A photo shoot was recently held at Mineyama Station to promote the 10th anniversary of the Komaneko Festival, which will be held in September 2025 in Mineyama Town, Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, and the 100th anniversary of the opening of Mineyama Station on the Kyoto Tango Railway. About 30 people dressed in traditional Japanese clothing created the atmosphere of the time of the station's opening.
The Komaneko Festival is an event themed around the connection between Tango crepe and cats. It has been held by local volunteers since 2016 to revitalize the area. In Mineyama, cats are said to drive away mice that eat cocoons and silkworms. At Kotohira Shrine, where the event is held, there are rare "komaneko" cats instead of komainu dogs, which are rare even in Japan.
Mineyama Station opened on November 3, 1925, and this year marks its 100th anniversary.
The purpose of the photo shoot was to promote Tango Chirimen and allow people to experience the atmosphere of the Taisho to early Showa periods, when people were excited about the opening of the railway. On June 7, the models and participants, who were selected through public entries, enjoyed taking photos under the photographer's instructions every time a train arrived at the station platform.
The posters will be completed in early July and distributed to the city's tourist association and other organizations.
