During the mid-2000s, the KishiTrain Station in Japan began to deteriorate. By 2006, Kishi Station was left completely unstaffed because of low ridership and financial problems. However, one last resident still remained after everyone else was long gone: a black, white, and tan cat namedTama. Tama first appeared at the station as a young cat in the late 1990s. She lived near the train station and would visit commuters daily to receive affection and the occasional treat. But, as it turned out, her continued visits to Kishi Station would end up playing a much bigger role for the station. The same year it became unstaffed, residents living near the station asked the president of theWakayama Electric Railway, Mitsunobu Kojima, to revive the station because the cat’s survival depended on it. It turns out Tama’s original owner had asked the railway workers to care for her before he moved away — he couldn’t bear to take her from the station she loved to visit so much. So, Kojima decided to go meetTama. He liked her immediately and adopted her. A year later,Tama was officially named the Stationmaster of Kishi Station, the first cat stationmaster in Japan.To complete her look, THE F IRST FEL INE STAT IONMASTER IN ALL OF JAPAN Tama, the Calico
Kojima gave her a small conductor hat to wear as she greeted commuters from her window perch inside the ticket gates. As an official stationmaster,Tama became well known all across Japan and throughout the world. She appeared in the media and on promotional materials that soon brought much-needed foot traffic to Kishi Station.Thousands of tourists came rushing to Kishi to seeTama for themselves, ride the Tamaden carriage, and pick upTama merchandise inside the station. Tama brought joy to all commuters for the next several years before passing away in 2015. Nearly 3,000 people attended her funeral, and her legacy lives on.Tama’s successors continue as stationmasters: Nitama, who serves as Kishi stationmaster, and assistantYontama at Idakiso, five stations away. Tama’s friendly and loving nature impacted many people around her, and she will always be affectionately known as the cat who saved the Japanese train station.
happy Patients “In the past, going to the dentist was not something I looked forward to. I used to feel quite nervous and uptight. Now, maybe because I’m older and more sure of myself, I feel more relaxed, but perhaps the people at SouthWindsor Smiles have a lot to do with making the patients feel quite at ease. Once, some wise person said to me, ‘If a business is doing well, you can almost bet that the CEO is a good person!’ Well, I surely feel that Dr. Norige transfers his happy personality to every person who works with him and to every person who goes to him for help. For me, SouthWindsor Smiles is a good place to visit.” –Karen R.
“I always leave here laughing — yes, from a dentist!They’re all very friendly, understanding, and caring, and they always make me comfortable. Not to mention, they do a great job on my teeth!”
“Although I used to ‘dread’ going to the dentist, Dr. Norige makes my experience as delightful as one can say the experience is. I always think about canceling the appointment before I go but know that I’ll come away happy.”
–Ricardo O.
–Carol A.
“From the moment you enter their office, everyone is so friendly and helpful and makes you feel welcomed. As you are escorted into the room to meet with Dr. Norige and his assistant, you are treated like you are part of the family. Dr. Norige is very thorough with going over the details of the services that need to be performed and is the most outstanding dentist I’ve been to in a number of years.”
“Hands down the best practice in the greater Hartford area from the minute you walk in until you leave. It’s a very warm and caring atmosphere, and there’s no shortage of care here.”
–Michael H.
–JohnV.
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