
Tama was born in Kinokawa, Wakayama, and was raised with a group of stray cats that used to live close to Kishi Station. They were regularly fed by passengers and by the (at that time) informal station manager Toshiko Koyama. The station was almost shut down in 2004 because its financial problems, due to its uncertain future, Koyama adopted Tama. Eventually the decision to shut down the station was withdrawn after the citizens demanded it stay open. In April 2006, the Wakayama Electric Railway destaffed all stations on the Kishigawa Line to cut costs. Station masters were selected from employees of local businesses near each station, and Koyama was officially chosen as the station manager. In January 2007, railway officials decided to officially name Tama the station master. As station master, her primary duty is to greet passengers. The position comes with a station master's hat; in lieu of a salary, the railway provides Tama with free cat food.