Yes, I know the story of Tama the cat, the little trainmaster cat that Japan thought was so cute and proceeded to plaster all over the news. And yeah, Tama is cute. Sure, the kitty managed to boost the local economy, but did the cat really need a train designed after it? Does the cat really need its own office and trainmaster hat?
What followed was a bunch of other train stations picking up animal mascots. Maron is a cute Yorkshire Terrier that does a similar job for another station, but with a snappier suit and hat than Tama. More stations followed, with some even picking up strays as a mascot. How desperate. Two of the more famous felines had a meet-up recently. Bus, one of the former strays, and Kotora, stationmaster at Kichigahara, did not appear to like each other at all.
To top this all off, Japan Probe reports that Uzen-Komatsu station has just enlisted a new stationmaster, this time a goat. And again, I guess he's kind of a cute goat, but really?
What's next? A baby seal? You know, I'd like to see a komodo dragon with a little stationmaster's hat on.
Really, Japan. What's wrong with, just, you know...people as stationmasters? They make cute people, too, you know. If you think a mangy cat does a lot for the local station business, imagine what a busty, biniki-wearing idol would do.
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I'm reminded of Aria, which I've just started watching on Anime Network. But that cat is creepy.