What do you do after you fail? Purr your disappointment away and try harder. Two devoted art lovers have been trying to get into the Hiroshima Onomichi City Museum of Art for YEARS now, but have been consistently kicked out just as they were entering it. Meet Ken Chan and Gosaku, the most persistent feline out there.
It started a couple of years ago when the art museum debuted a show entitled “Cats — Mitsuaki Iwago Photography Exhibition.” Just days after the exhibit opened, an unusual visitor arrived, creating the best publicity for the event you could imagine. The security guard, however, blocked the kitty cats’ path at the front door. In March of last year, the same black neighborhood cat returned. But this time it brought a ginger friend. Sadly, the two of the cute cats were forced to turn around.
The persistent, funny cats have probably taken residence somewhere nearby the Japanese museum because they keep coming back again and again. Eventually, its staff started tweeting photos of the times they drop by, making them internet celebrities.
And while the weird cats haven’t yet officially made their way inside, at least they receive snuggles and pets from the white-gloved guards when they take the art lovers back outside.
Scroll down for the full story and the stubborn cats’ photos below!
More info: Twitter
Hiroshima Onomichi City Museum of Art spends most of its day refusing cats to get in
Image credits: @bijutsu1
Image credits: @bijutsu1
There are the two culprits. The black one
Image credits: @bijutsu1
And the ginger one
Image credits: @bijutsu1
Image credits: @bijutsu1
Image credits: @bijutsu1
It all started a couple of years ago when the meowseum debuted a show entitled “Cats — Mitsuaki Iwago Photography Exhibition”
Image credits: @bijutsu1
Just days after the exhibit opened, an unusual visitor arrived, creating the best publicity for the event you could imagine
Image credits: @bijutsu1
The security guard, however, blocked its path at the front door
Image credits: @bijutsu1
Image credits: @jiffington
Image credits: @bijutsu1
Image credits: @bijutsu1
Image credits: @bijutsu1
Image credits: @bijutsu1
Image credits: @bijutsu1
Image credits: @bijutsu1
Image credits: @bijutsu1
In March of last year, the same black neighbourhood cat returned
Image credits: @jiffington
But this time it brought its ginger friend
Image credits: @bijutsu1
Sadly, the two of them were forced to turn around
Image credits: @bijutsu1
Image credits: @bijutsu1
Image credits: @bijutsu1
The two have probably taken residence somewhere nearby the meowseum, because they keep coming back again and again
Image credits: @bijutsu1
Image credits: @bijutsu1
Image credits: @bijutsu1
Image credits: @bijutsu1
But while they haven’t yet officially made their way inside
Image credits: @bijutsu1
At least they sometimes get to take a peek at the good stuff
Image credits: @megsfrantz
Taking a break from attempting to get in
Image credits: @bijutsu1
The meowseum has even made cool merch dedicated to the furry art lovers
Check out the duo in action in the video below
Okay, before the comments section becomes an "anti-museum hatefest". Let's try to be rational. Cats are lovely and all, but a museum cannot afford little potential damage makers. But it would be great indeed if they could find a way to make the cats comply and become their official mascots.
Actually, the photos illustrate that the staff seems to be quite affectionate, too.
Load More Replies...Let them in. They're cats, ten seconds after they're in they'll want back out.
Of course they come back! They simultaneously get to torment humans and get petted by humans!
That black one looks particularly determined - you can just see it planning it's next attempt
I just love that black cat's resistance to The Man...plop down and show him the belly. Probably purr too. HAAHAHA
That trick is called the "Widowmaker". My fat lazy siamese has been tricking me for 9 years. And he gets all four feet and teeth involvef.
Load More Replies...At least they're not ferals, clearly. They look well-fed and clean and healthy, so either they have it really good in the neighborhood or they belong to someone. They probably just want in because they know it's not allowed. XD
That black cat loves the security guard. The way she rolls on her back exposing her belly is a sign of trust.
Yeah i would make a rubbish security guard at that place, i would be secretly signalling the cats to come in when no-one is looking. Cats and dogs just make everything better but i totally get why they cant go in the museum.
Well, it works in Amsterdam. Inside the "Kitten Kabinet" there are at least 3 cats that live there. They stroll through the exhebition or sleep on tables and other places. Water, Food and litterbox, all included. They like to be pet from the visitors to the place. Its really nice
The Russian National Museum of St Petersburg (I think) also has 3 official resident cats.
Load More Replies...Both the cats look happy and relaxed - they’ve turned it into a little game. The museum staff look like they’re kind to them as well, which is possibly why the kitties are enjoying this.
and also...with cats running all around..who would be able to care for them...and then more cats would come and it would be a CATASTROPHE!
The cats are here to shred the art pieces ala Banksy. Let'em do their job guys 🤦
Just let them in...from what I've experienced they'll want out again the moment they're inside.
Jepp and than back in. And out. And in. And out. They're cats, you see where the story would go? *lol*
Load More Replies...This is the cutest thing I have seen today. The cats. But also the security guard...
Awww they're so cute!!! Their expressions are just too funny! It's so obvious that they look annoyed because of not being allowed to enter. However, it's noticeable that the staff members are kindly refusing them. It seems that they want to pet the cats and give them belly rubs but their jobs tell them to resist the temptation. LOL ...
Oh no, they're ADORABLE! (Though I do get why they can't go in.) At least the staff are nice enough to only pick them up and put them back outside, not going too far and like, kick them or so.
Ok. Let Them in on these conditions: 1. At night. No allergies for visitors! 2. Cat rooms only. 3. Smashy wrecky stuff away.
1- so they have cat's exposition but no cats allowed? 2- Make merchandise after those 2 cats, get a lot of money, but still won't let the cats in? 3- Those cats statues in front of the door looks clearly that it's a cats temple, so those cats want to be in their temple. 4- Greedy museum employees.
Ooo... I know. Put 'em in a glass box, with all their favorite toys, and a regular supply of news, so they become the art. Possibly, maybe, if you feel so inclined, that painting that probably should be made to go away, anyhow. You know the one. from the 'contemporay' section. Then, at the end of the day, take them home with you :\
I'm sitting in maccas and I'm trying to hold in my laughter but I can't help it XDDD I want that bag
Does anyone else think that the hook for the bag looks like Tenori from Toradora? Idk, this IS Japan we're talking about here, I think at least since the names indicate they're in Japanese.
From my own experience - it's NEVER that easy to catch a cat if it doesn't want to be caught. I would guess that these two are just goofing around more than anything else. Especially since they have established that hoomins in this place are not going to hurt them.
The staff is really persistent! prob b/c they cannot have cats in b/c people may be allergic or scared too!
I;d let them in at least once, and follow them just to see where exactly they might be headed, Seems they might have something specific in mind, to have been so persistent.
Well..all those other cat's are in there! We can see them through the window! So why can't we go in and join them?!?! Huh? HUH!?! It's discrimination I tell you!
I think that they deserve a purrivate tour. If they were accompanied, how much damage could they cause?
I think that they should get a purrivate tour. If somebody accompanied them, how much damage could they cause?
Museums are great places to take a date. Looks to me like the cats are just trying to meet up to look at art together.
Hmm...why not let them in for a little while? Maybe the know something we don't.....
I love how this guy just says one letter and everyone on Bored Panda downvotes it. Yep, that's social media for ya!
Load More Replies...A: Someone could be highly allergic to cats, B: They could wreck some of the exhibits and C: If the security guards let them in they could lose their jobs D: It's not the museum's job to feed cats/shelter for cats. But I can see where you're coming from. However, they do look pretty healthy.
Load More Replies...Okay, before the comments section becomes an "anti-museum hatefest". Let's try to be rational. Cats are lovely and all, but a museum cannot afford little potential damage makers. But it would be great indeed if they could find a way to make the cats comply and become their official mascots.
Actually, the photos illustrate that the staff seems to be quite affectionate, too.
Load More Replies...Let them in. They're cats, ten seconds after they're in they'll want back out.
Of course they come back! They simultaneously get to torment humans and get petted by humans!
That black one looks particularly determined - you can just see it planning it's next attempt
I just love that black cat's resistance to The Man...plop down and show him the belly. Probably purr too. HAAHAHA
That trick is called the "Widowmaker". My fat lazy siamese has been tricking me for 9 years. And he gets all four feet and teeth involvef.
Load More Replies...At least they're not ferals, clearly. They look well-fed and clean and healthy, so either they have it really good in the neighborhood or they belong to someone. They probably just want in because they know it's not allowed. XD
That black cat loves the security guard. The way she rolls on her back exposing her belly is a sign of trust.
Yeah i would make a rubbish security guard at that place, i would be secretly signalling the cats to come in when no-one is looking. Cats and dogs just make everything better but i totally get why they cant go in the museum.
Well, it works in Amsterdam. Inside the "Kitten Kabinet" there are at least 3 cats that live there. They stroll through the exhebition or sleep on tables and other places. Water, Food and litterbox, all included. They like to be pet from the visitors to the place. Its really nice
The Russian National Museum of St Petersburg (I think) also has 3 official resident cats.
Load More Replies...Both the cats look happy and relaxed - they’ve turned it into a little game. The museum staff look like they’re kind to them as well, which is possibly why the kitties are enjoying this.
and also...with cats running all around..who would be able to care for them...and then more cats would come and it would be a CATASTROPHE!
The cats are here to shred the art pieces ala Banksy. Let'em do their job guys 🤦
Just let them in...from what I've experienced they'll want out again the moment they're inside.
Jepp and than back in. And out. And in. And out. They're cats, you see where the story would go? *lol*
Load More Replies...This is the cutest thing I have seen today. The cats. But also the security guard...
Awww they're so cute!!! Their expressions are just too funny! It's so obvious that they look annoyed because of not being allowed to enter. However, it's noticeable that the staff members are kindly refusing them. It seems that they want to pet the cats and give them belly rubs but their jobs tell them to resist the temptation. LOL ...
Oh no, they're ADORABLE! (Though I do get why they can't go in.) At least the staff are nice enough to only pick them up and put them back outside, not going too far and like, kick them or so.
Ok. Let Them in on these conditions: 1. At night. No allergies for visitors! 2. Cat rooms only. 3. Smashy wrecky stuff away.
1- so they have cat's exposition but no cats allowed? 2- Make merchandise after those 2 cats, get a lot of money, but still won't let the cats in? 3- Those cats statues in front of the door looks clearly that it's a cats temple, so those cats want to be in their temple. 4- Greedy museum employees.
Ooo... I know. Put 'em in a glass box, with all their favorite toys, and a regular supply of news, so they become the art. Possibly, maybe, if you feel so inclined, that painting that probably should be made to go away, anyhow. You know the one. from the 'contemporay' section. Then, at the end of the day, take them home with you :\
I'm sitting in maccas and I'm trying to hold in my laughter but I can't help it XDDD I want that bag
Does anyone else think that the hook for the bag looks like Tenori from Toradora? Idk, this IS Japan we're talking about here, I think at least since the names indicate they're in Japanese.
From my own experience - it's NEVER that easy to catch a cat if it doesn't want to be caught. I would guess that these two are just goofing around more than anything else. Especially since they have established that hoomins in this place are not going to hurt them.
The staff is really persistent! prob b/c they cannot have cats in b/c people may be allergic or scared too!
I;d let them in at least once, and follow them just to see where exactly they might be headed, Seems they might have something specific in mind, to have been so persistent.
Well..all those other cat's are in there! We can see them through the window! So why can't we go in and join them?!?! Huh? HUH!?! It's discrimination I tell you!
I think that they deserve a purrivate tour. If they were accompanied, how much damage could they cause?
I think that they should get a purrivate tour. If somebody accompanied them, how much damage could they cause?
Museums are great places to take a date. Looks to me like the cats are just trying to meet up to look at art together.
Hmm...why not let them in for a little while? Maybe the know something we don't.....
I love how this guy just says one letter and everyone on Bored Panda downvotes it. Yep, that's social media for ya!
Load More Replies...A: Someone could be highly allergic to cats, B: They could wreck some of the exhibits and C: If the security guards let them in they could lose their jobs D: It's not the museum's job to feed cats/shelter for cats. But I can see where you're coming from. However, they do look pretty healthy.
Load More Replies...
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