Japan’s Most Determined Art Museum Cat Ken-chan Pass

Japan is mourning the death of little Ken, the beloved black cat who spent seven years trying to slip through the sliding doors of the Onomichi City Art Museum. Ken-chan’s death was announced on the museum’s X account on November 11, immediately triggering a wave of tributes from fans.

Over the years, Little Ken became a familiar sight at the entrance to the building. Wearing crisp white gloves, security guard Sadao Urakihara would gently lower his defensive stance while Ken-chan stepped forward with determination, as the two replayed their sweet, slow-motion showdown again and again.

“Not the entrance.” (20240418) Unexpectedly, Ken-chan tried to enter.#Onomichi City Museum of Art #Onomichi #cat视频 pic.twitter.com/QjaDIvoIc1

— Onomichi City Museum of Art (@bijutsu1) April 18, 2024

The cat that keeps coming back

Ken-chan debuted in 2017, coinciding with the museum’s ongoing exhibition about cats. The black cat who lives in a nearby restaurant approached the museum entrance with confidence, but was gently blocked by a security guard named Mayahara Sadao. Museum staff filmed the adorable confrontation and Post it on social mediasparking an ongoing viral saga known as the “Cat vs. Guard Standoff.”

Ken-chan’s relentless attempts to get into the museum, combined with Umayahara’s calm, patient, and almost comically polite resistance, make these two a recurring attraction. Strangely, Ken-chan only tried to break in when Mawuhara was on duty. As a regular guard, Ma Yayuan only works four times a year, but Xiao Ken always seems to know when he shows up.

For seven years, this unlikely friendship endured. Museum staff noticed that Ken Jr. was never very interested in the exhibit itself; he just wanted to play with his favorite defender. In 2018, Ken-chan started bringing a friend with him: an orange tabby cat affectionately known as “Gocchan.” The two visited the museum’s steps together, often engaging in two-on-one “battles” with the ever-dutiful Umayahara.

Courtesy of The Daily. Photo by Kenji Sato

Goodbye, Ken Chan

Ken-chan fell ill in 2024 and eventually stopped visiting the museum. After careful treatment, he left this world in September 2024, the museum announced on behalf of his owners on November 11, the anniversary of his adoption.

After Ken-chan passed away, the museum chose to preserve his legacy with the love and attention he earned. They posted a 2026 Commemorative Calendar It was filled with photos of his encounter with Mayahara, which sold out immediately. They also made life-size statues of Ken-chan and Gocchan. If you visit the museum today, you will also notice a black cat sticker on the museum’s sliding glass door, forever commemorating this beloved feline.

Ma Yayuan, who has only ever raised dogs, said that Xiao Ken was the only cat that he was really close to. “I still feel like he’s about to round that corner,” he Tell News comes after Ken-chan passed away. “I want to say ‘thank you’ to him for the wonderful memories we had together.”

You can find all posts about Umayahara, Ken-chan and Gocchan on the museum’s website Official X account.

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Updated on December 8, 2025