Japan’s Wakayama Electric Railway was in financial trouble a couple of years ago, but their decision to make a cat named Tama the official station-master of Kishi Station in Kinokawa has drawn in thousands of visitors across Japan and saved the company.
The company isn’t the only one benefiting financially from Tama’s charm; one expert claims that the mascot’s popularity has boosted the local economy by ¥1.1 billion (~USD10 million) via the extra train passengers, Tama’s merchandises and other tourists’ activities.
How you wish your cat can do the same thing for you… too bad.