Cat stationmaster Tama mourned in Japan and elevated as goddess

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**reds8n**

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/11704428/Cat-stationmaster-Tama-mourned-in-Japan-and-elevated-as-goddess.html

The calico cat was appointed stationmaster at the Kishi station in western Japan in 2007 and died early last week. Now she has been mourned by company officials

Tama the stationmaster, Japan's feline star of a struggling local railway, was mourned by company officials and fans and elevated into a goddess at a funeral on Sunday.
ADVERTISING
The calico cat was appointed stationmaster at the Kishi station in western Japan in 2007. Donning her custom-made stationmaster's cap, Tama quietly sat at the ticket gate welcoming and seeing off passengers. The cat quickly attracted tourists and became world-famous, contributing to the railway company and local economy.

A little girl lays a bouquet of flowers in honour of Tama (AP)
Tama, who had turned 16 in April, died of a heart failure on June 22. During Sunday's Shinto-style funeral at the station where she served, Tama became a goddess. The Shinto religion, indigenous to Japan and practised by many Japanese, has a variety of gods including animals.
In one of several portraits decorating the altar, Tama posed in a stationmaster's hat and a dark blue cape. Sake, as well as watermelon, apples, cabbage and other fruits and vegetables were presented to the cat. A stand outside the station was heaped with bouquets, canned tuna and other gifts left by thousands of Tama fans who came to pray from around the country.

Praying for the late stationmaster (AP)
Wakayama Electric Railway president Mitsunobu Kojima thanked the cat for her achievement, and said Tama will be enshrined at a nearby cat shrine next month.
Before Tama's arrival, the local Kishigawa Line was near-bankrupt; and the station was unmanned as it had lost its last staff.
Mr Kojima said appointing Tama as stationmaster was initially an excuse to keep the cat at the station.

"But she was really doing her job," he said. The rest was a miracle, and his company's success story also gave hope for dozens of other struggling tiny local train lines, he said.

Tama, right, turning on the Christmas lights (Asahi Shimbum/Getty)
"Tama-chan really emerged like a saviour, a goddess. It was truly my honour to have been able to work with her," Mr Kojima said in his speech.
During her tenure, Tama had contributed an estimated 1.1 billion yen (£5.65 million) to the local economy, Mr Kojima said.
Mr Kojima said that when he visited Tama at an animal hospital the day before she died, the cat woke up and reached out to him with her paws, as if asking for a hug, and looked straight into his eyes.
He said he told Tama to get well so they can celebrate the cat's forthcoming 10th anniversary as a stationmaster, and said the cat responded with a "miaow".

Tama was about to celebrate her 10th anniversary as stationmaster (Getty)
Tama is a popular name for cats in Japan, where they are considered spiritual animals. The word could translate as treasure, ball or spirit.
The cat had climbed the corporate ladder from stationmaster to "ultra-stationmaster" and vice president of the company before receiving the additional title Sunday of "honourable eternal stationmaster".
Tama will be succeeded by another calico cat, Nitama, now an apprentice stationmaster.

Astonishing.

Odd how the real world gets a little bit more like the Internet everyday eh ?

**-Loki-**

reds8n wrote:
Odd how the real world gets a little bit more like the Internet everyday eh ?

It's Japan.

**Frazzled**

reds8n wrote:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/11704428/Cat-stationmaster-Tama-mourned-in-Japan-and-elevated-as-goddess.html

The calico cat was appointed stationmaster at the Kishi station in western Japan in 2007 and died early last week. Now she has been mourned by company officials

Tama the stationmaster, Japan's feline star of a struggling local railway, was mourned by company officials and fans and elevated into a goddess at a funeral on Sunday.
ADVERTISING
The calico cat was appointed stationmaster at the Kishi station in western Japan in 2007. Donning her custom-made stationmaster's cap, Tama quietly sat at the ticket gate welcoming and seeing off passengers. The cat quickly attracted tourists and became world-famous, contributing to the railway company and local economy.

A little girl lays a bouquet of flowers in honour of Tama (AP)
Tama, who had turned 16 in April, died of a heart failure on June 22. During Sunday's Shinto-style funeral at the station where she served, Tama became a goddess. The Shinto religion, indigenous to Japan and practised by many Japanese, has a variety of gods including animals.
In one of several portraits decorating the altar, Tama posed in a stationmaster's hat and a dark blue cape. Sake, as well as watermelon, apples, cabbage and other fruits and vegetables were presented to the cat. A stand outside the station was heaped with bouquets, canned tuna and other gifts left by thousands of Tama fans who came to pray from around the country.

Praying for the late stationmaster (AP)
Wakayama Electric Railway president Mitsunobu Kojima thanked the cat for her achievement, and said Tama will be enshrined at a nearby cat shrine next month.
Before Tama's arrival, the local Kishigawa Line was near-bankrupt; and the station was unmanned as it had lost its last staff.
Mr Kojima said appointing Tama as stationmaster was initially an excuse to keep the cat at the station.

"But she was really doing her job," he said. The rest was a miracle, and his company's success story also gave hope for dozens of other struggling tiny local train lines, he said.

Tama, right, turning on the Christmas lights (Asahi Shimbum/Getty)
"Tama-chan really emerged like a saviour, a goddess. It was truly my honour to have been able to work with her," Mr Kojima said in his speech.
During her tenure, Tama had contributed an estimated 1.1 billion yen (£5.65 million) to the local economy, Mr Kojima said.
Mr Kojima said that when he visited Tama at an animal hospital the day before she died, the cat woke up and reached out to him with her paws, as if asking for a hug, and looked straight into his eyes.
He said he told Tama to get well so they can celebrate the cat's forthcoming 10th anniversary as a stationmaster, and said the cat responded with a "miaow".

Tama was about to celebrate her 10th anniversary as stationmaster (Getty)
Tama is a popular name for cats in Japan, where they are considered spiritual animals. The word could translate as treasure, ball or spirit.
The cat had climbed the corporate ladder from stationmaster to "ultra-stationmaster" and vice president of the company before receiving the additional title Sunday of "honourable eternal stationmaster".
Tama will be succeeded by another calico cat, Nitama, now an apprentice stationmaster.

Astonishing.

Odd how the real world gets a little bit more like the Internet everyday eh ?

Team TBone salutes the Stationmaster.

**Sinful Hero**

Well, my quota for Cute and Sad has been met for the day.

**Spetulhu**

May the Honorable Eternal Stationmaster rest in peace, and inspire her successor to handle the duties well.

But certainly not off-topic, this kind of thing isn't totally unknown in history. I've read about dogs and cats receiving honorary titles and medals from the military units they served with. Like the dog that heard incoming shells long before the men, and saved many when they realized getting to a shelter is wise if the dog is running.

**TheDraconicLord**

Japan, never stop being awesome

**hotsauceman1**

It's not that odd. It's basically an office pet.

**Easy E**

So, was there anyone else at the station or just the cat? It sounds like it was just the cat for a while.

**juraigamer**

Much respect

**Iron_Captain**

It is just a cat... This is so much overreacting.
IMO, people should preserve their emotions and resources for something more worthy. There is too much human suffering in the world to justify mourning for a cat. It is okay to be sad when a beloved pet dies, but this is way too much.

**Frazzled**

Iron_Captain wrote:
It is just a cat... This is so much overreacting.
IMO, people should preserve their emotions and resources for something more worthy. There is too much human suffering in the world to justify mourning for a cat. It is okay to be sad when a beloved pet dies, but this is way too much.

Agreed. now if this were a dog it would be completely appropriate.

**Ketara**

Iron_Captain wrote:
It is just a cat... This is so much overreacting.
IMO, people should preserve their emotions and resources for something more worthy. There is too much human suffering in the world to justify mourning for a cat. It is okay to be sad when a beloved pet dies, but this is way too much.

It's nice to know that the emotional police are still around to tell people exactly how strongly they should be feeling something, or how much effort they should put into commemorating something. God knows where we'd be otherwise.

**Frazzled**

Indeed.

**Iron_Captain**

Ketara wrote:
Iron_Captain wrote:
It is just a cat... This is so much overreacting.
IMO, people should preserve their emotions and resources for something more worthy. There is too much human suffering in the world to justify mourning for a cat. It is okay to be sad when a beloved pet dies, but this is way too much.

It's nice to know that the emotional police are still around to tell people exactly how strongly they should be feeling something, or how much effort they should put into commemorating something. God knows where we'd be otherwise.

I can have an opinion, can't I? It is not like I am forcing it on anyone.

**curran12**

Remember kids, you can't feel bad about things because other things are happening.

**Polonius**

Iron_Captain wrote:
Ketara wrote:
Iron_Captain wrote:
It is just a cat... This is so much overreacting.
IMO, people should preserve their emotions and resources for something more worthy. There is too much human suffering in the world to justify mourning for a cat. It is okay to be sad when a beloved pet dies, but this is way too much.

It's nice to know that the emotional police are still around to tell people exactly how strongly they should be feeling something, or how much effort they should put into commemorating something. God knows where we'd be otherwise.

I can have an opinion, can't I? It is not like I am forcing it on anyone.

We can have opinions too. And my opinion is that you're unneccessarily judgemental of others, in a way that is impolite, and either intended to make people feel worse about themselves, or uncaring about the feelings of others.

**Frazzled**

I like what we've done here, now back to the Kitty God.

Would be cool if they put up a cool statue.

**Iron_Captain**

Polonius wrote:
Iron_Captain wrote:
Ketara wrote:
Iron_Captain wrote:
It is just a cat... This is so much overreacting.
IMO, people should preserve their emotions and resources for something more worthy. There is too much human suffering in the world to justify mourning for a cat. It is okay to be sad when a beloved pet dies, but this is way too much.

It's nice to know that the emotional police are still around to tell people exactly how strongly they should be feeling something, or how much effort they should put into commemorating something. God knows where we'd be otherwise.

I can have an opinion, can't I? It is not like I am forcing it on anyone.

We can have opinions too. And my opinion is that you're unneccessarily judgemental of others, in a way that is impolite, and either intended to make people feel worse about themselves, or uncaring about the feelings of others.

Well, my opinion is that it is reprehensible to give so much attention to such trivial matters when there is so much horror and suffering in the world. It is just wrong that an old cat with a silly hat gets more attention when it dies than the children killed on the same day in the Syrian War and elsewhere. There are so many horrible things to mourn for and of all things those people choose to mourn a mere cat on such a grand scale? Shameful is what it is.
I am sorry if it offends you, but I feel strongly about this kind of thing. Emotions and resources should be reserved for things that are actually important. Your mileage of what is important may be different than mine and I can accept that, but I just have to let out my emotion about it first.
This kind of thing always makes me feel really bad.

**Spetulhu**

Iron_Captain wrote:

This kind of thing always makes me feel really bad.

On the other hand, it's the sort of thing that makes some other people feel good. Some small thing with no connection to the tragedies besetting the world, letting them take their minds off the big important things for a while.

YMMV ofc.

**hotsauceman1**

Iron_Captain wrote:
Polonius wrote:
Iron_Captain wrote:
Ketara wrote:
Iron_Captain wrote:
It is just a cat... This is so much overreacting.
IMO, people should preserve their emotions and resources for something more worthy. There is too much human suffering in the world to justify mourning for a cat. It is okay to be sad when a beloved pet dies, but this is way too much.

It's nice to know that the emotional police are still around to tell people exactly how strongly they should be feeling something, or how much effort they should put into commemorating something. God knows where we'd be otherwise.

I can have an opinion, can't I? It is not like I am forcing it on anyone.

We can have opinions too. And my opinion is that you're unneccessarily judgemental of others, in a way that is impolite, and either intended to make people feel worse about themselves, or uncaring about the feelings of others.

I am sorry if it offends you, but I feel strongly about this kind of thing. Emotions and resources should be reserved for things that are actually important. Your mileage of what is important may be different than mine and I can accept that, but I just have to let out my emotion about it first.
This kind of thing always makes me feel really bad.

So, how is selling all your miniatures/house/car/tv/everything you own to give the money to the poor and the downtrodden going.

**Kilkrazy**

This is the point at which I think we must all ask ourselves, "What would Tama-kami do?"

**Ketara**

Iron_Captain wrote:

I am sorry if it offends you, but I feel strongly about this kind of thing. Emotions and resources should be reserved for things that are actually important.

-Claims emotions should be reserved for important things.
-Expresses strong emotions regarding internet discussion about others emotions.
-Paradox inverts universe.
-????
-Profit!

**Sinful Hero**

Iron_Captain wrote:
Polonius wrote:
Iron_Captain wrote:
Ketara wrote:
Iron_Captain wrote:
It is just a cat... This is so much overreacting.
IMO, people should preserve their emotions and resources for something more worthy. There is too much human suffering in the world to justify mourning for a cat. It is okay to be sad when a beloved pet dies, but this is way too much.

It's nice to know that the emotional police are still around to tell people exactly how strongly they should be feeling something, or how much effort they should put into commemorating something. God knows where we'd be otherwise.

I can have an opinion, can't I? It is not like I am forcing it on anyone.

We can have opinions too. And my opinion is that you're unneccessarily judgemental of others, in a way that is impolite, and either intended to make people feel worse about themselves, or uncaring about the feelings of others.

Well, my opinion is that it is reprehensible to give so much attention to such trivial matters when there is so much horror and suffering in the world. It is just wrong that an old cat with a silly hat gets more attention when it dies than the children killed on the same day in the Syrian War and elsewhere. There are so many horrible things to mourn for and of all things those people choose to mourn a mere cat on such a grand scale? Shameful is what it is.
I am sorry if it offends you, but I feel strongly about this kind of thing. Emotions and resources should be reserved for things that are actually important. Your mileage of what is important may be different than mine and I can accept that, but I just have to let out my emotion about it first.
This kind of thing always makes me feel really bad.

I truly appreciate you reminding me that there are terrible things happening the world at large, and I will whisper a silent prayer for them as I go back to reading about cat goddesses and games.

**Iron_Captain**

Spetulhu wrote:
Iron_Captain wrote:

This kind of thing always makes me feel really bad.

On the other hand, it's the sort of thing that makes some other people feel good. Some small thing with no connection to the tragedies besetting the world, letting them take their minds off the big important things for a while.

YMMV ofc.

I guess that's true. Different people think in different ways. If people do this as a way of taking their mind of things, than it is allright.
I have probably become a little too bitter and cynical since last year.

hotsauceman1 wrote:
Iron_Captain wrote:

I am sorry if it offends you, but I feel strongly about this kind of thing. Emotions and resources should be reserved for things that are actually important. Your mileage of what is important may be different than mine and I can accept that, but I just have to let out my emotion about it first.
This kind of thing always makes me feel really bad.

So, how is selling all your miniatures/house/car/tv/everything you own to give the money to the poor and the downtrodden going.

Material wealth is a different issue entirely, and selling off everything you own seems a little extreme. But yes, it would be good if rich people (me too) did more to help others, but there are many practical problems. I do plan on doing a lot to help people when I get older though.

Ketara wrote:
Iron_Captain wrote:

I am sorry if it offends you, but I feel strongly about this kind of thing. Emotions and resources should be reserved for things that are actually important.

-Claims emotions should be reserved for important things.
-Expresses strong emotions regarding internet discussion about others emotions.
-Paradox inverts universe.
-????
-Profit!

Life itself is a paradox.

**Bullockist**

I'm not really worried about the death of Tama, after all ,the cat in the hat comes back!

**Jehan-reznor**

I am in deep mourning, during Obon i shall surely make pilgrimage to Tama sama's shrine.

**reds8n**

Kilkrazy wrote:
This is the point at which I think we must all ask ourselves, "What would Tama-kami do?"

.. soo... we should..?? ... lick our own arses then have a nap in a sunbeam ?

..well.... alright then.

Now I rue laughing at the offer of those yoga classes.

**TheDraconicLord**

reds8n wrote:
Kilkrazy wrote:
This is the point at which I think we must all ask ourselves, "What would Tama-kami do?"

.. soo... we should..?? ... lick our own arses then have a nap in a sunbeam ?

..well.... alright then.

Now I rue laughing at the offer of those yoga classes.

This made me laugh way more than it should

Oh, maybe a statue like the one in Shibuya for Hachikō! It'd be a nice monument in that station for the Goddess that Tama is.

**Portugal Jones**

Iron_Captain wrote:
[ Emotions and resources should be reserved for things that are actually important.

Or you just might be full of gak.

**Iron_Captain**

Portugal Jones wrote:
Iron_Captain wrote:
[ Emotions and resources should be reserved for things that are actually important.

Or you just might be full of gak.

No, I just have been through a lot, and then it can be frustrating to see people so concerned about something trivial like the death of a cat. Or maybe I am just jealous