The magazine of the photo-essay
September back 2019 issue
“A free, really high quality photo-essay magazine. Fabulous!”
Stephen Fry. British actor, writer and film maker
Read this book if you want to find out just how crazy Japan is about cats.
In a country with millions of cat owners, it’s not unusual to find felines in coffee
shops, hotel lobbies, and museums; being taken for stroller rides; or even serving as
train stationmasters. But how did this cat mania start? Why does it continue to grow?
And—are there really Buddhist funeral services for cats? In this lively, tip-to-tail cat
compendium, Japanese culture maven Manami Okazaki shares the weird and
wonderful realities of Japan’s cat shrines, temples, and festivals; interviews toy
artisans, fashion designers, and even an architect; and looks at cat-centric social
media, manga, and mascots. From ubiquitous manekineko dolls and Doraemon
collectibles to Maro, a cosplaying Internet celebrity, every aspect of Japan’s ongoing
love affair with cats springs to life.
by Manami Okazaki
