Meet Yontama, the cat who became stationmaster at a railway station in Japan

A calico breed cat whose name is Yontama has become the stationmaster at a Japan's railway station. (Picture Credit: X)

• A calico cat named Yontama appointed stationmaster at Kishi station in Japan
• Cats at Kishigawa Line stations rotate in ceremonial railway roles since 2007
• Rokutama, another calico cat, is training to become a future stationmaster

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Did you know that at Kishi station in Japan's Kinokawa city, a cat has been appointed as a stationmaster? This happened on January, 2025. It's a calico breed cat and its name is Yontama.

A video is going viral where former CEO of Mitsubishi Corporation Yorihiko Kojima can be seen posing with the adorable feline in his arms. In fact, two other railway staff can also be seen holding other felines. If you still don't believe in the legitimacy of it all, well, you would be surprised to know that in a ceremony, a medal was presented to the cat and put around its neck. The medal bore the name of cat's new title. Besides, a certificate was given too to the cat.

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にゃんご！小嶋社長が抱っこしているのが、ろくたま駅長候補です、よろしくお願い申し上げますにゃんご！ pic.twitter.com/KJfslRwB6g

— 駅長たま (@ekichoTAMA) January 7, 2026

Reportedly, at Wakayama Electric Railway's Kishigawa Line in Japan, residents cats are nominated for ceremonial railway roles in rotation. If you're wondering how and what different roles for cats would entail, let us tell you. From greeting passengers, posing for pictures, attending different events to simply making their adorable presence felt at the railway station, this is what is expected out of the cats.

Also read: This Gurgaon cat influencer’s earnings might tempt you to become one too

The tradition of assigning different roles to cats dates back to 2007. Interestingly, people from world over have come to Wakayama to witness this too.

Incidentally, there is another calico cat 'Rokutama' that has been nominated as a feline candidate. At present, she is still learning the fundamentals of what stationmaster duties are all about. Once she is trained, she is said to represent the next generation of station staff.

The Kishigawa Line’s cats follow a distinctive naming system that reflects their place in the lineage. Each name builds on “Tama,” the original cat stationmaster appointed in 2007, with numerical prefixes marking succession. After Tama came Nitama (Tama II). Yontama is Tama IV. Last year, Gotama (Tama V) joined the crew, expanding the team and sharing station duties between Kishi and Idakiso stations. Now, with Rokutama (Tama VI) entering the picture, the numerical tradition continues.