The Island Of Cats
We all know that cats have a mysterious air, being like little deities who like to be admired and cared for. It may be that you have a copy in your house, that faithful companion who peacefully inhabits your sofa, waiting for the sun to rise, keeping you company and always trying to be close to you to relieve your worries… in your own way.
In Japan, the admiration for cats reaches a higher level. Traditional Japanese beliefs regard cats as animals that attract good luck. They are respected, loved and admired… so it sounds strange to have an entire island dedicated exclusively to worshiping them.
good luck symbols
In fact, cats are the representation of good luck, happiness and abundance. For the Japanese, they are truly special beings. An example of this is that spaces dedicated to them are increasingly being developed in large cities. Care and leisure centers, where people can go when they want to spend a moment with the admired cats. Japanese people tend to have very intense work hours, their lives are very work-oriented, and their homes are very small spaces to have a pet and take care of it as necessary.
These centers appear as an instant of personal relaxation. A moment to caress, play and feed the little cats. It seems sad, no doubt, but each society structures its life in a way, and it is common that there is always some kind of lack, of need. Stroking a cat, feeling close to them, can be, for the Japanese, an instant worth paying to forget about their worries.
Tashiro, the island of cats
Tashirojima is a small island in Miyagi, Japan. It is home to 100 people who treat, care for and take care of cats as if they were true gods. In the past, this small island was dedicated exclusively to the breeding of silkworms, something that, little by little, brought with it an epidemic of rats. To control the plague, the islanders began bringing in cats. First two, then five, ten… the rat plague disappeared and the island soon became a real cat paradise. Nobody bothered; rather, it was a hallmark of good luck.
The inhabitants of Tashirojima fed and cared for the cats with total devotion. So much so that the news that there was an island full of hundreds of cats immediately caught the attention of the rest of the country. It didn’t take long for tourists to arrive, boats full of people eager to meet and see all those cats in person.
The admiration was so great that no one doubted the need to create a sanctuary to worship them, thus becoming one of the favorite destinations of the Japanese. That’s where they relax, walk and let themselves be enveloped by the calm and serene complicity of the cats on the island of Tashirojima.
This may catch your attention or seem strange, but each culture lives its beliefs and its needs in a particular way. Curious things extend little by little; there are already many similar places that are being opened in Europe, where you can have a coffee accompanied by cats seeking refuge in your lap. There is nothing simpler and more comforting for many people. Maybe it works for you.
