Tama the cat becomes a goddess

A cat called Tama has been named a deity in Japan.

The calico cat was a stationmaster at the Kishi station in western Japan – where they are considered spiritual animals – since 2007, but died last week and is now being mourned by company officials and thousands of fans across Japan.

In a speech at the ceremony to ordain Tama a goddess, Wakayama Electric Railway president Mitsunobu Kojima said:  »Tama-chan really emerged like a saviour, a goddess. It was truly my honour to have been able to work with her. »

Thousands of Tama fans left gifts of canned tuna, watermelon, apples and even cabbage at the station in her honour.