Because it is such a remote island, it was hard to find out information about Tashirojima — better known to much of the world as Cat Island — after the devastating earthquake and tsnuami of March 11. Much of the information, that the elderly residents and cats survived, came from thirdhand, sketchily-translated reports. Finally we have some firsthand information — and video! Love Meow reported yesterday, and I did my own researching on top of that.
According to a Japanese man who goes by WeaponShouwa on his Yahoo.jp profile, there was much damage to the buildings located along the coastal areas, as might be expected, but most of the cats seem to have survived. WeaponShouwa saw fewer than before, but mentions this could be because they have temporarily relocated somewhere else on the island after the buildings they lived in and around were damaged or destroyed. He also provided a couple of videos:
These are just some Tashirojima cats, relaxing and apparently totally unaware that thousands of cat lovers were concerned about them.
If you can’t see the video above, you can watch it on YouTube here.
You don’t see the cats in this video until near the end, about four and a half minutes in, but it is worth watching:
If you can’t see the video above, you can watch it on YouTube here.
I also found a great slide show of the Cat Island cats on a Japanese news site called Response.jp:
http://response.jp/article/img/2011/04/04/154264/320275.html
WeaponShouwa has a number of blog posts about Cat Island, so if you want to play around with an online Japanese-English translator, or if you understand Japanese, you can read his firsthand accounts.
http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/weaponshouwa/27656865.html
http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/weaponshouwa/27675674.html
In the last blog post I linked to, he photographed a kitten he found in one of the damaged areas and apparently had a special message for him. At least that is the idea I got from the Japanese-to-English translator I used, and (again, according to the online translation), the message was, “Please grow big without unreasonableness.” Even though I’m sure this isn’t quite accurate, I still think it’s a nice sentiment.
Great post Sparkle! Thank you so much for posting this. We needed to hear good news after all the stuff going on in the South and after what the people and animals in Japan are still suffering. 🙂 The beans who helped all those kitties are the best!
I, too, wish the kitten to “grow big without unreasonableness”. Live long and prosPURR, each cat and kitten, and all caregivers 😉
Thanks for the update and the links Sparkle!
Yous Rocks!
“Please grow big without unreasonableness” is probably a good message for the Humans, but I think the Kittehs are totally exempt from such advice, MOL!
Thanks for posting! Amazing that they did so well. That looks like a place where I would like to live!
Oh Sparkle, that is so good. That was great to see all the kitties looking very healthy. Those were really terrific videos. Thank heavens someone took the time to do that. Well done finding all that.
Hi Sparkle. That last comment translates perhaps a little more accurately as “please grow big without taking any unnecessary risks.”
It’s good to se that the cats of Tashirojima have weathered this catastrophe in fairy good shape.
Purrs,
The Chans
It is good to know that they are doing OK.
My soap sales led to us donating $22.45 to help the animals of Japan in addition to the $20 the farm cats donated during the Catstacular Event. We also donated to local shelters. It was a good event and we will do it again next year.
Thank you for the update on the kitties of Cat Island Sparkle! We’re so glad they are doing well!
That makes my heart happy and I’m so glad they are doing so well considering what an awful event that was.
We are so happy that the Island survived and that the majority of cats are OK!
>^..^^..^^..^^..^^..^<
Abby Ping Jinx Boo Gracie
purrin
xoxox
~ManxMnews
I think that is a fine sentiment. I have hopes that the kits and cats continue to thrive and survive!
Great update Sparkle…glad to see everyone doing well.
We are so glad to hear the kits are thriving and seem well. Fanks for sharing the info with us.
Thanks for updating us. We’ve been worried about Cat Island.
The Florida Furkids and Angel Sniffie
Thank you, Sparkle! It’s such a relief to know for sure that the cats and people of Tashirojima are okay.
TY for this update. We’re so glad to know that things are going well for them. And we agree – the missing cats are almost certainly hanging out in a safer spot.
Thank you so much for that important updzate. It’s amazing, but the kitties look so well cared for and happy in their surroundings.
We appreciate the update, Sparkle. The cats do look well-fed and cared for, so that’s terrific. We don’t hear much about Japan in the news right now, it’s all about which royal or Middleton had a hair cut yesterday, for the wedding tomorrow and oh, yeah, our federal election on Monday.
Thanks for that update, Sparkle. We’ve been concerned about our fellow Island Cats. We’re happy that most survived that terrible earthquake.
The cats seemed to look well and very well fed which made me feel happy – they seem to have survived well. Thanks for showing the videos.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
Thanks for the videos! Glad they were okay!