Japan’s social media star cat famous for resembling singer Takashi Hosokawa dies

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