The eight-year battle between the guards at the Japanese Museum of Art has come to an end! The black cat that broke through the checkpoint has become a cat angel.

In // 11/12/2025 // Leave a Comment

 

The Onomichi City Museum of Art in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, is known for its daily visits by a pair of cats living nearby. These cats would attempt to sneak into the museum through the main entrance, only to be stopped by the gentle security guards each time. This battle between the two has become a popular topic of conversation both locally and online. However, the museum recently announced with deep sorrow that Ken-chan, the black cat who successfully breached the guards last year, passed away this September, shocking countless fans.

According to Japanese media reports, the Onomichi City Museum of Art's famous "human-cat battle" originated from the "Full of Cats Exhibition" held in March 2017. At that time, multiple cat silhouettes were displayed on the glass doors, unexpectedly attracting uninvited guests: Ken-chan, a black cat living near a restaurant, and Go, a stray orange tabby. The security guard, Mr. Sadao Uyahara, began a years-long battle with them.
The museum staff stated that the two cats were first spotted strolling near the museum in 2016, but did not
attempt to enter. It wasn't until the museum held the "Full of Cats Exhibition" that they developed a strong curiosity and wanted to explore the museum. To prevent them from causing trouble under the guise of "visiting," Sadao Usayahara diligently stopped the two cats, gently petting them and advising them against it. This only made the two cats more eager to visit daily.

The museum staff observed that Ken was particularly fond of Usayahara, completely ignoring other guards. Ken only attempted to enter the museum when Usayahara was on duty, suggesting that Ken enjoyed being stopped and the gentle petting and cuddling. However, last April, taking advantage of Usayahara's lowered guard, Ken rolled over and attacked him, rushing towards the main entrance. Although he was eventually caught, this marked the first time Ken successfully breached the security line head-on.

This amusing yet heartwarming "battle between humans and cats" became a popular topic of conversation after being shared online by the museum, attracting media attention from around the world who hailed it as "the world's most peaceful battle." However, Xiao Jian had been taken to the hospital for treatment earlier this year due to illness and rarely appeared in public. This morning (11th), with the owner's consent, the museum announced that Xiao Jian, who had been actively undergoing treatment and fighting against the disease, passed away on September 20th.

The museum revealed that the reason for announcing Xiao Jian's passing today was because it was the day he officially became a family cat, and they will never forget the years Xiao Jian spent accompanying the museum staff. Masao Uyahara, who "fought" with Xiao Jian for many years, mentioned that he still felt Xiao Jian would appear from around a corner every day on his way to work. "Xiao Jian was the first cat I met who was so attached to me. I want to say 'thank you' to it, thank you for all the wonderful memories it gave me."


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