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《中英對照讀新聞》Cat puts Japan rail firm on track貓咪讓日本鐵路公司步上正軌

◎俞智敏

A loss-making Japanese railway company is back on track thanks to the popularity of a stray cat.

一家虧損連連的日本鐵路公司近來營運步上正軌，這都要感謝一隻人氣十足的流浪貓。

Wearing a black cap and posing for photos with passengers, Tama the tabby is credited with boosting Wakayama Electric Railway’s revenue by 10%.

戴著黑色帽子、跟乘客們一起拍照，這隻名叫「小玉」的虎斑貓被視為是讓和歌山電鐵公司營收增加10%的大功臣。

The firm had to axe all staff at Kishi station in western Japan two years ago.

2年前，和歌山電鐵公司不得不裁撤位於日本西部的貴志車站所有工作人員。

But Tama stuck by her post and was rewarded with promotion to station manager. The pet mascot even has her own office, a former ticket booth.

但小玉堅守崗位，並被晉升為站長。這隻招牌貓甚至還有她專屬的辦公室，就是原本的售票亭。

The feline, who was born and raised at the station in the city of Kinokawa, Wakayama prefecture, is living proof of the Japanese belief that cats are good luck.

這隻在和歌山縣紀之川市土生土長的人氣貓，也是日本人相信貓能招來好運的活見證。

"She never complains, even though passengers touch her all over the place. She is an amazing cat. She has patience and charisma. She is the perfect station master," said Yoshiko Yamaki, a spokeswoman for the rail company.

「不管乘客們怎麼摸她，小玉從不抱怨。她是隻很棒的貓，既有耐心又有魅力。她是最完美的電車站長，」電鐵公司發言人山木慶子說。

The nine-year-old - who receives cat food in lieu of a salary - won national stardom last year when the firm formally appointed her as "station master".

這隻9歲大的貓是用貓食來代替薪資，去年電鐵公司正式將她任命為「站長」後，小玉更成為日本全國家喻戶曉的明星。

新聞辭典

on track：片語，指有進步、可能成功，例句：If the peace talks remain on track, an agreement can be expected by the end of the month.（假如和談持續有進展，月底就可能達成協議。）

credited with：把某事歸功給某人（credit sth with sb），例句：She is credited with making the business a success.（生意能夠成功都要歸功於她。）

in lieu of：用…代替，例句：The teachers have accepted longer workdays in lieu of a pay cut.（老師們同意以較長的工時來代替減薪。）

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