A Cat Who Rose from Station Master to Acting President? 🚃🐱

In Wakayama, Japan, there was a calico cat named Tama (たま). Originally, she was just a cat living near Kishi Station. In 2007, the cat house where Tama lived was facing removal, so her caretaker asked if she could live at the station. As a result, the president of the railway company saw Tama and decided— If you're going to live at the station, why not become the station master?🤣 So, Tama truly received an official appointment, donned a station master's hat, and became the "Kishi Station Master." Her main job was to stay at the station and attract customers. To everyone's surprise, she exceeded expectations! Tama quickly became a sensation, with hordes of tourists making special trips to see her. The related economic impact in her first year alone was estimated at 1.1 billion yen. And then she started getting promoted🤣 Station Master ↓ Super Station Master (Section Chief level) ↓ Executive Officer ↓ Managing Executive Officer ↓ Acting President Later, a train themed after her was introduced, and Kishi Station was even remodeled into a cat theme. After Tama passed away in 2015, the company held a company funeral for her, posthumously awarded her the title of "Honorary Permanent Station Master," and even established a "Tama Shrine" at the station to honor her. Ordinary Calico Cat → Station Master → Company Executive → Finally Deified. What kind of 'wish fulfillment' protagonist is this cat?🤣🐱 And the story isn't even over! After Tama, the tradition of "Cat Station Masters" continued, with subsequent cats like Nitama, Yontama, Gotama, and Rokutama taking over the role 🐈🚉