Visitors to a small island off the northeastern coast of Japan leave offerings at a shrine for unexpected local guardians: cats. "Neko Jinja," or the Cat Shrine, depicts cats as guardian angels of Tashirojima, where the number of cats exceeds that of humans. Legend has it that the island was famous for raising silkworms, and farmers kept cats to drive away rats and protect the silkworm cocoons from rodents. Fishermen on the island believe that cats bring good fortune, including large amounts of fish. Tashirojima is part of Ishinomaki City in Miyagi Prefecture, in the Tohoku region, and is home to over 100 cats, alongside approximately 50 residents, according to the city's website.
A Fantastical Number: A Shrine Honoring Cats on a Famous Japanese Island
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