Cat stationmaster Tama mourned in Japan, elevated as goddess
Source: AP
By MARI YAMAGUCHI
TOKYO (AP) — Tama the stationmaster, Japan's feline star of a struggling local railway, was mourned by company officials and fans and elevated into a goddess at a funeral Sunday.
The calico cat was appointed stationmaster at the Kishi station in western Japan in 2007. Donning her custom-made stationmaster's cap, Tama quietly sat at the ticket gate welcoming and seeing off passengers. The cat quickly attracted tourists and became world-famous, contributing to the railway company and local economy.
Tama, who had turned 16 in April, died of a heart failure on June 22. During Sunday's Shinto-style funeral at the station where she served, Tama became a goddess. The Shinto religion, indigenous to Japan and practiced by many Japanese, has a variety of gods including animals.
In one of several portraits decorating the altar, Tama posed in a stationmaster's hat and a dark blue cape. Sake, as well as watermelon, apples, cabbage and other fruits and vegetables were presented to the cat. A stand outside the station was heaped with bouquets, canned tuna and other gifts left by thousands of Tama fans who came to pray from around the country.
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In this April 29, 2015 photo, Tama, a cat stationmaster, Japan’s feline star of a struggling local railway, receives a birthday cake on her 16th birthday in Kinokawa, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan. Tama was mourned by company officials and fans and elevated into a goddess at a funeral Sunday, June 28, 2015. Tama died of a heart failure on June 22. (Kyodo News via AP) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT
A girl lays bouquets of flowers at an altar especially set up for a funeral of Tama, a cat stationmaster, in Kinokawa City, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, Sunday, June 28, 2015. Tama the stationmaster, Japan's feline star of a struggling local railway, was mourned by company officials and fans and elevated into a goddess Sunday. Tama, sitting at the ticket gate welcoming and seeing off passengers, quickly attracted tourists and became world-famous, contributing to the railway company and local economy. Tama died of a heart failure on June 22. (Chika Oshima/Kyodo News via AP) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT
Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/8067670e2f5847748f0a44b8b1f42e08/japan-mourns-passing-tama-cat-stationmaster
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Last edited Sun Jun 28, 2015, 12:25 PM - Edit history (1)
that cats are divine incarnations.
Enjoy eternity, kitty. 
She might speak Japanese; she certainly doesn't speak, "No kitties on the table!"
