By The Straits Times | Created at 2026-09-02 05:31:33 | Updated at 2026-09-02 06:15:34
50 minutes ago
TOKYO – A cat, which became famous on social media due to a resemblance with enka singer Takashi Hosokawa, died of an illness in July.
Named Isobe Norio, the feline had a distinct fur pattern on the crown of his head.
Norio had originally been a street cat until being adopted by the owner of a Japanese confectionery shop in Aichi Prefecture in winter 2022.
The cat became famous when its owner posted a photo of Norio beside one of Takashi Hosokawa in 2024.
Norio had been suffering from a FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus, also known as feline AIDS) infection when adopted. THE JAPAN NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
