![Hiro Komae A cat crouches by a cat-themed sign that reads, "Welcome to Tashirojima island," near Odomari Port in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/0a67173edfb043c892630c7f8e4a90bb/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
A cat crouches by a cat-themed sign that reads, "Welcome to Tashirojima island," near Odomari Port in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
![Hiro Komae A cat grooms another as tourists rest at a cafe on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/786edc2a07d04085ad721f80ba457a39/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
A cat grooms another as tourists rest at a cafe on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
![Hiro Komae Tourists pet cats on a street on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/d63532ce48134065a9101b0e46f00fed/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Tourists pet cats on a street on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
![Hiro Komae Cats rest near a shrine dedicated to the feline on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/9a38c146da2545a58df46d1d56c96595/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Cats rest near a shrine dedicated to the feline on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
![Hiro Komae Tourists talk to a cat sitting on a street on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/5aa5b08365ba4102bf7a58d0b5e710e7/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Tourists talk to a cat sitting on a street on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
![Hiro Komae A cat walks in front of signs for a cafe and a cat shrine on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (HK Photo/Hiro Komae)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/e019e10edd99475cab5eec4ec5ded3c1/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
A cat walks in front of signs for a cafe and a cat shrine on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (HK Photo/Hiro Komae)
![Hiro Komae A cat sits in front of signs for a cafe and a cat shrine at Nitoda Port on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/4843cd0264324f9d8b723f3950230228/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
A cat sits in front of signs for a cafe and a cat shrine at Nitoda Port on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
![Hiro Komae A cat grooms itself on a street on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/fa556011735948808734ae449c9913a0/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
A cat grooms itself on a street on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
![Hiro Komae A tourist pets a cat, as other cats hang out at a shrine dedicated to the feline on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/2935feb8672f4e1cbfac4087bedc35e1/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
A tourist pets a cat, as other cats hang out at a shrine dedicated to the feline on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
![Hiro Komae A cat walks across the altar at Cat Shrine on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/937127d864f147c6a1025865a80e9c7c/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
A cat walks across the altar at Cat Shrine on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
![Hiro Komae A tourist takes a photographs of cats gathered at a restaurant at Nitoda Port on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/dde32e384f504ebd976d2965d863bcca/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
A tourist takes a photographs of cats gathered at a restaurant at Nitoda Port on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
![Hiro Komae A cat, left, walks across Odomari Port on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/af3aeef00b62411c97106fc37508014f/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
A cat, left, walks across Odomari Port on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeastern Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
![Hiro Komae Tourists watch cats getting fed at a cafe on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/15a432bc25ae453d9576a0b97f0383f7/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Tourists watch cats getting fed at a cafe on Tashirojima island in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
![Hiro Komae Tourists stand in line before boarding a ferry at Nitoda Port to leave Tashirojima island as a cat finds food, in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/6dfc7ae0d194422eb3aa9130ca1d297c/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Tourists stand in line before boarding a ferry at Nitoda Port to leave Tashirojima island as a cat finds food, in Ishinomaki, northeast of Japan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)