Canine and feline stationmasters in three prefectures have brought fame to little-known small town stations, attracting passengers from across the country.
The three sweet stationmasters have brought encouraging news to their respective semi-public joint ventures and regional private railway companies, some of which are suffering from financial difficulties.
A Yorkshire terrier in uniform toddles past passengers who have just gotten off a train, making them all smile. The dog, named Marron, was appointed honorary stationmaster of Okunakayama-kogen Station on the Iwate Ginga Railway in Ichinohemachi, Iwate Prefecture, in June.
Located about 50 kilometers away from JR Morioka Stations on the Tohoku Shinkansen line, the station has no famed shrines nearby. Nevertheless, the small station was packed with visitors during the New Year holiday, as unimaginable scene in previous years. About 50 passengers a day, including some from as far away as Osaka and Hokkaido, visited the station, just to see Marron.
A thousand cell-phone charms featuring the canine stationmaster sold out in six months. The first 8,000 copies of his photo book, which was published in November, are also expected to be sold out soon.
In Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, a feline stationmaster named Bus works at Ashinomaki-onsen Station on the Aizu Railway, having attracted 28,000 passengers in six months after she "took office" in April, about 1.5 times the number from the same period a year ago.
The feline became popular after she was regularly featured in the background of a weather forecast program on local TV.
"We can never thank Bus enough," said Tetsuya Koshiba, assistant manager of the administration division of the Aizu Railway Co.
Tama the Cat, the pioneer of animal stationmasters, is now in her third year at Kishi Station on the Wakayama Electric Railway in Konokawa, Wakayama Prefecture.
Tama has helped raise about 10 million yen in donations since autumn last year, with which the company plans to run "Tama Train" from March, a train car painted with various pictures of Tama.
According to earnings reports on third sector railway firms released by the council of semi-public railway companies, only five of its 36 members firms posted profits in fiscal 2007, among them Miigata-based Hokuetsu Express Co. On the other hand, the number of passengers declined from the previous year at 21 companies.
As the report suggests, many local railway companies are suffering from a decline in the number of passengers.
They may consider the same strategy, but the cuddly stationmasters are not overnight idols.
Marron has been commuting to the station for eight year with his owner, Yoko Motoki, 65, who is commissioned to take care of that station. Bus was brought to the station nine years ago by a local child who found her on the street. All of the four-legged stationmasters seem to be content with "salaries" comprising meals and some treats.
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This article was taken from The Daily Yomirui.
Printed Thursday, February 26, 2009--A3
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