Stray Cat Becomes Stationmaster at Japanese Railway After Staff Nurses Her Back to Health

A small railway in Japan just proved that every cat deserves a second chance, and a corner office. Choshi Electric Railway found a stray tabby cat last October in rough shape. She was sick, underweight, and her eyes were frozen shut. Instead of leaving her behind, the platform staff took her in, nursed her back to health, and gave her a name: Nakano-san.

Nakano-san’s rise through the ranks has been swift. She started as an official“apprentice”in January 2026, and by July she had earned a promotion to stationmaster. The ceremony included a custom cap and a medallion, because if you’re going to run a station, you need the proper uniform. Her listed job skills include“pushing computer mouses off the desks”and“sleeping on paperwork.”She’s clearly taking her responsibilities very seriously.

This isn’t the first time a cat has held a top transit position in Japan. The tradition started back in 2007 when Tama became stationmaster at Kishi Station and boosted passenger numbers by 17% in her first month. Nakano-san is following in some very famous pawprints. Would you ride the train more often if a cat was running the show? Tell us in the comments below.