As the economic might of Japan faces up to the global banking crisis, a single cat has boosted the finances of a small Japanese city by millions of dollars, according to a study.

Tortoiseshell Tama is the “stationmaster” of the unmanned Kishi train station where she was born and raised on the provincial Kishigawa Line.

But it is not her labours on the platform which have seen the cash rolling in.

It is rather Tama’s irresistible charm which has brought tourists flocking in their thousands to the western city of Kinokawa to see the feline worker patrolling in the uniform of her office – a Wakayama Electric Railway cap.

With 55,000 more people having used the Kishigawa Line than would normally be expected, Tama’s contribution to the local economy is calculated to have reached as much as Y1.1 billion ($A13.5 million) in 2007 alone, according to a study announced last week.

Katsuhiro Miyamoto, a professor at Kansai University’s School of Accountancy, said picture books and other merchandise featuring the feline stationmaster also produced significant economic effects.

A television appearance and other publicity surrounding Tama – who receives cat food in lieu of a salary – was worth Y280 million ($A3.4 million), according to Miyamoto.

Tama was born from a stray cat brought to the station by a cleaner and kept by Toshiko Koyama, a local who runs a grocery store next door.

The station went unmanned in April 2006 as the line was losing money. But Tama turned this around.

She rose to national stardom in January 2007 as the railway company formally appointed her as “stationmaster”.

AFP

This is my little cat, mimi!! i take random pics jajaja!!! XD

Charlotte playing with our newest addition to the family. I love how he looks so bummed when she leaves at the end

Rusty the cat wanders through life day to day finding bags to hide in. Well I had a similar experience yesterday. I opened my office’s door and a little cat jumped inside. He was cute little kitten and I loved him at first sight. I took him to kitchen first. Only one milk pack was there. Farhan (my cat lover friend) was eager to clean it as the little kitten was all up with mud. Then he just cleaned him and we gave some milk to him in a plate. Wow, I have to say cats are cute, they are lovely. Now the cat is with us, sits in front of office door and says hi to everyone. I do remember Hello Kitty.

i never thought i’d ever see a cat try and hit a joint. but i have. The little black kitty.

Fahd’s Review:
This little kid is great at cat throwing but he doesn’t know what happens if cat plans to take a revenge. So here does the cat revenge movie. Little baby gets a revenge from a cat at poolside.

The Jacaranda is a tree full of blue flowers, if you sleep under one of these trees, you’ll wake up covered by a blue carpet

Bajo el jacaranda, originally uploaded by Celeste.

Please believe me I am innocent. PIEAS HOSTEL Kitty!

The innocent kitty, originally uploaded by Fahd Murtaza.

Farhan and the hostel kitty! I am having fun here in PIEAS. Though photography is not allowed outdoors ( Due to Nuclear Reactor I think) , but I am sure not indoors!

Hello Kitty, by Fahd Murtaza.

Was she expecting a real mouse! Sorry on your disappointment!

Mouse Hunt, originally uploaded by Fahd Murtaza.