'Cat daddy' of Odaka sparks smiles in Minamisoma(人気上昇中『小高の猫おじさん』)

 
Tomie Idogawa pushes his bike with his cat Gonta in the basket, in the Odaka district of Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture.(「ごんた」と自転車で散歩する井戸川さん )

 When you visit the Odaka district of Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, you may come across a man riding a bicycle with his cat in the front basket ? a scene that makes local residents smile. He's the "Cat Daddy of Odaka."

 自転車のかごに飼い猫を乗せてさっそうと走る「小高の猫おじさん」が、南相馬市民の間で「ほほ笑ましい」とひそかな人気を集めている。

 Tomie "Cat Daddy" Idogawa lives in the district, where an evacuation order was lifted in July 2016, five years after the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant that was triggered by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Idogawa, now 69, returned home with his male cat Gonta, now 7, in the spring of 2017.

  猫おじさんは、2016(平成28)年7月に避難指示が解除された南相馬市小高区飯崎の自宅に暮らす井戸川富江さん(69)。17年春、7歳の雄猫「ごんた」と一緒に避難先から帰還した。

 The 2011 disaster forced Idogawa to evacuate to a gymnasium in the nearby Haramachi district of the city, sending Gonta to a shelter in Fukushima city.
 Six months later, Idogawa moved to a temporary housing unit in Minamisoma where residents were allowed to live with their pets, thus resuming life with his precious feline companion. Looking back on life as an evacuee, he said, "Gonta's innocence encouraged me over and over again."

 震災と原発事故に伴い、井戸川さんは同市原町区の体育館に避難。ごんたは福島市の保護施設に避難を余儀なくされ、一時は離れ離れになった。半年後、ペット同伴可能な南相馬市内の仮設住宅に移れたことで、大切な"家族"と共同生活を再開させた。「ごんたの無邪気な姿に何度も励まされた」と避難生活を振り返る。

 Idogawa received Gonta from a neighbor who was looking for someone to raise the kitten. Since then, the basket of Idogawa's bike has been a favorite place for the cat, and Idogawa always goes out with him. When Gonta takes his regular position, a lead is placed on him, with the cat looking around at the passing view of his hometown as he enjoys the breeze.
 "Local children wave to us cheerfully," Idogawa said.

( Translated by The Japan News )

 里親を探していた近所の人から子猫を譲り受けたのが井戸川さんとごんたの出合い。0歳時から自転車のかごの中がお気に入りの場所で、外出時も常に一緒だ。飛び出し防止用のリードを身に着けてもらったごんたは、特等席で心地よい風を受け、生まれ故郷の風景を澄まし顔で見つめている。
 井戸川さんは「地元の子どもたちが元気に手を振ってくれる」と喜ぶ。その愛らしい姿に、小高区で笑顔の輪が広がっている。

 【 2018年4月23日付・福島民友新聞掲載 】