BURDEKIN PIT-STOP FOR VIRAL JAPANESE JOURNEYMAN

The Burdekin could not get enough of online sensation ‘Catman’ as he pedalled his way into Ayr last week. Photo: Jacob Casha.

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The Burdekin could not get enough of online sensation ‘Catman’ as he pedalled his way down Ayr’s Queen Street last week—the latest leg of a 9,000km journey around the country.

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The alter-ego of Japanese traveller Kentaro Jin, Catman made headlines in March after pushing a wheelbarrow of his belongings from Carnarvon, Western Australia to Sydney, amassing over one million social media followers along the two-and-a-half-year hike.

After deciding he wasn’t ready for the expedition to end in Sydney, Kentaro set off once again in his trademark leopard-print onesie, this time cycling his way up the east coast before flipping the kickstand down in Ayr at 11am last Friday.

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And it wasn’t long before locals noticed. Within hours of his arrival, Kentaro had been offered meals, drinks, and accommodation for the night in a showing of what he called “fantastic” community support.

“[The kindness] has been amazing,” Kentaro said, admitting he had already become a big fan of the town.

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“I got to walk around a little bit, talk to children. It's really great.”

Ayrline Hotel Manager Melissa Hitchcock, who provided Kentaro a complimentary room, said locals had flocked to the site all afternoon to catch a glimpse of the social media star—and her “most famous guest.”

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“When he arrived here [at around 1.30pm], we had like, a thousand people come in. Within five minutes, someone ran in and gave him some money and a balloon,” she quipped.

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“My kids even rang me: ‘Mum, you’ve got Catman staying at the motel!’”

As a result of that demand, Ms Hitchcock announced a designated meet-and-greet opportunity at Queens Hotel that afternoon, which she said was well-attended.

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She called Kentaro's willingness to interact with children “inspirational.”

“He’s just full of life,” Ms Hitchcock said.

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"He was so happy to greet the kids … who were knocking on his door every 10 to 15 minutes. He's definitely an inspiration with the following he's got.”

Interestingly, it was the children he has encountered on his cross-country voyage that gave it a real purpose.

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It’s an adventure Kentaro said began with no particular goal back in 2023. He arrived in Australia eager to satisfy a long-standing itch to travel, after his then-girlfriend broke off the relationship with him in Japan.

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The devastation bred determination, and his aimless voyage across Australia became a fundraiser for childhood cancer research, inspired by the kids and families he met along the way. It has since raised more than $70,000.

Still active today, you can donate to Kentaro's cause here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/catman6701