Kentaro Jin’s mother thought he was crazy when he decided to walk across Australia dressed as a cat.
But the 26-year-old from Japan marched on, and has now reached Geelong.
Catman arrived in Geelong on Monday.Credit: Wayne Taylor
The happy leopard-suited adventurer left Carnarvon, Western Australia, two years ago with just a wheelbarrow of belongings.
“Catman” has since gathered more than 500,000 followers on Instagram as he documents his heart-warming chance interactions with strangers on the road.
“Australia is really kind,” Jin tells The Age. “Everyone is touching my heart, and I’m very happy.”
On sparse outback roads, strangers have pulled over to share water and food.
In old country pubs, barflies have offered him a place to stay and a shower.
And on the Great Ocean Road a week ago, cyclists racing past in the UCI Gran Fondo World Championship event cried out: “Catman!”
Kentaro Jim is the 26-year-old man behind the Catman suit.Credit: Wayne Taylor
Jin says the trip is raising money for childhood cancer charities, and he wants to spread happiness.
He watched cross-country travellers on YouTube when he was younger and wanted to have a similar adventure after he arrived in Australia for a farm job on a working-holiday visa.
The likes of Ned Brockman and William Goodge have also completed epic west-to-east coast runs recently, so Jin wanted to be different.
“I decided I needed a specialty because lots of people do this same thing,” he says.
“When I was in Carnarvon, I was working with a wheelbarrow, so I decided to use a wheelbarrow on my journey.”
He explains that the word for wheelbarrow in Japanese is “nekoguruma” (猫車), which literally translates to ‘cat car’. Hence, he became Catman.
This Japanese superhero has stopped to find work and fund his travels too.
In Albany, he got a job in a fish-and-chip shop. In Perth, he worked in construction. In Esperance, he washed cars.
‘Catman’ managed to cross the Nullarbor in summer, often walking during cooler nights. He also overcame a nasty burn from a mishap with boiling water on his journey.
In South Australia, he worked on a sheep farm and stopped at roadhouses along the Eyre Highway.
‘Catman’ on the Geelong foreshore on Monday.Credit: Wayne Taylor
Motorists pulled over in the middle-of-nowhere to meet him, including two bearded, burly blokes wearing dresses who asked: “What are you doing dressed up like that?”
Jin left Adelaide in winter for the final leg of his journey to Sydney.
After a quick trip back to Japan for a new visa, he resumed his journey in Mount Gambier and entered Victoria in late September.
When he arrived in Warrnambool late at night a fortnight ago, he was prepared to sleep at a service station.
However, strangers soon offered him a bedroom.
A now-viral video shows the family who gave Jin shelter and food also took him shopping for camping gear the next day.
He then conquered the Great Ocean Road.
“It’s really beautiful view. The people are so beautiful too,” he says. “But almost every day it’s raining.”
Karthik Karkala snapped a photo with ‘Catman’ on Monday.Credit: Wayne Taylor
The sun was out when Jin reached Geelong’s foreshore on Monday, much to the excitement of strangers who happened upon his arrival.
He was happy to chat and answer questions. However, he was coy when this masthead asked where he got his catsuit from.
“It’s a secret,” he says, smiling.
‘Catman’ plans to arrive in Melbourne next month and aims to reach Sydney before March.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
