Do you know the story of Stationmaster Tama? It reads almost like a legend, but it's completely true!

Tama was born in Wakayama prefecture, where she lived among stray cats near the Kishi station. She was regularly fed by passengers, but not much changed in her life until the informal station manager, Toshiko Koyama, adopted her.

At the time, the station was experiencing major financial issues, and was at risk of closing. After pleading with the president of the railway, Koyama managed to convince him to allow Tama to live inside Kishi Station, which was destaffed to cut costs. The president, seeing Tama looked like a maneki-neko (an auspicious cat bringing luck and prosperity), granted his request.

In 2007, the railway officials recognised Tama as the stationmaster, and awarded her the title, along with a beautiful gold name tag, and a uniquely designed stationmaster hat. And then... a miracle happened.

Tama's appointment became a sensation across Japan, bringing in visitors from all over the country - and with the tourists, came an influx of cash. One study estimated that the publicity surrounding Tama has contributed over a billion yen to the local economy. She really was a maneki-neko.

The station was saved, and the gorgeous calico received many awards, and was knighted the the prefectural governor for promoting local tourism. The station was able to expand, modernise, and even introduce a special "Tama Train" to delight the visitors.

Unfortunately, in 2015, Tama passed away at 16 due to heart failure. Thousands of her fans attended the Shinto-style funeral at the station where she was given the posthumous title of the "Honorary Eternal Stationmaster".

She was enshrined at a nearby Shinto cat shrine as spirit goddess Tama Daimyōjin - which means she will continue to look after her beloved station (and her successors) for many years to come~