Mir the Cat, a gray Siberian feline gifted by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Japan’s Akita Prefecture Governor Norihisa Satake, has passed away at the age of 12. The cat’s journey wasn’t just about crossing borders; it was about symbolizing peace, kindness, and the bond between two nations.

The story began in 2012, following a devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan in 2011. Russia had played a significant role in aiding Japan during the disaster, which killed nearly 20,000 peop...