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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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'Stationmaster' Puts $10M in Town's Kitty

Japanese hamlet cashes in on calico's popularity

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(Newser) – The Japanese hamlet of Kishikawa has hopped aboard the Tama express, CNN reports, with the local economy getting a $10 million boost as the calico-turned-hat-wearing-stationmaster gains popularity within and beyond the nation’s borders. Folks flock to the town for a break from city life, taking pictures with the feline and buying "Super Stationmaster" merchandise. And the rail line that serves the town, once in trouble, is now healthy.

A Japanese rail line, under construction.
A Japanese rail line, under construction.   (AP Photo)
Tama, a 9-year-old female cat, wearing a stationmaster cap and a neck sign reading:
Tama, a 9-year-old female cat, wearing a stationmaster cap and a neck sign reading: "Super Stationmaster Tama" rests at Kishi Station in western Japanese city of Kinokawa.   (AP Photo)
Another notable Japanese mammal: 50-year-old female orangutan Gypsy holds and
Another notable Japanese mammal: 50-year-old female orangutan Gypsy holds and "reads" a magazine at the Tama Zoological Park in Tokyo.   (AP Photo)
Passengers take a rest inside a Shinkansen bullet train.
Passengers take a rest inside a Shinkansen bullet train.   (AP Photo)
A train in Japan.
A train in Japan.   (AP Photo)
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Tama has her own Wikipedia entry
Wikipedia

Before success, Tama was just a "regular'" stationmaster
Times (UK)

Cats are lucky in Japan, so no wonder
USA Today


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Japan • train • cat • train station • local economy • stationmaster • novelty

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