Cats in Japanese literature have found a way to sneak between the lines to share the wisdom of a sacred animal.

Text by Samantha G. Núñez

The interest in cats has existed in Japan since a long time ago, and although their exact appearance can’t be pinpointed, during the Kanpyō era (889), a cat was gifted to the Japanese emperor Uda. Over time, the feline population grew, accumulating fame and curiosity to the point where they became part of the folklore and mysticism of the land of the rising sun. From the magical tales told back then, cats transformed into not only house companions but also into anthropomorphic figures that roamed in the shadows, small guardians, or demons, and even heroes and good-luck amulets.

The cat figure in Japan has evolved, and today we can find them reinterpreted in stories and novels. «I Am a Cat,» a book by Natsume Sōseki, features a cat as the protagonist (as the title suggests), whose name remains unknown. As we read its stories, we can notice the wisdom found in it because of the social critique of Japan during the Meiji era (1868-1912). The mysticism surrounding felines is represented in Murakami’s «Kafka on the Shore». Meanwhile, feline magic that offers social criticism (this time towards the publishing world) is found in «The Cat Who Loved Books» by Sōsuke Natsukawa. «She and Her Cat» by Makoto Shinkai and Naruki Nagakawa explores the ancient love of the Japanese for their cats. Although we cannot delve deeply into each feline figure presented in the aforementioned novels, they share common traits and characteristics – their language and way of communicating with humans and among themselves, sometimes teaching values and Japanese ideas through meows, and other times transgressing them to present revitalizing concepts. In conclusion, cats in Japanese literature have found a way to sneak between the lines and share the wisdom of a sacred animal.

References

Zack, D., & Zócalo Public Square. (September 11,  2021). Japan’s Love-Hate Relationship With Cats. Smithsonian Magazine.