Born on March 8, 2002, Shironeko, a nine-year-old male Japanese cat, whose name translates literally as "white cat," is now been intensely followed by young Chinese people. He is especially popular on Weibo, a microblogging space developed by some portal sites.
In China, young people who love the cat often call him "Uncle Shiro," for his age is equal to a man in his 50s. He is known for always having a relaxed and peaceful facial expression, bringing his followers a sense of calm and comfort, said a young female worker.
Usually wearing a red fedora hat and sunglasses, the cat looks pudgy, sleepy, and cute. "His face is so big that it always fills out the pictures. When I look at his peaceful face, I feel that my daily pressures have been taken away," said Yangyang, whose job is in marketing.
A fast-paced life brings various pressures to the young generation. Looking at pictures of "Uncle Shiro" provides a way for them to effectively relieve stress. "His cute image and pudgy figure remind you of an optimistic and harmless middle-aged man," added Xiao.
