Tashiro-jima (田代島) is an island that belongs to the city of Ishinomaki (石巻市) in Miyagi Prefecture (宮城県). This is where there was a terrible tsunami along with the Fukushima nuclear power plant incident in the spring of 2011. Currently, it is also known as Cat Island or Cat Island (猫島 or 猫の島). The reason lies in the fact that the number of cats here outnumbers the number of people tens of times!
You can get there by sea from Ishinomaki (石巻市).
Of course, there are almost no young people here, one elementary school was closed in 1989, and the average age of residents exceeds 65 years. And there are not many people on the island (about 100 people).
Until relatively recently, the island was “deserted,” but around 2010, crowds of tourists began to flock to the island and now it is not some kind of backwater, but a tourist place. It became popular because of the TV program of the same name “ Cat Island ”, which was greatly appreciated by cat lovers.
General information
Tashiro Island is very small, measuring approximately 3x1.5 kilometers. There are two tiny villages here - Odomari in the northern part of the island and Nitoda in the southern part. The population is approximately 100 people in both villages. The island's economy is based on fishing and tourism.
An interesting fact is that the villages of Tashiro Island are considered endangered, since more than 80% of their inhabitants are over 65 years old. Young people are trying to leave here for big cities.
Tashiro Elementary School closed in 1989 and became an educational center. But it was also closed in 2008.
LO LoveOpium
We have already been to one such island, Tashiro, where there are more cats than people. But in Japan he is not alone...
Tourists have dubbed the cat island of Aoshima, located 30 minutes by ferry from the coast of Ehime Prefecture in Japan's Seto-Nikai Inland Sea, "cat paradise." An unusual home for more than 120 small predators. And there are also more cats here than people.
24 photos
1. The mustachioed stripes are on duty at the pier and in a friendly outburst surround everyone who arrives at Aoshima. They beg for food and happily pose for the cameras, February 25, 2015. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
2. Aoshima Island is located in Ehime Prefecture. As of 1945, 900 people lived here, but then the population began to decline. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
3. Today there are about 6 cats per local resident. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
4. These cats were once specially brought to the island so that they could catch mice that spoiled the fishermen’s nets. However, their population has grown significantly. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
5. Cats on the pier waiting for arriving tourists. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
6. The island is connected to the rest of Japan by ferry. There are no hotels or large shops here, many buildings are abandoned. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
7. But there are cats. Lots of cats. Of course, this place is called “Cat Island” and attracts many tourists every year. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
8. They drove away the mice, and today they have a new role - to entertain tourists. Cat Island Aoshima, February 25, 2015. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
9. They say that one visit to the “purring island” of Aoshima replaces ten sessions of psychotherapy. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
10. Cat paw print, Aoshima Island, February 25, 2015. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
11. Feeding begins. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
12. Cats are beside themselves with impatience. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
13. Pipe tail. A cat is a sign of greeting and friendliness. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
14. The most impatient ones jump straight onto the bag of food. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
15. Fight for a piece. Cat Island Aoshima, February 25, 2015. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
16. A cat in an abandoned school on the island of Aoshima, February 25, 2015. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
17. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
18. Cat Island Aoshima, February 25, 2015. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
19. Cats ask tourists for something tasty. Some just watch and wait, some touch with their paws, some stand on their hind legs. The most athletic perform acrobatic performances. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
20. At the pier of Aoshima Cat Island, February 25, 2015. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
21. Rare photo: one cat in the frame. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
22. And we say goodbye to the island of cats and leave on the ferry. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
23. Cats and local residents say goodbye to us. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
24. Cat Island Aoshima, February 25, 2015. (Photo by Thomas Peter | Reuters):
Also see "Big Cats" and "Secrets of Rabbit Island in Japan."
Tags: , cats, islands, educational, Japan
Why are there so many cats on the island?
During the late Edo period (18th and 19th centuries), silkworms were cultivated in many parts of Japan and were actively used to produce silk. The cultivation of such worms also flourished on Tashiro Island.
People originally kept cats to keep away mice, which in turn ate silkworms. In addition, in Japanese culture, cats are believed to bring good luck. And fishermen began to observe the behavior of cats and found out that they were able to predict the weather and even the behavior of fish.
Over time, the cat population began to increase. But the number of people living on the island, on the contrary, began to decline. Today, no more than 100 people live here (although in the 1950s there were about 1000). There are many times more cats on the island. According to the most conservative estimates, there are 6 times more fluffy and meowing inhabitants here.
Interesting fact: there are no dogs on Cat Island. In addition, it is forbidden to bring them here for obvious reasons.
By the way, in the same Japan there is another amazing Rabbit Island. Why do you think it is called that?
What now?
The unusual island has recently begun to be discussed on the Internet, which has led to a sharp increase in tourists. Various events related to cats are now being held here. The flow of tourists gave Tashiro a second life, because... The money received from tourism is used to develop the island.
Cats are also not against tourists, because... They feed them well and show a lot of affection. In turn, cats are not averse to giving them beautiful photographs with their participation.
cat temple
In the center of the island, between two villages, there is a cat shrine. She is called Neko-jinja. She appeared after a stone accidentally fell and crushed the cat.
Cats came to fishermen's houses and begged for fish scraps. One day, when the fishermen were collecting stones for their nets, one of the stones fell and killed a cat. The fishermen buried her, and made a small memorial at this place. This proves that people's attitude towards cats on Tashiro Island is incredibly reverent.
Memorial to cats
Fun fact: Miyagi Prefecture has at least ten cat shrines and 51 cat-shaped stone monuments. This is more than any other Japanese prefecture.
Did you know that there is a real Pig Island in the Bahamas?
Manga Island
On the way to Manga Island, you can see a stunning Cat statue made in 2010 by students at Tokyo University of the Arts.
“Manga Island” is located on a hill, which is why nothing was damaged there by the tsunami. Most of the inhabitants of the island are on this hill and everything remains safe and sound (because this hill is higher than 10 meters and, accordingly, the tsunami did not reach there). Having reached the right place, you can see a signマンガアイランド, which means “ Manga Island ”.
To avoid confusion, let me explain that this “manga island” is located on the hill of the “cat island”. All the houses there are made in the shape of cats. These houses were built in 2000 and some of them can even be rented.
Fortunately, young people work on Manga Island, not pensioners, so you will find people to talk to. Next you can go to the “cat temple”.
Cat Island in tourism
In 2004, a married couple moved to Tashiro and opened a hotel for travelers. In 2006, they launched their blog about the island and its inhabitants. The island appeared in some films and began to attract tourists from all over the world. It has become a major tourist attraction for cat lovers.
Everything here reminds me of cats
Currently, the island hosts cat photography competitions and exhibitions. A ferry departs from Ishinomaki City to the island three times a day. You can visit the island for one day or spend several days here in small cottages that resemble... cats, of course.
You can stay in these houses on the island of cats
Directions
You can only get to the island from Ishinomaki by ferry. Those. if, for example, you are traveling from Tokyo, you need to take the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Sendai, from there take a local train to Ishinomaki and from there to the “cat island”.
The boat ride takes approximately 40 minutes. The ferry makes 2 stops: Odomari (大泊) and after a few minutes there will be Nitoda (仁斗田). Travelers are strongly advised to get off at the second stop. The reason is very simple - from the second stop you can quickly walk to two more important attractions of the island - “Manga Island” and “Cat Temple”.
Settlement history
Frajost Island is located in the Indian Ocean, almost at the end of the world. It is difficult to find it on maps, except on detailed navigation ones. Sailing in these waters is commonplace. Previously, cats were willingly taken on ships, because they helped cope with rodents. Rats were a scourge on every ship. If you don’t fight them, you can not only lose all your food supplies, but also contract a disease. It was to avoid such problems that cats were willingly recruited onto the ship. In 1850, one of these ships sank. Several crew members managed to survive and ended up on a desert island. These unfortunate people never received help. The victims tried to survive on the wild island, but in the end they all died from various causes, mainly from starvation or malaria.
Food on a wild island
It was impossible for a person to live in the conditions of the island of Frajost. How did the cats do it? After all, they did not have a caring owner who leaves them food in a bowl every day and feeds them expensive premium food. They didn't even have rodents to eat.
The cat's diet must be balanced. It should contain meat, porridge, and sour cream. And modern cat food is replete with vitamins and healthy additives. Owners diligently pamper their pets with expensive food, believing that without it the animal will get sick and will not live long. Cats from the island of Frajost destroy such stereotypes to smithereens. They never dreamed of variety in nutrition. They don’t know what duck, chicken, tender pate and other delicacies are. Their only delicacy is fish.
A little history
So where did cats come from in such numbers? In fact, there is no mystery, mysticism or even legend in this. Everything is so prosaic that it’s even boring.
In ancient times, there was a fishing village on the island. Local residents engaged in fishing to feed themselves and their families. At some point, there was a demographic explosion in the rodent population. The increased population needed food. Where can you get it if not from people?
And so crowds of rats and mice rushed into residential buildings in search of food. Hungry animals not only literally devoured the supplies of local residents, but also damaged fishing gear and chewed through boats along the way.
The number of cats that lived in the village at that time physically could not cope with the million-strong invasion of the army of rodents. People had no choice but to import new furry hunters from neighboring islands and the mainland.
Gradually the number of pests disappeared. Cats, elevated to the rank of sacred animals, began to multiply exponentially, while the number of inhabitants steadily decreased.
After the Second World War, some people left their homes, going to the city to work, others died of old age. In the end, the population of the village was reduced to several dozen pensioners, and even those are becoming fewer and fewer from year to year.
True, there is another, more ancient story of the 16th century, which explains why on the island. Aoshima has so many cats. Long before fishing, villagers were engaged in silk production. Silk, in turn, was obtained from the silkworm, whose numbers periodically declined due to hungry mice. The natural enemy of rodents is cats. So they began to be imported as pest hunters.
In principle, these two stories more than explain why the island turned from ordinary to cat-like.
Contrary to scientists
Any veterinarian will say: “Cats are prohibited from giving fish!” And then there are many arguments in favor of this statement:
- salts from fish can plant kidneys;
- phosphorus and magnesium will lead to urolithiasis;
- carp fish are a source of helminthic infestation;
- threat of anemia as a result of poor absorption of iron;
- injury to the larynx and intestines by bones;
- fish is not an environmentally friendly product.
Veterinarians allow fish in very rare cases, boiled and thoroughly cleaned. They can be convinced that they are wrong by meeting the inhabitants of the cat island. The inhabitants of Frajost clearly require a thorough study. After all, they were able to survive in the wild, eating exclusively forbidden foods. There is no data yet on the life expectancy of the island's inhabitants and the effect of diet on their health.
