Beloved Train Stationmaster Cat Dies at 15, Over 500 Attend Feline’s Funeral
NEED TO KNOW
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Cat lovers in Japan are in mourning after the death of a beloved feline train stationmaster
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Nitama was a calico kitty who worked as the second-ever feline train stationmaster at Wakayama Electric Railway Co.’s Kishigawa Line
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She was honored with a funeral on Saturday, Dec. 13, at her home in Kishi Station, located in the country’s Wakayama Prefecture
Cat lovers in Japan are mourning the death of a beloved feline train stationmaster, who died at age 15.
According to Japan News, Nitama — the calico kitty who worked as the second-ever feline train stationmaster at Wakayama Electric Railway Co.’s Kishigawa Line — was honored with a funeral on Saturday, Dec. 13 at her home at Kishi Station, which is located in Japan’s Wakayama Prefecture.
The rail company said that Nitama died on Nov. 20 after becoming ill in late October 2025.
Around 500 people gathered for the feline’s funeral, including human train employees and the feline’s fans. The crowd watched as Wakayama Electric Railway Co. enshrined the late cat and gave her the title of “Honorary Special Stationmaster.”
Kyodo via AP
Nitama, the cat who served as a stationmaster at Kishi Station of Wakayama Electric Railway’s Kishigawa Line in Wakayama Prefectur.
After the ceremony, funeralgoers admired a portrait of Nitama and said prayers that the feline would find rest and peace in the afterlife. Attendees also set up an altar filled with flowers and cans of cat food near the station.
“She worked diligently and provided irreplaceable comfort,” said Mitsunobu Kojima, president of Wakayama Electric Railway and chairman of the funeral committee. “Nitama, please watch over Wakayama Electric Railway from heaven alongside Stationmaster Tama.”
Nitama’s time as stationmaster began in 2015, after the death of Tama, another calico, who became the station’s first feline to take on the title, created to help advertise the financially struggling rail line.
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Nitama was born in Okayama City, about 250 kilometers (about 155 miles) from Wakayama, and was later adopted by the rail company after someone found her taking shelter underneath a car on a rainy day.
Kyodo via AP
The funeral for cat stationmaster Nitama is held at Wakayama Electric Railway’s Kishi Station.
At the time, Mitsunobu told CNN that Nitama graduated from the Cat Stationmaster Training School with high marks — the main requirements were an outgoing personality and a willingness to wear a hat.
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“The reason I appointed Nitama as a successor to Tama is that she had teaching experience from Tama directly,” said Mitsunobu. “Tama was very mild, and she seldom got angry, though she was strict with her subordinate Nitama.”
Nitama’s predecessor, Tama, is credited with bringing in 1.1 billion yen ($9.2 million) to the rail line during her first year and increasing passenger numbers by 17%, according to CNN. She also received a monument at Kishi in her honor after her death.
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