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Star seal Tama-chan grows new fur

SAITAMA, Japan - A popular stray bearded seal called ''Tama chan'' (above) that has molted and grown new fur is spotted on its favorite boat in the Ara River in Asaka, Saitama Prefecture on June 11. Tama-chan in old fur is in the photo below taken on May 11.

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Fishing hook stuck in Tama-chan's face gone

ASAKA, Japan - A seal believed to be the popular ''Tama-chan'' appeared again May 11 in the Ara River in Asaka, Saitama Prefecture, but without the fishing hook that had been embedded in the right eye for about a week.

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Seal believed to be 'Tama-chan' seen in Saitama Pref.

KOSHIGAYA, Japan - A seal believed to be ''Tama-chan'' -- the seal that has gained nationwide fame since first being sighted last August in the Tama River, which borders Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture -- is spotted in the Naka River in Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture, April 21. The elusive seal had been seen recently in the Katabira River in Yokohama but its whereabouts have not been known since mid-March.

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Animal rights group fails to capture 'Tama-chan'

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Members of the U.S.-based Marine Animal Lifeline emerge from the Katabira River in Yokohama's Nishi Ward on March 11 after failing to capture ''Tama-chan,'' the stray seal that appeared in Tokyo's Tama River last summer. The group rescues stranded animals and returns them to their natural habitat.

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Foreigners call for residency status like seal 'Tama-chan'

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Foreign residents in Japan with seal-like costumes stage a rally in Yokohama's Nishi Ward on Feb. 22, calling on authorities to provide registry certificates for non-Japanese nationals similar to that of the popular seal ''Tama-chan,'' apparently from the Bering Sea. The seal was recently issued a ''residency certificate'' from the city of Yokohama.

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'Tama-chan' seal registered as Yokohama 'resident'

YOKOHAMA, Japan - A kindergartner in Yokohama's Nishi Ward hands ward chief Michinosuke Kimizuka a registry application for ''Tama-chan,'' the seal that has been showing up along the banks of the Katabira River in the city. The seal, first sighted last August in the Tama River, which borders Tokyo and Kanagawa prefectures, was later seen in the Tsurumi River and then in the Katabira River in Kanagawa Prefecture in September.

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Yokohama ward to give 'Tama-chan' seal resident's card

YOKOHAMA, Japan - The Nishi Ward office in Yokohama said Feb. 6 it will give the ''Tama-chan'' seal (file photo) a special ''resident's card'' in response to requests from locals. The seal has often been seen in the Katabira River in the ward since September last year and was first spotted in the Tama River in Tokyo last August. Ward officials hope the seal will act as a mascot in a campaign for cleaner towns and rivers.

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''Tama-chan'' shows up again

YOKOHAMA, Japan - A seal believed to be ''Tama-chan'' is seen relaxed on the bank of the Katabira River in Yokohama's Nishi Ward on Dec. 24. Local people say Tama-chan last showed up there Oct. 11. The young seal was named ''Tama-chan'' after it was first spotted in the Tama River in Tokyo on Aug. 7.

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Gov't counts on help from 'Tama-chan' to clean up rivers

YOKOHAMA, Japan - The Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry's construction office in Yokohama said Nov. 12 it will prepare about 54,000 copies of a four-page pamphlet featuring a popular but elusive wild seal named ''Tama-chan'' (shown in photo) for help in a campaign to clean up rivers. The bearded seal was spotted in the Tama River, the Tsurumi River and the Katabira River in Tokyo and Kanagawa prefectures.

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'Tama-chan' spotted again in Yokohama's Katabira River

YOKOHAMA, Oct. 11 - A seal believed to be ''Tama-chan'' suns itself on the bank of the Katabira River in Yokohama's Nishi Ward on Oct. 11. Local people say Tama-chan showed up there Oct. 9. The young seal was first spotted in the Tama River in Tokyo on Aug. 7.

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'Tama-chan' seal spotted this time in Yokohama's Ooka River

YOKOHAMA, Japan - A seal believed to be ''Tama-chan,'' which disappeared from the public eyes on Sept. 13, is spotted again in the Ooka River in Yokohama on Sept. 15. Tama-chan was first spotted in the Tama River in Tokyo on Aug. 7 and then appeared in the Tsurumi River in Yokohama on Aug. 25. On Sept. 12, Tama-chan was discovered in Yokohama's Katabira River.

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Seal believed to be 'Tama-chan' seen in Saitama Pref.

KOSHIGAYA, Japan - A seal believed to be ''Tama-chan'' -- the seal that has gained nationwide fame since first being sighted last August in the Tama River, which borders Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture -- is spotted in the Naka River in Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture, April 21. The elusive seal had been seen recently in the Katabira River in Yokohama but its whereabouts have not been known since mid-March. (Kyodo)

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Star seal Tama-chan grows new fur

SAITAMA, Japan - A popular stray bearded seal called ''Tama chan'' (above) that has molted and grown new fur is spotted on its favorite boat in the Ara River in Asaka, Saitama Prefecture on June 11. Tama-chan in old fur is in the photo below taken on May 11. (Kyodo)

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Fishing hook stuck in Tama-chan's face gone

ASAKA, Japan - A seal believed to be the popular ''Tama-chan'' appeared again May 11 in the Ara River in Asaka, Saitama Prefecture, but without the fishing hook that had been embedded in the right eye for about a week. (Kyodo)

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Fishhook stuck on face of seal suspected to be 'Tama-chan'

TOKYO, Japan - A fishhook is seen stuck near the right eye of the seal believed to be ''Tama-chan'' at Arakawa River in Asaka, Saitama Prefecture, on May 4. ''Tama-chan'' has gained nationwide fame since first being sighted last August in the Tama River, which borders Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture. The photo was taken by a group aimed at keeping an eye on the seal. (Kyodo)

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Animal rights group fails to capture 'Tama-chan'

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Members of the U.S.-based Marine Animal Lifeline emerge from the Katabira River in Yokohama's Nishi Ward on March 11 after failing to capture ''Tama-chan,'' the stray seal that appeared in Tokyo's Tama River last summer. The group rescues stranded animals and returns them to their natural habitat. (Kyodo)

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Foreigners call for residency status like seal 'Tama-chan'

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Foreign residents in Japan with seal-like costumes stage a rally in Yokohama's Nishi Ward on Feb. 22, calling on authorities to provide registry certificates for non-Japanese nationals similar to that of the popular seal ''Tama-chan,'' apparently from the Bering Sea. The seal was recently issued a ''residency certificate'' from the city of Yokohama. (Kyodo)

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'Tama-chan' seal registered as Yokohama 'resident'

YOKOHAMA, Japan - A kindergartner in Yokohama's Nishi Ward hands ward chief Michinosuke Kimizuka a registry application for ''Tama-chan,'' the seal that has been showing up along the banks of the Katabira River in the city. The seal, first sighted last August in the Tama River, which borders Tokyo and Kanagawa prefectures, was later seen in the Tsurumi River and then in the Katabira River in Kanagawa Prefecture in September. (Kyodo)

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Yokohama ward to give 'Tama-chan' seal resident's card

YOKOHAMA, Japan - The Nishi Ward office in Yokohama said Feb. 6 it will give the ''Tama-chan'' seal (file photo) a special ''resident's card'' in response to requests from locals. The seal has often been seen in the Katabira River in the ward since September last year and was first spotted in the Tama River in Tokyo last August. Ward officials hope the seal will act as a mascot in a campaign for cleaner towns and rivers. (Kyodo)

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''Tama-chan'' shows up again

YOKOHAMA, Japan - A seal believed to be ''Tama-chan'' is seen relaxed on the bank of the Katabira River in Yokohama's Nishi Ward on Dec. 24. Local people say Tama-chan last showed up there Oct. 11. The young seal was named ''Tama-chan'' after it was first spotted in the Tama River in Tokyo on Aug. 7. (Kyodo)

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Gov't counts on help from 'Tama-chan' to clean up rivers

YOKOHAMA, Japan - The Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry's construction office in Yokohama said Nov. 12 it will prepare about 54,000 copies of a four-page pamphlet featuring a popular but elusive wild seal named ''Tama-chan'' (shown in photo) for help in a campaign to clean up rivers. The bearded seal was spotted in the Tama River, the Tsurumi River and the Katabira River in Tokyo and Kanagawa prefectures. (Kyodo)

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'Tama-chan' spotted again in Yokohama's Katabira River

YOKOHAMA, Oct. 11 - A seal believed to be ''Tama-chan'' suns itself on the bank of the Katabira River in Yokohama's Nishi Ward on Oct. 11. Local people say Tama-chan showed up there Oct. 9. The young seal was first spotted in the Tama River in Tokyo on Aug. 7. (Kyodo)

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'Tama-chan' seal spotted this time in Yokohama's Ooka River

YOKOHAMA, Japan - A seal believed to be ''Tama-chan,'' which disappeared from the public eyes on Sept. 13, is spotted again in the Ooka River in Yokohama on Sept. 15. Tama-chan was first spotted in the Tama River in Tokyo on Aug. 7 and then appeared in the Tsurumi River in Yokohama on Aug. 25. On Sept. 12, Tama-chan was discovered in Yokohama's Katabira River. (Kyodo)

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Elusive 'Tama-chan' seal again spotted in Yokohama river

YOKOHAMA, Japan - A popular elusive seal named ''Tama-chan,'' which disappeared after spellbinding the nation's children and adults alike, is spotted again in a Yokohama river in Kanagawa Prefecture on Sept. 12. Photo was provided by Yokohama Dental Technical School. (Kyodo)