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Stray Cats Saved A Diorama Restaurant During The Pandemic By Simply Lounging On The Miniature Models
Interview With Owner
The Covid-19 pandemic hit everyone unexpectedly. For some people, together with the feeling of uncertainty and fear, it also brought a lot of financial difficulties. One of them was Naoki Teraoka, a railway model enthusiast and owner of Diorama restaurant in Osaka, Japan.
Naoki opened the restaurant in 2018. It’s a miniature railway model-themed ramen eatery where people could not only try delicious food but also admire the miniatures around them. However, after the global pandemic struck, the owner was on the verge of shutting the business down. Luckily, a fluffy creature came to help and now the restaurant can operate again, but slightly differently.
More info: Instagram | railway-cats.com | Facebook | twitter.com | youtube.com
RELATED:
A giant cat? Well, no, it’s just a miniature railway model-themed diorama restaurant in Osaka, Japan
Image credits: diorama_syokudou
Image credits: diorama_syokudou
The restaurant was opened in 2018 by a railway model enthusiast, Naoki Teraoka
Image credits: diorama_syokudou
However, after the global pandemic struck, the owner was on the verge of shutting the business down
Image credits: diorama_syokudou
Naoki shared with Bored Panda that Corona exhausted him and his family physically and mentally. They were on the edge of giving up everything since there were not enough customers to maintain the business.
Image credits: diorama_syokudou
Luckily, an unlikely savior in the form of a stray kitten appeared
Image credits: diorama_syokudou
The kitten was very ill so Naoki decided to shelter it. After some time, the whole family of the kitten showed up
Image credits: diorama_syokudou
It was June 10, 2020, when Naoki noticed a critically ill kitten that was around 10 days old next to his restaurant. The owner decided to raise the animal and named him Simba.
The next day, Naoki saw another cat that was peeking out of the window. It would come every day to look into the restaurant. It was Simba’s mother. Naoki started feeding the mother surplus food because they had a lot of leftovers due to the lack of customers. Naoki remembered that it was raining every night from the end of June to July. On one of the rainy days, the mother cat brought three of her other kittens. It was then that Naoki decided to change the concept of his restaurant and rebuild it.
“It was a financially difficult time for us, but we decided to help the cat family. Yes, we thought we were helping them, but they were the ones who helped us.”
The cats started lounging and climbing on Naoki’s miniature models
Image credits: diorama_syokudou
The owner didn’t miss the opportunity to take pictures of the new “crew” and post them on Instagram
Image credits: diorama_syokudou
As of today, there are 14 cats in Naoki’s small restaurant. They are all protected cats that came or were rescued from the streets.
The animals come to customers when they order food and stay with them until they finish their meal.
It led to people showing up from all over Japan to see the cats
Image credits: diorama_syokudou
Image credits: diorama_syokudou
In 2021, as a way to thank his fluffy helpers, Naoki opened a cat shelter and a cat-only hotel on the second floor of his restaurant. People can also visit the cat hotel and spend up to two hours there while drinking tea and interacting with the cats. Visitors can also ask for adoption if there’s a pet they made a strong connection with.
The owner wanted to rescue cats from being killed so he searched for areas with the highest number of cats being slaughtered. In September, he went to one place, which was around 224 miles away from his restaurant, and rescued two kittens. Since then Naoki has helped around 100 animals and found a new home for more than 60 cats.
Image credits: diorama_syokudou
Image credits: diorama_syokudou
Image credits: diorama_syokudou
Thanks to these adorable fluffy beings, the restaurant is back in business again!
Image credits: diorama_syokudou
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What do you think ?
Hannah Edwards 2 years ago
Cats, food and model railways! My dad would have loved this! His idea of absolute heaven.
Dorothy Parker 2 years ago (edited)
I love that others (the customers who came to see the cats) are as easily entertained as I am. This is so sweet.
RoseTheMad 2 years ago
This is the kind of stuff I love to see, heartwarming, uplifting, someone doing something good during this pandemic, and best of all, ADORABLE FLUFFY KITTIES ❤️
I Am LoKitty Of Meowsgard 2 years ago
Yes, they do. They make all sorts of kitty, or any animal, costumes. My cats have a cape and a shark fin. Getting them used to wearing a costume is a different story. Some go nuts, running all over trying to get the costume off. And some "forget how to walk" and just fall over.
Load More Replies...
Sheera Gandolfo 2 years ago
Love this story of hard up people doing a nice thing just to help, throw that into the universe and it came back to help them. Sometimes it just pays to be nice!
Elisabeth Love 2 years ago
You are an amazing and beautiful person. I have seven cats,and have had others whom have passed too Rainbow Heaven. I have rescued. more than ten cats for various reasons some who ended up feral because their owners put them out Shelby was kept in a cupboard for four years and then relatives of the owners asked me to take her. She was so scared and skittish that she ran away the day after I got her.I eventually found her ten days later living g I a nearby garage with two unneutered males. We let her have two litters.The first time she went into labour I was in the bath a.d for such a tiny cat she Almost pulled me out. Luckily I am a nurse in a Glasgow Hospital and found good homes for her kittens.I kept Luna her daughter as she had gastric issues and I didn't want someone to hive to pay for unnecessary veterinary treatment. They dislike each other.HaHa. II still can't believe that in our supposedly educated country people are bad to any animal. God bless you and good and amazing luck
QibliOfTheSandWings 2 years ago
Agggggggh my heart is melting this is so damn adorablllllllllllle
Dorothy Maher 2 years ago
OMG DID I NEED THIS TODAY....❤️....crying and laughing and screenshooting...the tabby looks EXACTLY like my baby....he saved me after Hurricane Katrina and surviving 10 years of PTSD..from living in a destroyed house for 6 months to falling into extreme poverty because of one insane disaster....pets are miracles sent from GOD
Maggie Hood 2 years ago
This is the best thing. I love how they look like giant cats but they're not destroying the city they're just chilling
Michelle C 2 years ago
Mannnnnnn....I was gonna make an OMG Kitty-zilla comment but someone beat me to it
Sean Wilkinson 2 years ago
This ought to be cut, edited, and dubbed as a scripted, humorous web series, as Simba and friends defend the town and its rail station from various villains familiar to Toho Studios and Godzilla fans, and Studio Daiei, who snuck Gamera into the giant monster pantheon in the first place. Get ready for - excitement! - suspense! - fresh fruit! - penguins exploding on your TV! - and a delicious turtle soup recipe at intermission! "Faster, Dai Sensei Neko-Chibi-Chan! Nap! Nap!" Rated NK for No Kennys.
karen vrooman 2 years ago
Awesome thing do! Would this work in USA? A good way to tram up with shelters.
Alexis Casto 2 years ago
My heart melted. This is amazing! :) Sometimes an act of kindness towards others can help you too. No matter how big or small. Truly amazing.
Louise Martin 2 years ago
We really don't deserve animals. Thank you for saving these babies and congratulations on saving your restaurant.
Daniel Swanson 2 years ago
I am glad to see Louisville isn't the only city with a cat cafe type place.
Sheera Gandolfo 2 years ago
That could never happen in US. All the Karens complaining about the "dirty" cats in a restaurant and next day shut down do to heath code violations. Never mind all the people with cats, dogs, birds, etc all over their homes, not exactly a new thing!
RatherLoopy 2 years ago
What a sweet story. Virtue is its own reward but sometimes, virtue brings in a little bonus too! Congratulations to Naoki on his fine models and warm heart!
David Ginder 2 years ago
I see a new Japanese monster film on the horizon " When Monster Kittens Attack Tokyo Train Yards".
Therese Ortola 2 years ago
Marvelous! Exceptional kindness and creativity gets rewarded. Continued success with the kitties and the restaurant 🌹
A Dasher Panda 2 years ago
I think cats are annoying af, but I can't help but see a couple of these cats in a movie dressed up as cybernetic villains with Caturai heroes taking them on amongst a specially-themed dio. Because Japan.
Klara Lorinczi 2 years ago
Very kind people rescuing so many cats. I hope they get them neutered (the cats, not the people).
Ilkka Savolainen 2 years ago
What saved both the cats and the restaurant, was unconditional love. It is what saves us all. 🥰
Catharina Williams 2 years ago
I found a moggy on my front door step, so hungry. Fed it with leftovers from the night before ( I hate sausages) and it made itself home. After a while it sort of pooped up at teatime and started to look much better. Happy until I found out it was the neighbours cat, Muslims! Went over and said the cat needs to be fed at least twice a day. She said it did but they were overseas and the husband was in charge. So now it comes over when it is hungry and gives me lots of love
Patti Reynolds 2 years ago
Is this where James May went on the train episode of Our Man in Japan??
Vallie Klein 2 years ago
Oh, 🥰 MORE PEOPLE NEED TO RESPECT PUSSYCATS,DOGS AND ANIMALS,I THANK YOU 🙏 FOR SAVING THEM AND NOW I NEED TO GET THERE AND LEARN ABOUT THIS NEW TREND.WE SHOULD PASS IT ON TO GENERATIONS.THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I WISH I COULD HAVE A PUSSYCAT, PLEASE 🥺
Ines Espinosa 2 years ago
Awesome. Animals helping humans and humans helping animals. Please pass kindness along. Thank you. ❤
Therese Ortola 2 years ago
❤️😻 marvelous! I'm happy your exceptional kindness to these poor cats was a boon to your restaurant. Wishing you continued success!
Tiffany Porter 2 years ago
I don't think I ever seen something like this in America, but I feel it should exist, they should do the same at our Humane societies, put a cafe and let people walk the dogs or hang out with the cats, anything thing to keep the fur babies socializing and being loved
Laurie Browning 2 years ago
I love this story!! These precious cats saved his resturant while the owner was kind enough to take them in and save them!! I say that they all deserved each other and hope everyone thrives for years to come!!
Michael Gatewood 2 years ago
14 cats?! I can hardly believe it is legal to have one let alone fourteen cats walking all over the tables with litter box paws. The dander alone would kill me.
Amy Thorn 2 years ago
Well being that you are dander sensitive the ideal thing would be to choose an alternative venue.
Load More Replies...
Hannah Edwards 2 years ago
Cats, food and model railways! My dad would have loved this! His idea of absolute heaven.
Dorothy Parker 2 years ago (edited)
I love that others (the customers who came to see the cats) are as easily entertained as I am. This is so sweet.
RoseTheMad 2 years ago
This is the kind of stuff I love to see, heartwarming, uplifting, someone doing something good during this pandemic, and best of all, ADORABLE FLUFFY KITTIES ❤️
I Am LoKitty Of Meowsgard 2 years ago
Yes, they do. They make all sorts of kitty, or any animal, costumes. My cats have a cape and a shark fin. Getting them used to wearing a costume is a different story. Some go nuts, running all over trying to get the costume off. And some "forget how to walk" and just fall over.
Load More Replies... Sheera Gandolfo 2 years ago
Love this story of hard up people doing a nice thing just to help, throw that into the universe and it came back to help them. Sometimes it just pays to be nice!
Elisabeth Love 2 years ago
You are an amazing and beautiful person. I have seven cats,and have had others whom have passed too Rainbow Heaven. I have rescued. more than ten cats for various reasons some who ended up feral because their owners put them out Shelby was kept in a cupboard for four years and then relatives of the owners asked me to take her. She was so scared and skittish that she ran away the day after I got her.I eventually found her ten days later living g I a nearby garage with two unneutered males. We let her have two litters.The first time she went into labour I was in the bath a.d for such a tiny cat she Almost pulled me out. Luckily I am a nurse in a Glasgow Hospital and found good homes for her kittens.I kept Luna her daughter as she had gastric issues and I didn't want someone to hive to pay for unnecessary veterinary treatment. They dislike each other.HaHa. II still can't believe that in our supposedly educated country people are bad to any animal. God bless you and good and amazing luck
QibliOfTheSandWings 2 years ago
Agggggggh my heart is melting this is so damn adorablllllllllllle
Dorothy Maher 2 years ago
OMG DID I NEED THIS TODAY....❤️....crying and laughing and screenshooting...the tabby looks EXACTLY like my baby....he saved me after Hurricane Katrina and surviving 10 years of PTSD..from living in a destroyed house for 6 months to falling into extreme poverty because of one insane disaster....pets are miracles sent from GOD
Maggie Hood 2 years ago
This is the best thing. I love how they look like giant cats but they're not destroying the city they're just chilling
Michelle C 2 years ago
Mannnnnnn....I was gonna make an OMG Kitty-zilla comment but someone beat me to it
Sean Wilkinson 2 years ago
This ought to be cut, edited, and dubbed as a scripted, humorous web series, as Simba and friends defend the town and its rail station from various villains familiar to Toho Studios and Godzilla fans, and Studio Daiei, who snuck Gamera into the giant monster pantheon in the first place. Get ready for - excitement! - suspense! - fresh fruit! - penguins exploding on your TV! - and a delicious turtle soup recipe at intermission! "Faster, Dai Sensei Neko-Chibi-Chan! Nap! Nap!" Rated NK for No Kennys.
karen vrooman 2 years ago
Awesome thing do! Would this work in USA? A good way to tram up with shelters.
Alexis Casto 2 years ago
My heart melted. This is amazing! :) Sometimes an act of kindness towards others can help you too. No matter how big or small. Truly amazing.
Louise Martin 2 years ago
We really don't deserve animals. Thank you for saving these babies and congratulations on saving your restaurant.
Daniel Swanson 2 years ago
I am glad to see Louisville isn't the only city with a cat cafe type place.
Sheera Gandolfo 2 years ago
That could never happen in US. All the Karens complaining about the "dirty" cats in a restaurant and next day shut down do to heath code violations. Never mind all the people with cats, dogs, birds, etc all over their homes, not exactly a new thing!
RatherLoopy 2 years ago
What a sweet story. Virtue is its own reward but sometimes, virtue brings in a little bonus too! Congratulations to Naoki on his fine models and warm heart!
David Ginder 2 years ago
I see a new Japanese monster film on the horizon " When Monster Kittens Attack Tokyo Train Yards".
Therese Ortola 2 years ago
Marvelous! Exceptional kindness and creativity gets rewarded. Continued success with the kitties and the restaurant 🌹
A Dasher Panda 2 years ago
I think cats are annoying af, but I can't help but see a couple of these cats in a movie dressed up as cybernetic villains with Caturai heroes taking them on amongst a specially-themed dio. Because Japan.
Klara Lorinczi 2 years ago
Very kind people rescuing so many cats. I hope they get them neutered (the cats, not the people).
Ilkka Savolainen 2 years ago
What saved both the cats and the restaurant, was unconditional love. It is what saves us all. 🥰
Catharina Williams 2 years ago
I found a moggy on my front door step, so hungry. Fed it with leftovers from the night before ( I hate sausages) and it made itself home. After a while it sort of pooped up at teatime and started to look much better. Happy until I found out it was the neighbours cat, Muslims! Went over and said the cat needs to be fed at least twice a day. She said it did but they were overseas and the husband was in charge. So now it comes over when it is hungry and gives me lots of love
Patti Reynolds 2 years ago
Is this where James May went on the train episode of Our Man in Japan??
Vallie Klein 2 years ago
Oh, 🥰 MORE PEOPLE NEED TO RESPECT PUSSYCATS,DOGS AND ANIMALS,I THANK YOU 🙏 FOR SAVING THEM AND NOW I NEED TO GET THERE AND LEARN ABOUT THIS NEW TREND.WE SHOULD PASS IT ON TO GENERATIONS.THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I WISH I COULD HAVE A PUSSYCAT, PLEASE 🥺
Ines Espinosa 2 years ago
Awesome. Animals helping humans and humans helping animals. Please pass kindness along. Thank you. ❤
Therese Ortola 2 years ago
❤️😻 marvelous! I'm happy your exceptional kindness to these poor cats was a boon to your restaurant. Wishing you continued success!
Tiffany Porter 2 years ago
I don't think I ever seen something like this in America, but I feel it should exist, they should do the same at our Humane societies, put a cafe and let people walk the dogs or hang out with the cats, anything thing to keep the fur babies socializing and being loved
Laurie Browning 2 years ago
I love this story!! These precious cats saved his resturant while the owner was kind enough to take them in and save them!! I say that they all deserved each other and hope everyone thrives for years to come!!
Michael Gatewood 2 years ago
14 cats?! I can hardly believe it is legal to have one let alone fourteen cats walking all over the tables with litter box paws. The dander alone would kill me.
Amy Thorn 2 years ago
Well being that you are dander sensitive the ideal thing would be to choose an alternative venue.
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