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.
BIG