all photos courtesy Onomichi Museum of Art
Sadly, Japan has bid farewell to a beloved cat. Ken-chan, the local feline whose epic battle with a security guard at the Onomichi Museum of Art in Hiroshima became a fixture, passed away in September.
Ken-chan’s story begins in 2017 when the Onomichi Museum of Art was hosting an exhibition of cat-themed artwork. Ken-chan, the cat of a local cafe, was understandably curious about the artwork and took it upon himself to enter the museum.
However, the museum security guard would not allow it. Ken-chan was stubborn though, and continued to return, trying to make his way inside the halls of the museum. One day he even made it past the main entrance, but was swiftly captured and carried out. The “offense and defense” of cat vs guard was captured on camera by museum staff and posted to the museum’s social media network, where it spread across Japan and beyond.
Ken-chan became somewhat of a fixture at the museum and the exchange was so popular that the museum even created a line of merchandise inspired by it. This tote bag was one of our favorites.
Over time, however, Ken-chan became less-interested in entering the museum and, instead, developed a fondness for the security guard. He would begin showing up just to see his buddy. And when the guard had days off, Ken-chan wouldn’t even show his face.
Sadly, the museum announced recently that Ken-chan had passed away in September. He will certainly be missed, but not forgotten.
Leave a Reply