by Michelle Kathleen Beckett
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A rail company in Japan was losing money and had to lay off all their staff two years ago. Now they are celebrating a 10% increase in business – thanks to Tama the cat.
The feline, who was born and raised at Kishi station in the city of Kinokawa is proof of what the Japanese believe – that cats are good luck.
The nine-year-old – who receives cat food in lieu of a salary – won national stardom last year when the firm formally made her “station master”.
Since then passengers have been gradually returning, recently rising 10% to about 2.1 million a year.
“She never complains. She is an amazing cat. She has patience and charisma. She is the perfect station master,” said Yoshiko Yamaki, a representative for the rail company.
The cat is responsible for a selection of popular merchandise, including a picture book called: “Diary of Tama, the Station Master.”
Photo by AFP
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Posted on http://www.weeklyletter.com at 2008-06-25 10:00:00 +0200
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