Kishi Station (Wakayama)
Kishi Station (貴志駅 Kishi-eki) is a train station on the Kishigawa Line in Kinokawa, Wakayama, Japan, operated by the private railway operator Wakayama Electric Railway.
Kishi Station was known for Tama the Station Cat, a female cat which became the mascot for the station until she died in June 2015.[1] The cat held the official position as Super Station Master.[2][3] Tama was succeeded as Station Master by another cat, named Nitama.[4]
Since renovation the station is housed in a cat-shaped building, along with a Tama-themed cafe, with cat themed chairs and cakes. As well as a souvenir shop with a wide range of stationery, such as pens, staplers and others such as Kishi Station uniforms. The Wakayama Electric Railway also operates three cat themed trains: Strawberry Train, Tama Train and Toy Train.[5]
History
On February 1, 2010, the existing Kishi Station building was closed and demolished. Construction began on a new station facility in March, with the cat-themed new complex opened in July.[6]
References
- ↑ 「たま駅長」死ぬ―和歌山電鉄の名物駅長、心不全で １６歳、人間なら８０歳 ２８日に社葬 [Stationmaster Tama dies at age of 16]. Sankei West (in Japanese). Japan: The Sankei Shimbun & Sankei Digital. 2015-06-24. Retrieved 2015-06-24.
- ↑ "Tama the station cat brings passengers to Kishikawa railway line." Times Online. May 27, 2008.
- ↑ Lah, Kyung. "Cat in hat makes $10 million for town." CNN. October 29, 2008.
- ↑ Wong, Maggie Hiufu (2015-08-24). "Meet Nitama, the new cat in charge at Japan's Kishi Station". CNN.
- ↑ Wong, Hiufu (24 May 2013). "The cat that saved a Japanese train station: Meet Tama, Japan's cutest stationmaster, and her adorable cat-shaped station home". CNN Travel. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
- ↑ http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20100104p2a00m0na025000c.html
Coordinates: 34°12′35″N 135°18′43″E / 34.2096°N 135.3120°E