This Might Look Like an Ordinary Cat. But He’s Actually a Japanese Lord
Japan's Sanjuro cat has A LOT to purr about.
It was built to repel bloodshed and chaos: a mighty hilltop fortress that for centuries was home to violent warlords. Yet somehow Japan’s only remaining mountain castle has now been conquered by a celebrity cat.
Despite its majestic appearance and extraordinary history, Bitchu Matsuyama Castle has always attracted few tourists due to its isolated location, hidden amid forested mountains in southern Japan.
Not long before the pandemic began, local tourist authorities devised an unusual strategy to attract visitors to their town of Takahashi and this castle, which looms over it. Takahashi authorities sought publicity by handing control of their castle over to an orange-and-white feline called Sanjuro.
This cat is named after Sanjuro Tani, the fearsome warrior who led the Takahashi branch of the Shinsengumi, a short-lived and mysterious Japanese police force tasked with quelling an uprising and executing dissidents in the 1860s.
As if that wasn’t a big enough honor for this cat, he’s also been named the owner of Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, which is located about 20 miles from the city of Okayama. Sanjuro is the official “Lord of the Castle.” He even has his own memorabilia. For $3, visitors to Takahashi can purchase a sheet of stamps that features both Sanjuro’s paw print and an image of him lying on his back.
Some of you may remember from the old Fogbow way way back, I used to have a different profession and used to live on one of the preserves I managed. One day when I went to close the gates at one of the properties a little black kitten came out of the woods as I was backing up my truck to leave. I stopped and went over to pick him up, and all his brothers and sisters came running out. I took them all home, Poohie did NOT like that AT ALL. I got them vet care and turned them over to a foster program so they could find furrever homes. This man is having one of those experiences. Except looks like his kitty had a few more siblings and friends than mine.
Re: Cats!
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2022 5:30 pm
by sugar magnolia
We had a mama cat that rounded up spare kittens every time she had a litter. She'd have 3 of her own and the next day there would be 5. Then 6 or 7. Some newborn, some that looked 2 months old. We have no idea where she collected them from or why she adopted them as her own, but she did it every time she had kittens.
Re: Cats!
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2022 5:55 pm
by Kendra
Came home today to find all three drawers in the bathroom vanity were open, and I know they weren't opened when I left. Wonder who did that?
Re: Cats!
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2022 6:08 pm
by Patagoniagirl
I love my little rescue kitty. But she is a real bitch. She bitches about her food bowl which is always filled with fresh food. She just wants me to fluff it up. Then she won't eat it. She's just checking. The bedroom window looking into the fir trees must be open six or so inches so she can show the birdies what a murderous cat she is. She hunts and brings bats and small marsupials inside. She purrs and rubs against me but when I go to pet her, she attacks me. I do love her and now that I know her ways, we get along just fine. Gotta go fluff her food.
Re: Cats!
Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2022 9:00 pm
by RVInit
Re: Cats!
Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2022 9:20 pm
by Tiredretiredlawyer
I wants the kitty for my very own!!! I will love him and hug him and name him George.
Re: Cats!
Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 8:07 am
by Foggy
You are evil, misnaming a perfectly innocent creature like that. George? That cat's name is obviously Satan.
Re: Cats!
Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 11:53 am
by Tiredretiredlawyer
You, sir, have forgotten or NEVER PAID ATTENTION IN CLASS about the many strong Georges in
Anglo-Saxon history. Suranis, help me out here.
George I - The first Hanoverian King of Britain -"Jacobites attempted, but failed, to depose George and replace him with James Francis Edward Stuart, Anne's Catholic half-brother." https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_ ... at_Britain
George V - who governed during WWI.
George VI - Queen Elizabeth II's father who ruled during WWII.
George Frederic Handel who introduced the phrase "Halleluiah!" to pop music.
And, lest we not forget, the very first PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES was named George.
Re: Cats!
Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 12:19 pm
by Volkonski
George Goethals, builder of the Panama Canal.
George S Patton WW II general.
George Harrison Beatle.
George, cat character in the Tom and Jerry Cartoons.
Re: Cats!
Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 12:36 pm
by Foggy
Pffft. Those were heroic Georges. That cat is not heroic, it is evil personified.
That cat is thinking "I will kill you in your sleep."
Satan.
Re: Cats!
Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 2:27 pm
by RVInit
I have to agree with Foggy here, that cat is one scary dude. Beautiful. But scary.
Re: Cats!
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 5:30 pm
by Volkonski
The Vole Patrol!
Re: Cats!
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 7:20 pm
by Tiredretiredlawyer
The Vole Patrol looks disciplined.
Re: Cats!
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 7:59 pm
by RVInit
They are also gorgeous cats.
Re: Cats!
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2022 8:54 pm
by Volkonski
No vole goes unobserved!
Re: Cats!
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2022 11:08 pm
by poplove
𝕐o̴g̴
@Yoda4ever
Kitty's favorite place in the house to sleep...:tt/psykbryt_
Re: Cats!
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2022 11:53 pm
by RVInit
Re: Cats!
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2022 12:10 pm
by Tiredretiredlawyer
We have had many, many cats - all but one were rescues. Our orange boys came along when we had kittens and raised them. We had Uncle Bengal, Uncle D'Artagnan, Uncle Harpo, and Uncle Aaron.
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Sinclair
WHERE: Baltimore, Maryland
Sinclair is both Official Greeter and Store Trainer at the Kelmscott Bookshop on W 25th Street. Beyond simply welcoming customers at the front door, he enjoys guiding them through the stacks, swatting them gently when he’s identified just the right book for them. He is currently training his apprentice, Pierre, who dutifully follows behind but is not yet bold enough to make his own astute recommendations. Once an abandoned boy found alone in an apartment building, Sinclair has cat-apulted to shop management in just five years.
bookstorecats-kelmscottbookstore-sinclair-975x975.jpg (133.95 KiB) Viewed 955 times
Re: Cats!
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2022 1:50 pm
by raison de arizona
Re: Cats!
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2022 6:38 pm
by MsDaisy
Trudy.jpg (62.45 KiB) Viewed 844 times
This is Trudy our senior cat of 3 who’s now 14. I personally wear Birkenstocks most of the time, especially around the house. Whenever I sit at my desk I generally kick them off and the True almost always turns up and puts them on herself and wears them as long as I sit here… LOL! She’s a very sweet old girl.