Japan's Kishi Station, located in the southern mainland, has a unique tradition of feline stationmasters. The station's third cat stationmaster, Yontama, was promoted to the top job this month, following in the footsteps of her predecessors, Tama and Nitama. Yontama's promotion comes as no surprise, given her popularity and the station's history. Kishi Station, once on the brink of closure due to low ridership, was saved by Tama's presence and subsequent fame. The station was even entirely demolished and remodeled in 2010, inspired by Tama's image. When Tama passed away in 2015, she was elevated to the status of a local Shinto god, and her successor, Nitama, was inaugurated. However, the station's love for cats continued with the introduction of Yontama, who now joins the ranks of her feline predecessors. When Yontama isn't on duty, her juniors, Gotama and Rokutama, take over, showcasing the station's commitment to feline leadership. The US could learn a thing or two from Japan's innovative approach to transit, and perhaps one day, we'll have station cats to make our train stations more enjoyable.
