Earlier this year on a lovely trip to Okayama and it's stunning castle, we were waiting for our tram back to the city's main station.
The tram which picked us up was a Wakayama prefecture sponsored tram, decorated with cartoon images of it's cute feline mascot, Tama! I did wonder... "Why a Wakayama sponsored tram in Okayama??... The two places are far apart and haven't any link which I'm aware of....". Well the link between the two would appear upon further investigation.
So Tama was the Ultra Station Master at the Kishi train station in Wakayama. She even had her own station office where passengers could report their transport issu.... Urm.... Sorry.... Where passengers could visit and see the cute Tama in her Ultra Station Master uniform before boarding their train for their destination.
Now far, far away in Okayama, when Tama was working her shift at Kishi station Wakayama, another kitty was in contact with a different public transport system. This kitty however was in danger after being caught under an Okayama city tram car. After being saved, the Okayama Electrical Tramway adopted her. She would go on to be aptly named "Nitama" (2nd Tama).
Sadly Tama passed away in 2015 and the Ultra Station Master position was vacant. After successfully completing an apprenticeship however Nitama succeeded Tama and took on the position of Ultra Station Master. Hooray!
And there is the link between Okayama and Wakayama as Okayama's own Nitama continues Tama's exceptional Ultra Station Master legacy at the Kishi station in Wakayama.
It's one of my personal ambitions of 2018 to venture out to Wakayama and visit Nitama. I promise to take some pictures!
