5 Proofs That Japan Is A Cat’s Paradise

Since time immemorial, cats have had a very close and special relationship with the Japanese, with representations in ancient art, statues and sacred places dedicated to felines. In addition, characters and figures inspired by them, such as Hello Kitty and the lucky cat, are part of popular culture and are recognized around the world.

For every cat lover, the awesome.club compiled some of the most special (and, in some cases, unusual) data, locations and facts that reveal this special connection between Japan and kitties.

Tama was a Calico (or tricolor) kitten who was Kishi station chief in Kinokawa from 2007 until her death in 2015. the economy and tourism in this region of Wakayama Prefecture.

After his death, Tama was named “Honorable and Eternal Stationmaster”, having her own shrine. Her post was occupied by Nitama (name which translates as second Tama), a kitten of the same breed who had previously worked at another station on the same railway line before taking her new post as second station chief.

Nitama’s main role is to welcome all visitors. Just like any other employee, she sticks to work schedules. If you want to see Nitama working, you can visit Kishi Station from Friday to Tuesday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Another curious fact that mixes trains, cats and Japan happened in September 2017. An institution in defense of these animals called Kitten Cafe Sanctuary joined forces with the operator Yoro Railway Co Ltd and offered a trip accompanied by about 30 rescued kittens, who ran and they played in the wagons while the passengers could pet them and simply enjoy the ride and the company of the cats. The cost was approximately 27 dollars (110 reais), included a snack and the three-hour trip between the cities of Ogaki and Ikeno, in addition to living a unique experience.

The fact that the country has small houses and rules that prohibit pets in apartments, combined with long and stressful working hours, has generated a curious phenomenon: cafes that offer to spend time with pets (or cats). The first cat café opened in Osaka in 2004 and its popularity has grown so much that by 2015 there were 58 such establishments in Tokyo.

These places charge an average of 10 dollars (40 reais) per hour, excluding food and beverages for humans. In some cases, they also sell treats to the feline hosts. Among the rules, visitors can pet them but not pick them up unless a cat voluntarily approaches them. You can’t feed the cats outside or take pictures with a flash.

In Japan there are a dozen islands known for their high cat population, which even surpasses the human population. The most famous is Aoshima, a small fishing island in the south of the country, where the current ratio is 36 cats for every human that lives on it. Another place famous for its cats is Tashirojima, a small island of approximately 100 inhabitants and where feeding stray cats is believed to bring good luck, which is why dogs are not allowed. Recently, another of the feline islands that became popular was Okishima, as its inhabitants and authorities transferred and sheltered its large population of cats to protect it from Typhoon Hagibis, which hit the country last October.

The Gotokuji is a Buddhist temple located in Tokyo, believed to be the place of origin of the Maneki Neko, or “lucky cat”, a figure already popular around the world. Although there are several versions of this kitten, in different colors, with the right paw, the left or both raised, the temple specializes in the version of the white kitty with the right paw raised and it is believed that there are around 2,000 figures of different sizes in the world. place.

Azusamiten, located in Tokyo prefecture, is a temple known as a shrine for the return of cats. A place where the owners of lost cats can go to say a prayer asking for the safe return of their pets or wishing health and long life for their kitties.

The cat in the image above is Koyuki, the monk in charge of the Nyan Nyan temple, a word that equates to “meow meow” in Portuguese. This particular “shrine”, located in Kyoto, was created by painter Toru Kaya, recognized for his work on various temples and shrines across the country. On site, visitors can order food and drink with obviously feline themes, as well as observe sculptures and paintings with the same theme. Koyuki has seven helper cats who also live there and welcome visitors.

And would you visit any of these places? What do you think of this love of the Japanese for cats? Share your opinions in the comments.