TASHIROJIMA, Japan — On a small island off the northeast coast of Japan, visitors make offerings at a shrine to unlikely local guardians: cats.
The “Neko Jinja”, or Cat Sanctuary, mythologizes cats as guardian angels of Tashirojima, where cats surpass people.
Legend has it that the island was famous for sericulture and farmers bred cats because they chased away rats, protecting the silkworm cocoons from rodents.
A cat crosses the altar at a cat shrine on May 18 on Tashirojima Island in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
Hiro Komae, Associated Press
Felines a symbol of good luck
The island’s fishermen also traditionally believed that cats brought good luck, including large catches.
Another legend says that fishermen used to watch the behavior of cats for clues about the approaching weather before heading out to sea.
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Islanders have long coexisted with cats. One day, however, a fisherman accidentally injured a cat while working. Feeling sorry for the injury, the islanders built the cat sanctuary.
Tashirojima is part of the city of Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture in the Tohoku region, which became famous after a tsunami devastated the area following a massive magnitude 9 earthquake on March 11, 2011.
Tourists watch cats being fed on May 18 at a cafe on Tashirojima Island in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
Hiro Komae, Associated Press
Cats outnumber humans
More than 100 cats inhabit Tashirojima, along with about 50 humans, according to the city’s website.
Along a paved road of about 2 kilometers between the island’s two ports, cats groom themselves and mingle with other cats.
There are some cafes and guesthouses, but no car rental agencies, gas stations or public transport. Tourists are expected to walk up and down the island’s hills during their visit.
Most of the cats are accustomed to tourists, who can be seen petting the friendly animals all over the island.
Tourists pet cats on May 18 on a street on Tashirojima Island in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
A tourist pets a cat on May 18, while other cats frequent a sanctuary dedicated to the feline on the island of Tashirojima, in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
A cat sits on May 18 in front of the signs of a cafe and a cat sanctuary in Nitoda Harbor on Tashirojima Island in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
A cat cares for another on May 18, as tourists rest at a cafe on the island of Tashirojima in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
A cat walks in front of the signs of a cafe and cat sanctuary on May 18 on Tashirojima Island in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
A cat grooms itself on May 18 on a street on the island of Tashirojima, in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
A cat crouches on May 18 near a cat-themed sign that reads, “Welcome to Tashirojima Island,” near Odomari Port in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
A tourist takes photos of cats on May 18 at a restaurant in Nitoda Port on Tashirojima Island in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
Tourists line up on May 18 before boarding a ferry at Nitoda Port to leave the island of Tashirojima while a cat finds food in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
Tourists talk to a cat sitting on a street on May 18 on Tashirojima Island in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
Cats rest on May 18 near a sanctuary dedicated to the feline on the island of Tashirojima, in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
Tourists pet cats on May 18 on a street on Tashirojima Island in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
A tourist pets a cat on May 18, while other cats frequent a sanctuary dedicated to the feline on the island of Tashirojima, in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
A cat sits on May 18 in front of the signs of a cafe and a cat sanctuary in Nitoda Harbor on Tashirojima Island in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
A cat cares for another on May 18, as tourists rest at a cafe on the island of Tashirojima, in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
A cat walks in front of the signs of a cafe and cat sanctuary on May 18 on Tashirojima Island in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
A cat grooms itself on May 18 on a street on the island of Tashirojima, in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
A cat crouches on May 18 near a cat-themed sign that reads, “Welcome to Tashirojima Island,” near Odomari Port in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
A tourist takes photos of cats on May 18 at a restaurant in Nitoda Port on Tashirojima Island in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
Tourists line up on May 18 before boarding a ferry at Nitoda Port to leave the island of Tashirojima while a cat finds food in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
Tourists talk to a cat sitting on a street on May 18 on Tashirojima Island in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
Cats rest on May 18 near a sanctuary dedicated to the feline on the island of Tashirojima, in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan.
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