An adorable feline has been installed as the “lord” of an ancient castle in western Japan, drawing tourists and helping the area’s recovery from a deadly rain disaster last year.

Named Sanjuro, the cat assumed its title on Dec. 16 at Bitchu Matsuyama Castle in Takahashi, Okayama Prefecture, after running away from home and settling there.

Built in 1240 atop a 430-meter-high mountain, it is the highest castle with a tower in Japan. On early fall and winter mornings, a sea of clouds forms in the valleys below the castle making it appear as if it is floating, according to a tourism promotion body in Okayama.

The 3-year-old male cat, named after local samurai Tani Sanjuro, was originally the pet of Megumi Nanba, 40, but ran away from home in Takahashi on July 14 shortly after torrential rain caused floods and mudslides across wide areas of western Japan.

A week later, he was found by a man working at the castle, which is located about 6 kilometers away from Nanba’s home. The man started feeding the feline, which took up residence in the historical structure.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by さんじゅーろー (@sanju_ro_) on Dec 6, 2018 at 9:03pm PST

Charmed by Sanjuro, Hideo Aihara, the executive director of a local tourism association that manages the castle, decided to make the pet a promotional mascot.

Nanba, who heard her cat was living at the castle and came to pick him up in mid-October, later agreed to give the animal to the association, leading to Sanjuro taking up his new role as the cat lord.

Thanks to Sanjuro, the number of visitors to the castle — which had dropped off due to the disaster — recovered quickly. Its October figures even eclipsed those of the year before, according to the association.

“He is our savior as he brought back visitors. We will take good care of him as the castle’s new representative,” said Aihara.