Adorably Ugly Cats Take Over Tokyo Train · Global Voices
Nevin Thompson

“Ultimate Relaxation,” the grand prize winner of Japan's recent busukawa neko “adorably ugly cat” contest. Image source: Canon Japan
The winners of a popular contest to find Japan's most “adorably ugly” cats (busukawa neko) have taken over select trains on Tokyo's Yamanote Line.
【ニャー】山手線がブサかわ猫ちゃんだらけ！ #スマフォトレイン 期間限定運行 http://t.co/FHiN5TQ5e5 pic.twitter.com/CdPVwK81Zm
— 鉄道新聞 公式アカウント (@tetsudoshimbun) November 13, 2014
The Yamanote Line is full of “adorably ugly” (busukawa) cats!
Many train lines in Japan are already plastered with print advertising. Now, for two weeks in November and early December, the Yamonote Line, the loop line that travels around central Tokyo, is decked out in photos of the winning cats. A YouTube video titled “Canon's Adorably Ugly Cat Campaign Hijacks Tokyo Trains to Promote New PIXUS Printer” offers a glimpse:
The campaign is sponsored by PIXUS, a line of Canon desktop printers, and offers a grand prize of 100,000 yen (US$10,000). Out of nearly 6,000 submissions, 288 finalists and prizewinners ended up displayed on the train.
One lucky cat won the top prize:
栄えあるグランプリントはこちら！タイトルは「究極の癒し」癒し癒され、生きていくのニャ〜。 pic.twitter.com/wkx8dCZ9uT
— ブサかわ猫ちゃん レオンくん (@busakawaleon) November 12, 2014
And here is the grand prize winner! The photo's title: “Ultimate Relaxation.”
There were a variety of runners-up. This cat won second place in the contest:
レオンくん特別賞はこちら。タイトル「あっかんべ〜〜っ」ブサかわバランスの黄金比だニャ。 pic.twitter.com/Zn2weBwoC5
— ブサかわ猫ちゃん レオンくん (@busakawaleon) November 12, 2014
And here is the second-place prize. The title: “No f-ing way, man.” The golden color of this cat's coat perfectly balances the fine silver fur of our grand prize winner.
As the purpose of the contest was to promote Canon's new printer, many of the cats were awarded prizes according to how well their ugly mugs might accessorize a variety of personal belongings.
バッグにして持ち歩きたくなるで賞はこちら。タイトル「おまんじゅう」食べていいですか？ pic.twitter.com/dfvwlVsEpV
— ブサかわ猫ちゃん レオンくん (@busakawaleon) November 12, 2014
And the winner for “would look best printed on a handbag” is “May I eat a sticky bun?”
Tシャツにプリントしたくなるで賞「！！！」デザイナー心をくすぐる表情を捉えてるんだニャ。 pic.twitter.com/gAq3UvjAp2
— ブサかわ猫ちゃん レオンくん (@busakawaleon) November 12, 2014
Here is the winner of “would look best printed on a T-shirt”!!! This cat has tickled the fancy of T-shirt designers everywhere!
The cacophony of ugly cat images has become quite popular with Japanese commuters, who have posted photos of the decked-out trains on social media.
これはかわいい！ #スマフォトレイン #山手線 #ブサかわ猫ちゃんグランプリ pic.twitter.com/8qohj2PMYn
— ブサかわ猫ちゃん レオンくん (@busakawaleon) November 18, 2014
This is so cute!  #スマフォトレイン (smartphone photo train) #山手線 (Yamanote Line) #ブサかわ猫ちゃんグランプリ (Adorably Ugly Grand Prix)
山手線がやばーい。PIXUSの宣伝電車になってる！ わたしが乗った車両ははブサかわ猫ちゃんグランプリって書いてあって、ブサ猫ちゃんの写真で埋め尽くされてる！ カレンダーにしたくなるで賞だって＼(^o^)／ pic.twitter.com/s2AeVUfahj
— エイミー@19戦13勝6敗 (@kiyota1ban) November 21, 2014
The Yamonote Line is CRAZY! It's turned into a total advertisement for PIXUS. The carriage is absolutely plastered with adorably ugly cat pictures. Now I totally want to make a calendar! ＼(^o^)／
The full list of adorably ugly cat contest finalists can be seen here. To keep on top of Japan's adorably ugly cats, follow @busakawaleon.