The train station’s beloved 'stationmaster' was a calico cat. Her funeral turnout left the town in disbelief
It is part of Japan’s culture to show affection in small, deliberate ways — a bow held a second longer, a familiar face greeting you at the same place every day. If a familiar presence disappears, it leaves a noticeable void. Japan is mourning the death of Nitama, a beloved senior calico cat who served as the second-ever feline train stationmaster on Wakayama Electric Railway Co.’s Kishigawa Line, per Japan News.
For thousands of commuters and cat lovers alike, that pause was felt deep. Nitama died on November 20, at the age of 15, after falling ill in late October, according to the rail company. On Saturday, December 13, more than 500 people gathered at her longtime post, Kishi Station in Wakayama Prefecture, to say goodbye. Nitama stepped into the role following the death of her predecessor, Tama, the first ever feline stationmaster whose appointment helped the rail line to survive and increase the footfalls. Tama’s impact was remarkable. She generated 1.1 billion ($9.2 million) yen in her first year and passenger numbers went up by 17%, earning her a monument at Kishi Station after her death, per CNN.
Nitama’s funeral was held at the station itself, a place where she had ruled since 2015. Railway employees stood alongside devoted fans as Wakayama Electric Railway enshrined her and posthumously gave the title of “Honorary Special Stationmaster,” per Japan News. A portrait of Nitama was displayed and attendees offered prayers, flowers and cans of cat food at an altar set up near the platform.
“She worked diligently and provided irreplaceable comfort,” said Mitsunobu Kojima, president of Wakayama Electric Railway and chairman of the funeral committee. “Nitama, please watch over Wakayama Electric Railway from heaven alongside Stationmaster Tama.” Nitama’s path to fame began far from the station office. Born in Okayama City, about 250 kilometers from Wakayama, she was adopted by the rail company. Kojima previously told CNN that Nitama passed the Cat Stationmaster Training School with high marks, explaining that for an employee, it was crucial to be “an outgoing personality and a willingness to wear a hat.”
“The reason I appointed Nitama as a successor to Tama is that she had teaching experience from Tama directly,” Kojima said. “Tama was very mild, and she seldom got angry, though she was strict with her subordinate Nitama.” The depth of grief surrounding Nitama’s death reflects Japan’s enduring relationship with cats. Research published by MDPI in Animals, "Effects of Interactions with Cats in Domestic Environment on the Psychological and Physiological State of Their Owners" in 2023, notes that cats in Japan are cherished as family members, with ownership linked to health benefits such as reduced cardiovascular risk and longer life expectancy among older adults. Nitama, for many, was not just a mascot but a companion of daily life.
As commuters come to Kishi Station now, trains still arrive on time. But an absence is felt. Nitama may have worn a hat and earned a title, but her true role was to offer comfort, constancy and a reason to smile before the train arrived.
More on Amplify
Woman witnessed a cat getting hit by a car and rushed it to the vet—then one call changed her life
Postpartum mom was struggling to pump milk at 3 am — her cat did the unbelievable