TASHIROJIMA, Japan — On a small island off the northeast coast of Japan, visitors make offerings at a shrine to unusual local guardians: cats.
The “Neko Jinja”, or Cat Shrine, mythologizes cats as guardian angels of Tashirojima, where cats outnumber humans.
Legend has it that the island used to be famous for sericulture and farmers kept cats because they chased away rats, protecting the silkworm cocoons from rodents.
Fishermen on the island have also traditionally believed that cats bring good luck, including large catches of fish.
Another legend says that fishermen used to observe the behavior of cats to get advice about the weather ahead before setting out to sea.
The islanders have lived with cats for a long time. However, one day a fisherman accidentally hurt a cat while he was working. Feeling sorry for the injury, the islanders built a cat sanctuary.
Tashirojima is part of the city of Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture in the Tohoku region, which became well known after a tsunami devastated the area following a massive magnitude 9 earthquake on March 11, 2011.
More than 100 cats inhabit Tashirojima, along with about 50 humans, according to the city’s website.
Along a paved road that runs about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) between the island’s two ports, cats groom themselves and mingle with other cats.
There are some cafes and inns, but no car rental shops, gas stations or public transportation. Tourists are expected to hike up and down the island’s hills during their visit.
Most of the cats are used to tourists, who can be seen petting the friendly animals throughout the island.
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