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| Japanese station master cat Tama given lavish send-off | Japanese station master cat Tama given lavish send-off |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A lavish funeral has been held for a Japanese cat who became an international star when she was made a station master in western Japan. | A lavish funeral has been held for a Japanese cat who became an international star when she was made a station master in western Japan. |
| Tama, who was made a railway official eight years ago, was credited with putting the rail firm back on track financially after drawing in thousands of tourists. | Tama, who was made a railway official eight years ago, was credited with putting the rail firm back on track financially after drawing in thousands of tourists. |
| Her custom-made cap and jacket made her a familiar sight at Kishi station. | Her custom-made cap and jacket made her a familiar sight at Kishi station. |
| The 16-year-old cat died of heart failure on 22 June. | The 16-year-old cat died of heart failure on 22 June. |
| Dozens of company officials and thousands of fans turned out for Tama's Shinto-style funeral on Sunday, where she was elevated to the status of a goddess. | |
| The Shinto religion, practiced by many in Japan, has a variety of gods including animals. | The Shinto religion, practiced by many in Japan, has a variety of gods including animals. |
| During the ceremony, officials thanked the feline celebrity for saving the station by attracting tourists from around the world. | During the ceremony, officials thanked the feline celebrity for saving the station by attracting tourists from around the world. |
| The president of Wakayama Electric Railway, Mitsunobu Kojima, also gave her the special title of "honorary permanent stationmaster", AP reports. | The president of Wakayama Electric Railway, Mitsunobu Kojima, also gave her the special title of "honorary permanent stationmaster", AP reports. |
| He said Tama had contributed an estimated 1.1 billion yen ($8.9m; £5.7m) to the local economy. | He said Tama had contributed an estimated 1.1 billion yen ($8.9m; £5.7m) to the local economy. |
| "She was affectionate with people and hard-working," one local resident said. | "She was affectionate with people and hard-working," one local resident said. |
| Outside the station, bouquets of flowers, cans of tuna and other gifts were left by many of Tama's thousands of fans. | Outside the station, bouquets of flowers, cans of tuna and other gifts were left by many of Tama's thousands of fans. |
| Since 2007, Tama has been quietly welcoming and sending off railway travellers at the station in Wakayama Prefecture. | Since 2007, Tama has been quietly welcoming and sending off railway travellers at the station in Wakayama Prefecture. |
| At the time, the local railway line was almost bankrupt and the station was unmanned but Tama's celebrity status helped to bring the company back from the brink of financial ruin. | At the time, the local railway line was almost bankrupt and the station was unmanned but Tama's celebrity status helped to bring the company back from the brink of financial ruin. |
| The governor of Wakayama Prefecture, Yoshinobu Nisaka, said it was important the practice of using feline staff at the railway station was maintained. | The governor of Wakayama Prefecture, Yoshinobu Nisaka, said it was important the practice of using feline staff at the railway station was maintained. |
| Another cat, called Nitama, has since become an apprentice station master. | Another cat, called Nitama, has since become an apprentice station master. |