This small shrine, dedicated to cats, is extremely rare in Japan. Why are cats honored within the Shimazu family garden?
The story is connected to Shimazu Yoshihiro, the 17th head of the family and a famed warrior of the Sengoku Period.
When Yoshihiro was ordered by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to join overseas military campaigns, he’s said to have taken seven cats with him. According to legend, he used the changing shape of their pupils to estimate the time, effectively using them as living clocks.
Only two of the seven cats returned safely to Japan. These cats were later enshrined here as guardian deities.
Originally located near Kagoshima Castle, the shrine was moved to Sengan-en after the Meiji Restoration. Seven cat statues now stand nearby. Can you find them all?