In Japan, rare bobtail cats are considered good luck. Nagasaki is filled with them
In Japan, bobtail cats are considered good luck and Nagasaki is the place to find them.
They are known as 'omagari neko (bent-tail cats)' or 'kagi neko (hook cats)' and have their own society of admirers and even a dedicated Shinto shrine.
Their tails come in varieties including hook-shaped at the tip, curved or in a bun, explained Kazuya Hideshima, a worker at Omagari Neko Shrine and member of the Nagasaki Cat Society.
Past findings have indicated bobtails accounted for nearly 80% of the cats in Nagasaki, twice the occurrence of anywhere else in Japan.
Japanese cats are believed to have come from China in the 6th century with Buddhist monks, serving as rat hunters to protect religious scriptures on ships.
Nagasaki bobtails have their roots in the Dutch East Indies when the city was the only foreign port during Japan's closed era in the 17th to 19th centuries. They hunted rats to protect shipments on their way from Southeast Asia to Japan, according to Nagasaki cultural officials.
Soshin Yamamoto, a veterinarian and cat specialist, said the large population of bobtails in Nagasaki is likely the result of a genetic mutation that reproduced in a relatively isolated environment when the nation was shut up tight.
'Having bobtails is no problem for most cats living a normal life, as long as they live near humans and aren't jumping and running around like wild cats in a forest,' he said.
Nagasaki residents hope the cats bring in tourists and help business.
Natsuno Kani, a 50-year-old tourist from Tokyo who recently visited the bobtail shrine, said she knew Nagasaki was famous for bent-tail cats.
But Abigail Tarraso, an artist from Spain based in Takeo City in neighboring Saga prefecture, was unfamiliar with the species, which is not as popular in Spain.
'Today is the first time in Nagasaki that I have ever heard of this,' said Cindy Bi, an American who is also an artist. 'I am excited to look around for them. Maybe we will see a few."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TTG
9 hours ago
- TTG
How to generate £500,000+ from a client event
SHOWCASING SPECIALISMS Homing in on one destination has worked well for Sam Smith Travel. The Welsh agency, part of Ocky White Travel, netted £200,000 worth of bookings from a Japan-themed client dinner, then around £500,000 from an in-agency Australasia weekend. The Japan evening saw VIP bookers and customers who'd expressed an interest in the destination treated to a meal at Ivy Asia Cardiff. It was sponsored, at the agency's request, by Japan National Tourism Organisation, which even sent its Tokyo head. A Wendy Wu representative also attended. After some 'short, sharp and sweet presentations, the vibe was prosecco and talk about Japan', says sales and commercial manager Suzanne Cumpston. Knowing there would be a buzz around Australia thanks to the British and Irish Lions rugby tour this year, Sam Smith later held three fizz-fuelled social drop-in days to talk holidays down under. A BBC radio interview on the topic helped alert listeners to the agency's tailor-made expertise. Ahead of the event, Sam Smith staff updated their knowledge of products and trends by completing Aussie Specialist Program modules. They also primed Australasia experts at several operators to take enquiries during the weekend, with Prestige proving particularly helpful. 'It's not just about the event and it's not just about the revenue you do on that day or the halo effect within a week or two; you become famous for a destination. Maybe months down the line they remember us as an Australia specialist,' explains Cumpston. Sam Smith deliberately showcases destinations that suit the tailor-made strengths of independent agencies. Similar events highlight how it can book individual cruise lines face-to-face. Results from a Celebrity Cruises event included a group booking. 'I think people need more hand-holding with cruise,' Cumpston points out. To further raise the agency's profile, the venue for next year's key event will be a castle. Analysing favourite and trending holidays is important for picking a theme, Cumpston advises. 'Know your audience, know your market, and go in heavy with the marketing side of things. Be switched on inviting the right people to the event.' Sam Smith Travel builds events around single destinations INCENTIVISING BOOKERS Magic Vacations in Kinsale, Ireland is in the sixth year of its Big 10 travel event. Each September more than 1,000 attendees meet 10 of its core tour operator, theme park and cruise line suppliers. Prizes are up for grabs and upgrades are given to those booking within a certain time window. The event now generates around €250,000 worth of sales in the following fortnight alone. Codes for Big 10 sales help the team track what's working and what can be built on for the following year. The agency also gains marketing opt-ins from those who reserve free tickets to the event. 'Really, September for us is as big as January,' says managing director John Barrett. Keeping the event 'tight and relevant' is the key to its success, he explains. 'We're actually turning suppliers away – we need them to tie in with our core product.' The theme park and cruise specialist knew it was originally a big ask to get suppliers such as Disney, Universal and Legoland to an event beyond Dublin, but its close relationships helped and now 'they have the belief that the event is going to be a success'. In a similarly ambitious move, Magic Vacations spent a year-and-a-half negotiating a significant cruise embarkation from Cobh (Cork) which it was able to sell at its 2024 Big 10 event. The agency had an allocation of 50 cabins on MSC Virtuosa, which sold out in 48 hours. 'We could have sold 200!' says Barrett, who now has his sights set on having a major ex-Cork cruise to sell at each Big 10. It comes down to 'thinking outside of the box', he says.
Reuters
14 hours ago
- Reuters
Trump-inspired Cantonese opera in Hong Kong aims to bring love and peace
HONG KONG, June 6 (Reuters) - In a Cantonese opera inspired by U.S. President Donald Trump, a Chinese actor donning a blond wig spars on a Hong Kong stage with a man playing a double of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy - ridiculing his outfit and firing a water gun at him. The sold-out show, "Trump, The Twins President", was performed in the territory's Xiqu Theatre as Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a one-hour-long call on Thursday. Written by Edward Li, a Feng Shui master-turned-Cantonese opera playwright, the comedy made its Hong Kong debut in 2019. The three-and-a-half hour show has been through several iterations since with the latest version featuring Trump's attempted assassination and his quarrel with Zelenskiy in the White House. Cantonese opera is a centuries-old Chinese art form blending singing, acting, martial arts, and elaborate costumes, and is traditionally performed during special occasions. Li's latest production begins with a dream by Trump's daughter, Ivanka, where her father has a twin brother named Chuan Pu, living in China. When Trump is kidnapped by aliens from Mars, Ivanka asks Chuan to pretend to be Trump for a day. In another act, Trump has a dramatic fight with Zelenskiy's presidential double over his clothing in the White House, and shoots him with a water gun from Chinese online shopping site Taobao while Zelenskiy pretends to have been shot. The actors perform against a backdrop of photos from the actual events. Li said he chose Trump as the main character because his tariffs and policies had affected everyone's daily life. 'I think this opera is quite a special medicine for the whole world,' Li said. "If people see this opera they will feel very happy because they think of love and peace." Cantonese opera actor Lung Koon-tin, who portrayed Trump, said the U.S. president was unique. "He increased tariffs and made the whole world speak out." Lung said China and the U.S. should be good friends. 'We are Chinese and he is American, but friendship always lives long. That's why we talk about Sino–U.S. friendship in the play.' The audience erupted in laughter throughout the performance, breaking into enthusiastic applause at the end. Many of them were younger people, including 28-year-old Thomas Lo. He said that modern youth often felt disconnected from traditional Cantonese opera but the Trump-themed show, infused with contemporary events, offered a refreshing twist. "It's fun and really something special,' Lo said.
Daily Mail
16 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Urgent 'terrorism' warning for Aussies heading to popular holiday hotspot
Aussies planning a holiday to the Maldives have been told to remain on high alert following an update to the Australian Government's official travel advice. The Maldives is a tropical island nation in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Sri Lanka and India, known for its crystal-blue water and luxury holidays. Australians are among the largest groups of visitors to the tropical paradise with over 30,000 travelling to the island nation in 2023 alone. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smartraveller website on Thursday raised its advisory for the Maldives to Level 2: Exercise a High Degree of Caution. It cited the risk of 'civil unrest and the ongoing threat of terrorism'. 'Terrorism can occur anywhere in the Maldives at any time,' the update continued. 'Potential targets include government institutions and areas frequented by tourists.' Travellers are being advised to remain vigilant, avoid large gatherings and crowded places and to stay up to date by monitoring local media. The heightened warning follows a series of security incidents in recent years. In February 2020, a stabbing attack in the island of Hulhumalé left three foreign nationals injured, including an Australian. That same year, a police speedboat was targeted by an arson attack in Laamu Gan, and in May 2021, an improvised explosive device detonated in the capital, Malé, injuring a prominent politician and several bystanders. Smartraveller has also issued several other warnings for those planning a trip to the Maldives, particularly around civil unrest and general safety risks. Protests, drug-related and gang-related violence is also known to occur in Greater Malé and other non-resort islands. Even if the demonstrations appear calm, Smartraveller advises avoiding these gatherings and keeping up to date with official advice. Petty crime is another concern. Theft can occur on beaches and in hotel rooms, including at resorts, so travellers should take precautions and secure their valuables. Australia is not the only country to issue a warning to travellers. In April, the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) updated its travel advice for British nationals visiting the Maldives. The FCDO also emphasised that 'there is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals '. The advisory said that 'terrorist attacks in Maldives cannot be ruled out' and may occur indiscriminately, including in areas frequented by tourists. Officials also noted that global tensions, particularly from the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, have contributed to an elevated risk environment, with terrorist groups such as Al-Qaida and Daesh actively calling for attacks in response.
