japan's stationmaster cat"
914:. Japan Probe. 2007-01-14. Archived from
410:
732:, British Post Office's "number one cat"
414:
385:
327:
296:
251:(beckoning cat), agreed to the request.
1368:
1010:Top Runner Prize to Tama Tama Director
284:, lit., "catonomics", "cat economics")
187:, April 29, 1999 – June 22, 2015)
1023:"This conductor's got a cat's tongue"
847:
332:The "Tama Densha" train in April 2009
805:
740:Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
572:In chapter 58 of the Japanese manga
193:who gained fame for being a railway
935:Nishimatsu Hiroshi 2009, pp. 92-93.
515:
13:
736:Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office
14:
1402:
1350:
1324:Stationmaster Cat: Must Love Cats
757:, Cats of the President of Taiwan
604:Tama on duty on November 11, 2007
127:, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
1266:. 7 January 2012. Archived from
1061:"Stationmaster cat gets a train"
853:
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628:Assistant Miiko in November 2007
621:
616:Assistant Chibi in November 2007
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555:Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railways
369:, and Tama's mother, an orange
999:. Accessed September 22, 2018.
960:
951:
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929:
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882:
825:
799:
242:destaffed all stations on the
1:
889:Johnny Waldman (2013-08-13).
793:
463:
220:
1301:. 2008-05-24. Archived from
1226:"Tama-chan: The cat's miaow"
974:. 2008-10-05. Archived from
832:Jim Motavalli (2010-10-05).
552:Tama made an appearance on
7:
806:Wong, Hiufu (24 May 2013).
774:Canadian Parliamentary Cats
693:
433:
346:
280:
10:
1407:
590:
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912:"Cat named stationmaster"
834:"Cat named stationmaster"
781:, the mascot of both the
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240:Wakayama Electric Railway
232:
197:and operating officer at
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51:
44:
36:
24:
1391:Railway culture in Japan
1386:Individual cats in Japan
1157:
1116:
539:Tama is featured in the
836:. Mother Nature Network
755:Think Think and Ah Tsai
716:List of individual cats
664:Tama on duty, July 2011
316:Japanese grading system
1337:"Tama's 18th Birthday"
528:
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420:
411:Death and enshrinement
391:
333:
302:
286:, a play off the term
62:
418:
389:
331:
300:
893:. Spoon & Tamago
870:on 26 September 2013
367:, born May 12, 2000)
783:Chesapeake and Ohio
211:Wakayama Prefecture
108:Wakayama Prefecture
21:
1381:2015 animal deaths
1376:1999 animal births
421:
392:
334:
303:
19:
1122:Nikkei Trendy Net
744:10 Downing Street
725:Talkeetna, Alaska
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165:Died of apparent
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1067:. Archived from
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866:. Archived from
851:
845:
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823:
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765:Saint Petersburg
749:Palmerston (cat)
710:
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516:In popular media
501:Naka-ku, Okayama
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323:Yoshinobu Nisaka
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1270:on 18 June 2013
1264:The Japan Times
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1071:on 11 July 2009
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864:Yahoo! Business
854:Lund, Georgia.
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536:in April 2009.
529:Katzenlektionen
523:La Voie du chat
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476:Idakiso Station
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1351:External links
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1341:www.google.com
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1065:japanprobe.com
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787:Chessie System
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761:Hermitage cats
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730:Tibs the Great
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546:Must Love Cats
526:in French and
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434:Tama Daimyōjin
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244:Kishigawa Line
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203:Kishigawa Line
195:station master
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144:Station master
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122:(aged 16)
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101:April 29, 1999
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1320:
1305:on 2008-10-06
1304:
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1269:
1265:
1261:
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1255:
1249:
1234:. 3 July 2015
1233:
1232:
1231:The Economist
1227:
1221:
1213:
1209:
1203:
1195:
1194:
1189:
1183:
1169:on 2015-06-24
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1097:on 2010-01-11
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978:on 2012-07-01
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918:on 2009-07-10
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585:Tony Robinson
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567:Google doodle
563:
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560:Chris Tarrant
557:
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541:Animal Planet
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488:Sun-tama-tama
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199:Kishi Station
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167:heart failure
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