February 2, 2026

Takeshi the Cat Who Went South

A calico cat named Takeshi joined Japan’s first Antarctic expedition in 1956 and became the only known Japanese cat to overwinter on the ice.

In 1956, a calico cat named Takeshi traveled to Antarctica with Japan’s first Antarctic observation team, aboard the research ship Sōya.

Takeshi wasn’t a scientist, and he wasn’t trained for work on the ice. He was there as the expedition’s mascot, a small presence meant to bring comfort and, hopefully, good fortune. The crew believed Takeshi would help guide them home safely.

And he did. The mission succeeded.

Takeshi was a male calico, an extremely rare coloring and a symbol of good luck in Japan. He was named after the expedition’s commander, Takeshi Nagata, and quickly became part of daily life aboard the ship and at the Antarctic base.

Unlike the famous Sakhalin dogs Taro and Jiro, and unlike most animals associated with polar exploration, Takeshi did not have a task like pulling sleds or assisting with research. He lived alongside the crew instead, sharing their routines, their meals, and the long, dark months on the ice.

After overwintering in Antarctica, Takeshi returned to Japan with the team and was adopted by the family of a crew member. About a week later, he disappeared.

No records explain where he went, and no sightings followed. Some like to imagine he set off on another journey, restless after having once lived at the edge of the world.

Takeshi remains the only Japanese cat known to have overwintered in Antarctica. A small animal, briefly woven into one of humanity’s coldest and most remote endeavors.

A sweet companion. A lucky charm. And a cat who, for a moment, went farther south than almost anyone else.

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