Talk:Tama (cat)

A fact from Tama (cat) appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 30 May 2008, and was viewed approximately 17,554 times (disclaimer) (check views). The text of the entry was as follows:

Did you know... that the stationmaster of the Kinokawa train station in Kinokawa, Japan is a cat named Tama (pictured)?

A record of the entry may be seen at Wikipedia:Recent additions/2008/May. The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Tama (cat).

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No other Explanation?[edit]

Is there really no other explanation that railway officials chose an animal as a station master other than cutbacks and the local shopkeeper's fondness for stray cats?

Peter ^Isotalo 15:38, 30 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

yup, that really appears to be it...cool huh? :) LegoTech·(t)·(c) 17:27, 30 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Not really. It just seems like yet another case of dressing up cute animals in human clothing for the hell of it.

Peter ^Isotalo 06:12, 3 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I suspect a) publicity, and b) kawaii -- Chzz ► 21:17, 3 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

According the the Japanese Wikipedia, the Kisigawa line had been operated by Nankai Railway but was taken over by Okayama Electric Tramway in 2006.

Tama's mother Miiko was born at the Kanroji Mae station, the next to Kishi, and was kept at the worker's waiting room at the Kishi station. Miiko gave birth to four kittens, one of which was Tama.

Then Miiko and Tama were kept by Koyama who owned a shop next to the station and was later appointed as the station master of the Kishi station. Miiko and Tama spent all day in front of the shop and acquainted the neighbours and the station users.

Around the same time of the ownership change of the line, the ownership of the land where Miiko and Tama's cat house was situated also transferred from Nankai to the City council. Their cat house had to be removed. After the opening ceremony of the line by the new owner in 2006, Koyama asked Kojima, the managing director of the new owner company, if Miiko and Tama could live in the station. Kojima agreed, saying "As soon as I saw Tama, I could visualise her in the station master uniform", hoping Tama can become a manekineko for the station. Tarafuku10 (talk) 10:03, 13 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

You're joking! How can a cat become a station master? This article is a piece of crap! I want it deleted now! --User:BrianHardy44 —Preceding undated comment added 04:48, 13 December 2009 (UTC).[reply]

The article explained exactly how. It will not be deleted since it's all true and it made the news. Also, the station has seen a significant profit increase, so that cat must be doing something right. Manekineko indeed. • Maurog • 21:48, 22 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]

You've summed up ("Manekineko") what I was about to say. Tortoise shell cats - particularly ones coloured like Tama - are considered lucky, and those colours are apparently used on the majority are of Manekineko statues.

File:Maneki Neko Bank.JPG

I'm thinking that the railway company logic in creating a Feline Station Master went something like this:

1. Calico Cats are lucky.

2. We have a Calico Cat at one of our Railway Stations.

3. ???

4. Profit. --Johnmc (talk) 02:26, 13 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

BLP?[edit]

Does WP:BLP apply to this article? 75.76.213.106 (talk) 02:01, 8 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Nope. --DAJF (talk) 03:09, 8 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

New Station Building[edit]

Can someone find a photo of the new station building, which has been styled to look like a cat's face, that can be used? Google images brings up plenty, but I'm not sure about permission. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.175.184.174 (talk) 06:43, 12 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Yep, got one. Good suggestion, thanks. DS (talk) 12:12, 13 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Santama[edit]

"On January 5, 2012, Tama's official apprentice, named "Nitama" ("Second Tama") was revealed Born in Okayama City in 2010, Nitama was rescued from under a train car and adopted by Okayama Electric Tramway. Nitama trained at Idakiso Station before being chosen as Tama's apprentice.

On January 6, 2017, the tenth anniversary of Tama's installment as stationmaster, Yontama ("Fourth Tama"), an eight month old calico was introduced as Nitama's subordinate and the new stationmaster of Idakiso Station, the station Nitama trained at, on Nitama's days off."

Was there no Santama ("Third Tama) before Yontama? Or is Chibi the Santama?- 2A02:C7D:C28:4B00:881E:C49:D3A1:AA26 (talk) 18:05, 28 September 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Honourific[edit]

Does anyone know the appropriate honourific for Tama (or any of the successors)? I'm assuming that it might not be obvious because of the enshrinement Tristanjlroberts (talk) 13:03, 13 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]