Continuing an almost twenty-year long tradition; a local railway station in Japan has appointed a calico cat, Yontama, as its third feline stationmaster.
Yontama was officially sworn in during a ceremony at Kishi Station on Wakayama Electric Railway Co.’s Kishigawa Line. He succeeds his predecessor, Nitama, who passed away in November and has since been named as honorary stationmaster.
During the ceremony, in which the railway company also introduced its latest apprentice recruit, Rokutama, Yontama received an engraved medal from Wakayama Electric Railway President Mitsunobu Kojima.
Additionally; the railway company also introduced its latest apprentice recruit, Rokutama.
The latest in what is now considered a long-held tradition; the first cat to be appointed stationmaster was Tama, who received the role in 2007 and sparked a trend across the nation which saw various cats, dogs, rabbits and other animals appointed as stationmasters.
The full ceremony is available to view on KYODO NEWS’ YouTube channel, here.
