Yontama Takes the Helm: Wakayama's Kishi Station Welcomes Its Third Feline Stationmaster

On January 7, 2026, a formal inauguration ceremony took place at Kishi Station in Kinokawa City, Wakayama Prefecture, marking the appointment of the third cat to hold the esteemed position of Stationmaster. A calico cat named Yontama assumed the role, continuing a unique and highly successful tradition that began in 2007. This initiative has proven instrumental in boosting local tourism and, crucially, saving a struggling railway line from potential closure.

Mitsunobu Kojima, the President of Wakayama Electric Railway, personally presented Yontama with a specially engraved commemorative medal. He emphasized that in the current era of significant transformation within the Japanese railway sector, a new mascot figure like Yontama could play a vital role in maintaining public engagement and support.

Kishi Station, the terminus of the Kishigawa Line, is famous for its distinctive architecture, designed to resemble a cat's face, complete with roof eaves mimicking ears and an entrance shaped like a mouth. The line itself is operated by Wakayama Electric Railway, a subsidiary of the Ryobi Group. This railway also runs several themed trains, notably the 'Tama Densha' and the 'Ichigo Densha,' further enhancing its appeal to visitors.

The tradition of appointing cats to leadership roles originated with the legendary Tama, who first took office in 2007. Her tenure is estimated to have injected approximately 1.1 billion yen into the local economy, effectively halting the planned shutdown of the branch line. Tama passed away in June 2015 at the age of 16. Following her death, she was posthumously deified under Shinto tradition as the guardian deity of the railway, and a small shrine now stands on the platform in her honor. Her successor, Nittama, took over in 2015 and served until November 2025, when she also passed away at age 15, earning the posthumous title of Honorary Stationmaster.

Yontama, much like her predecessors, will fulfill a symbolic function as the station's mascot. Her duties include greeting passengers during designated working hours while wearing her official cap. In return for her service, Yontama receives accommodation and meals. The presentation ceremony also introduced Rokutama, a trainee cat currently undergoing instruction. Rokutama is being prepared to eventually step into a leadership role, ensuring the continuity of feline management at the station.

The impact of the cat stationmasters on ridership has been quite significant. When Tama was first appointed in January 2007, passenger numbers surged by 17 percent in the first month compared to the same period the previous year. Yontama, as a calico cat, is expected to carry this momentum forward, drawing necessary tourist attention, which remains absolutely critical for sustaining the viability of this local transportation artery.