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Funeral for cat stationmaster

A funeral for cat stationmaster Nitama is held at Wakayama Electric Railway's Kishi Station in Kinokawa in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 13, 2025, following the cat's death in November at age 15.

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Tama marks 8 years since becoming "station master"

KINOKAWA, Japan - Tama (R), the calico cat "station master" at Wakayama Electric Railway Co.'s Kishi Station, and subordinate Nitama are surrounded by fans at the station in Kinokawa in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Jan. 4, 2015, during a ceremony to commemorate the eighth anniversary of Tama's appointment.

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Cat station masters attend cultural property ceremony

WAKAYAMA, Japan - A bronze registration plate commemorating the designation of Wakayama Electric Railway Co.'s Idakiso Station inspection ground as a Japanese tangible cultural property is unveiled in Wakayama, western Japan, on July 17, 2014, with the station's feline "station master" Nitama (L) and Kishi's "station master" Tama in attendance.

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Cat station master

WAKAYAMA, Japan - Photo shows Tama (R), a feline "station master" at Wakayama Electric Railway Co.'s Kishi Station, during an event to celebrate her 15th birthday in Kinokawa, Wakayama Prefecture, on April 29, 2014. To the left is Nitama, her junior staffer.

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Cat railway president writes book

WAKAYAMA, Japan - Wakayama Electric Railway Co. President Mitsunobu Kojima promotes his new book in Kinokawa, Wakayama Prefecture, on Feb. 7, 2012. The book tells the story of efforts to revive a local railway line with the help of Tama (R), a popular calico cat assigned as a ''stationmaster.'' The other calico cat held by Kojima is Nitama, Tama's ''subordinate.''

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Book about cat stationmaster Tama released

Mitsunobu Kojima, president of Wakayama Electric Railway Co., attends an event at Kishi Station with cat stationmaster Nitama to introduce a book about Tama, Nitama's predecessor, in the western Japan prefecture of Wakayama on July 15, 2016. Tama, who died aged 16 in June 2015, is credited with rescuing the railway operator from financial difficulties. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Nitama lights illuminations on Christmas tree

Nitama (Tama the Second), a five-year-old female cat, pushes a button to light illuminations on a Christmas tree at Kishi Station in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Nov. 22, 2015. In August, Nitama assumed the post of cat stationmaster, succeeding Tama, who was credited with rescuing Wakayama Electric Railway Co. from financial difficulties before dying aged 16 in June. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Stationmaster cat Nitama

Fans take photos of Nitama, a female calico cat held in the arms of Mitsunobu Kojima, president of Wakayama Electric Railway Co., after an official event at Kishi Station in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan on Sept. 6, 2015. The event was held to unveil a wooden bench donated to the station. Nitama is Kishi Station's honorary stationmaster, having succeeded Tama, the previous feline holder of the post, who died aged 16 in June 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Stationmaster Nitama attends official event

Nitama, a female calico cat seen in the arms of Mitsunobu Kojima, president of Wakayama Electric Railway Co., attends an official event at Kishi Station in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan on Sept. 6, 2015. The event was held to unveil a wooden bench donated to the station. Nitama succeeded Tama, the previous feline stationmaster, who died aged 16 in June 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan railway appoints another cat to succeed Tama the stationmaster

Nitama (Tama the Second), a five-year-old female cat, held in the arms of Mitsunobu Kojima, president of Wakayama Electric Railway Co., faces the Tama Shrine at Kishi Station in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan on Aug. 11, 2015. Nitama assumed the role of stationmaster that day to succeed Tama, a cat credited with rescuing the railway from financial difficulties before dying aged 16 in June 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan railway appoints another cat to succeed Tama the stationmaster

Nitama (Tama the Second), a five-year-old female cat, is seen before the framed photograph of Tama, a cat credited with rescuing Wakayama Electric Railway Co. from financial difficulties before dying aged 16 in June 2015, at Kishi Station in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan on Aug. 11, 2015. Nitama is wearing a stationmaster's cap as she assumed the role from Tama that day. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan railway appoints another cat to succeed Tama the stationmaster

Nitama (Tama the Second), a five-year-old female cat, receives a letter of appointment to become the stationmaster of Kishi Station of Wakayama Electric Railway Co. on Aug. 11, 2015, at the station in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan. Nitama succeeded Tama, a cat credited with rescuing the railway from financial difficulties before dying aged 16 in June 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan railway appoints another cat to succeed Tama the stationmaster

Nitama (Tama the Second), a five-year-old female cat, held in the arms of Mitsunobu Kojima, president of Wakayama Electric Railway Co., "offers prayers" to the Tama Shrine at Kishi Station in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan on Aug. 11, 2015. At front is a bronze statue of Tama, a cat credited with rescuing the railway from financial difficulties before dying aged 16 in June 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Children miss cat stationmaster Tama in Japan

Children adorn bamboo branches with strips of paper at Kishi train station in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 4, 2015, with acting feline stationmaster Nitama ahead of the July 7 Tanabata festival. The children mourned beloved cat stationmaster Tama's passing in late June. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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CORRECTED Cat railway president writes book

WAKAYAMA, Japan - CORRECTING NAME OF 2ND CAT Wakayama Electric Railway Co. President Mitsunobu Kojima promotes his new book in Kinokawa, Wakayama Prefecture, on Feb. 7, 2012. The book tells the story of efforts to revive a local railway line with the help of Tama (R), a popular calico cat assigned as a ''stationmaster.'' The other calico cat held by Kojima is Nitama, Tama's ''subordinate.'' (Kyodo)

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Tama marks 8 years since becoming "station master"

KINOKAWA, Japan - Tama (R), the calico cat "station master" at Wakayama Electric Railway Co.'s Kishi Station, and subordinate Nitama are surrounded by fans at the station in Kinokawa in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Jan. 4, 2015, during a ceremony to commemorate the eighth anniversary of Tama's appointment. (Kyodo)

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Cat station masters attend cultural property ceremony

WAKAYAMA, Japan - A bronze registration plate commemorating the designation of Wakayama Electric Railway Co.'s Idakiso Station inspection ground as a Japanese tangible cultural property is unveiled in Wakayama, western Japan, on July 17, 2014, with the station's feline "station master" Nitama (L) and Kishi's "station master" Tama in attendance. (Kyodo)

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Cat station master in western Japan

Nitama, the cat station master at Wakayama Electric Railway Co.'s Kishi station in the western Japan city of Kinokawa, attends the station's illumination ceremony on Dec. 8, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Cat station master in western Japan

Nitama, the cat station master at Wakayama Electric Railway Co.'s Kishi station in the western Japan city of Kinokawa, attends the station's illumination ceremony on Dec. 8, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Stationmaster cat in western Japan

Nitama, a cat who serves as a stationmaster at Kishi Station of Wakayama Electric Railway's Kishigawa Line in Wakayama Prefecture, is pictured next to a photo of her predecessor Tama in August 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Cat stationmaster joins Tanabata Festival

Cat stationmaster Nitama joins a group of kindergarten kids to decorate a train cabin with dwarf bamboo as part of the annual Tanabata Festival on July 5, 2017. The Wakayama Electric Railway Co. train runs on the Kishigawa Line connecting the western Japan cities of Wakayama and Kinokawa. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Cat stationmaster joins Tanabata Festival

Cat stationmaster Nitama (back) joins a group of kindergarten kids to decorate a train cabin with dwarf bamboo as part of the annual Tanabata Festival on July 5, 2017. The Wakayama Electric Railway Co. train runs on the Kishigawa Line connecting the western Japan cities of Wakayama and Kinokawa. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Stationmaster cat Nitama turns 7

Nitama, a stationmaster cat at Kishi Station in the western Japan prefecture of Wakayama, receives a birthday cake during a ceremony to celebrate her 7th birthday at the station on March, 3, 2017. Nitama succeeded Tama, the previous feline stationmaster, who was credited with rescuing Wakayama Electric Railway Co. from financial difficulties, before dying at age 16 in June 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japanese railway commemorates 10th anniversary of cat stationmaster

Yontama (L), an 8-month-old calico cat, receives a letter of appointment from Wakayama Electric Railway Co. on Jan. 5, 2017, making it an apprentice stationmaster at Idakiso Station on the Kishigawa Line. Nitama (R), a cat stationmaster at Kishi Station, held by Mitsunobu Kojima, president of the railway operator, also attended the event held at Kishi Station in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, which included a ceremony to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the appointing of Tama, the first feline stationmaster at Kishi Station. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan's stationmaster cat attends lighting ceremony in Santa costume

Nitama, a "stationmaster cat" at Kishi Station in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, attends a ceremony in Santa Claus costume to illuminate the station building and platform with LEDs on Nov. 26, 2016. The lighting ceremony has been held for 10 straight years by local residents wishing for continued service on the Kishigawa Line of Wakayama Electric Railway Co. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo