From stray cat to big boss.
Sleeping on documents and knocking computer mice off desks: Things that would get you into trouble at the office apparently come with the job for Nakano-san. The rescued cat is now a stationmaster in Choshi, Japan, uniform cap included.
Some people spend years working toward a promotion. Others join the company on four paws and impress everyone by lying around all day. Nakano-san belongs to the second group. Behind her unusual career, however, is a rather touching story.
First Rescued, Then Promoted
In October 2025, employees of the Choshi Electric Railway discovered a thin, sick cat at the station. It was unclear whether she had been abandoned or was living as a stray. The railway staff took her in and nursed her back to health.
The cat in need of help became a familiar face at work. Nakano-san began her "training" in January 2026, and in May she was appointed stationmaster of Nakanocho Station. Her new position came with a little cap and a medal for her collar.
This is an impressively rapid rise for someone who probably still hasn't answered a single email.
The Boss Is Lying on Your Paperwork
Nakano-san's documented office activities include chewing on cables, chasing computer mice, and taking regular naps on whatever paperwork happens to be lying around. Anyone who has a cat knows the drill: As soon as something looks important, it becomes a bed.
Her actual job is to be a mascot. The railway company features Nakano-san in its publicity efforts, and plenty of reporters attended her appointment. The four-legged boss is there to draw attention to the railway and the city.
That gives her at least one qualification many managers lack. People are actually happy when she shows up at the office.
A Connection That Changed Her Life
For Nakano-san, the story began with a railway station offering refuge. Today, she has a home there and a title that would look pretty good on a business card.
Does she understand the significance of her promotion? A safe place to sleep and her next meal probably matter more to her. Then again, that would mean she's already set clear priorities for management.
Incidentally, she isn't the first cat to be given the title of stationmaster. Back in 2007, Tama the cat became the boss and mascot of Kishi Station, which was facing closure at the time because it was too expensive to operate.
The feline and her new duties attracted countless visitors from across Japan and saved the station. When Tama died in 2015, a touching funeral was held nearby, and a shrine was established to commemorate her to this day.