Japan's Cutest Commute: The Story of the Station Cats

Even cats have found the best job in the world, even though they have paws.Three whiskered beauties have been officially employed. Now they will perform serious work, but in reality, they are fabulously lucky because they now have the best duties in the world: sleeping soundly, meowing cutely, and eating delicious food. Although, looking at their dissatisfied faces, you wouldn't immediately say so.

This cat, who desperately broke free from the tenacious paws of a bespectacled Japanese man, is named Gotama. He is the fifth cat (Go) to bear the name of Tama, the legendary cat stationmaster who passed away in 2015.

The other two cats are named Nitama and Yontama, which mean Second Tama and Fourth Tama, respectively.

Santama (the third Tama) was sent to Okayama for training, but the person caring for the cat refused to give her up, saying, "I won't let this child go, she will stay in Okayama." Therefore, Sun-tama-tama now serves as the stationmaster in Okayama.

The very first cat named Tama, who became a legend, received her own Shinto shrine after death and was declared the guardian deity of the railway. She was so loved that it is still believed her spirit is still at Kishi Station protecting it.

Japanese railway companies appoint various entities, including fictional characters, as honorary stationmasters to increase passenger visits to stations.