Breakfast with My Two-Tailed Cat Vol. 1

Breakfast with My Two-Tailed Cat #1

by Ai Shimizu

A talking supernatural cat rescues a man from loneliness as they enjoy a peaceful country life and delicious food.

Souichiro’s wife wanted to retire to the countryside, but soon after they achieve this dream, she dies. So he won’t be left alone, their pet cat Nii turns into a talking nekomata, a two-tailed yokai cat. Together they share a heartwarming slow life, cooking and eating delicious food surrounded by nature. Enjoy freshly baked bread, handmade jam, fluffy omelets, and seasonal vegetables with the members of this unusual household.

Genres: Manga, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Slice Of Life, Cats, Animals, Comics

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 7, 2022

Reviews

[Ricarda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing to see here, just an old man sharing meals with his gigantic cat spirit (that calls him Dad 🥹🩷).

[Jes Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This stupid book made me cry four times. It’s perfect.

[Sol · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Someday... even if 'that time' arrives... we should take our time and enjoy each day."

3.5 ⭐
Be careful if you're reading this while in grief, because I cried on and off all the way through this...!

I felt that this was really sweet and had a great mood.
After the loss of his wife, Asano would be all alone in the house they bought together in the countryside -- if it weren't for the fact that his wife's elderly cat, Nii, became a nekomata yokai so that he and Asano would always be together.

This book really encapsulates grief so well. Of course, Asano is still hurting so much after the passing of his precious wife. But this is a book about the days that pass after a horrible loss like that happens. Every day, Asano makes breakfast for him and Nii. He tries new things, goes on walks, talks to people. The loss of his wife is always there with him, but life goes on in all of the happy moments, sad moments, and changing seasons. Even during the mundane times, he remembers her and carries regrets... but he just keeps on living and looking after Nii, loving and caring for him. That type of grief is really prevalent in my life right now, so I felt that this book portrayed it in such an understandable, relatable, and comforting way.

Life just goes on. There's always good food and a great view to be had, and there will always be loved ones close by. It's okay to keep living, and it's okay to find happiness after someone passes. Those are the themes that I found in this manga, and they really warmed my heart.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, if you enjoy stories about cats, cooking, or persevering through insurmountable grief, this might be for you.

Souichiro and his wife planned to retire to the countryside—a place his wife loved. But, not long after the move, Souichiro’s wife passed. Their much beloved cat, Nii, transforms into a two-tailed Yokai cat so he can keep Souichiro company. Together, they honor Souichiro’s wife by continuing to make meals in her memory and enjoying their life in the countryside.

The first chapter hade bawling my eyes out—and I was an absolute mess by the end.

So, I highly recommend this one!

As I’ve said before, I appreciate cat manga so much not just because of the cute little stories about adorable cats but because these stories are seldom ever just about cats. There’s often a more thoughtful layer beneath that, touching upon something meaningful or profound about community and the human condition.

Here, this story uses these seemingly innocuous interactions between Nii and Souichiro to explore the profound, lasting effects of loss and the difficult, non-linear navigation of grief.

I think it’s really well done.

And, I will plan to have a big box of tissues next to me when I pick up the following volumes~

[Ann A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not expecting to tear up while reading this. Breakfast with my Two-Tailed Cat is a cute and wholesome read. While reading this it really made me miss certain family members that have passed as well as my pets that are no longer here. I definitely wish they were all here and I could give them all a big hug and share a family meal together with everyone again. This is definitely one of my top 10 reads of this year so far.

[Wilma Enström · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute and it made me hungry🌽

[Lainy122 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really sweet idea for a story, and all the food looked super good! Except the whole onion topped with cheese. Just, no. That is not a meal. Stop it.

[Heather D-G · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-warming exploration of grief and the act of living in the aftermath. I particularly empathize with the use of food and food preparation as expressions of caring. I also like the use of flashbacks to illuminate the previous life of “Dad” and Nii.

[Kat Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable and heartwarming!

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute web comic about an elderly widower and his cat-turned-youkai, making and eating food.

That's it. That's the story.

It's a social media-sized version of similar titles, but with a spirit cat (so he can eat things like onions for the sake of the "story"). The art is cute and consistent, and the story is similarly consistent: literally every episode is at most four pages (the normal social media limit for grouped images) and involves Nii (the cat) wanting food, and "Dad" (Souichiro) getting/trying to make it... and both of them eating even his failed attempts and/or remembering when "Mom" was around.

Recommended for foodies and/or cat lovers! Not recommended for anyone looking for really demanding plots beyond, "What should we eat today?"

[cardulelia carduelis · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art is gorgeous. The concept is heartwarming.
NOTHING HAPPENS.

Sad older widower awakes every morning, makes eggs for gis two-tailed Yokai in a different way, reminisces about his recently departed wife, goes walking or shopping and cooks again, repeat.

Unlike the atmospheric vignettes of, say, Taniguchi's The Walking Man there is nothing awe-insipring in the storytelling here. It's sweet and very sad, but it's the same story over and over and over. There is enough content here for four pages.. and there are somehow 3 volumes of this manga?
I think this would work best as a newspaper serial, perhaps on a weekly basis the identical storylines are more forgiving.

Not for me but excellent art and does what it says on the tin. Don't expect hidden depths.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Souichiro and his wife retired to the countryside, fulfilling her dream of a quiet life. But she died soon afterwards. At that time, their cat transformed into a much larger, mythical, two-tailed cat to better keep Souichiro company. They make food together, venture to new places, and enjoy a slower pace in the country.

This is a quiet little slice of life manga with a touch of fantasy. It's a very calm and relaxing read with everyday little adventures. I like the artwork of the Japanese countryside. There's a lot of focus on the meals they make, so you probably don't want to read this one hungry.

Notes on content:
Language: None that I remember
Sexual content: None
Violence: One death from non-violent causes in flashbacks.
Ethnic diversity: People are Japanese
LGBTQ+ content: None
Other: Some exploration of grief after the death of a loved one.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

After Souichiro’s wife passes away, he feels very lonely.
So their cat Nii turns into a talking nekomata, a two-tailed yokai cat, to help him and keep him company.
It's cute, and they live a peaceful life together in a nice quiet small village.
But really, it's just all about the food they prepare and eat together, so it's quickly getting boring for me, and I won't read more of the series.
Not all manga with cats are great!!
But if you need comfort food and comfort reading, and comforting cats, then this book is for you

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute little slice of life that follows a widowed man and his now massive cat as they navigate learning how to make food and move forward after the man's wife passes away. It's a very sweet and slightly sad look at what healing can look like and the space that is still taken up by our loved ones after they are gone.

It's not overly deep and it follows a formula for each chapter, but it's honestly exactly what I needed. Just a man and his cat trying to get by, and appreciating the moments they have

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

unbearably cute. older man's wife has passed and their cat has decided to become a magical big cat to keep him company in her stead. they eat many meals together and enjoy small happinesses, like broccoli, and cheese. so sweet and also so low key sad, the kernels of grief are seeded throughout the book, which makes the moments of joy even more striking.

"can i make it go PON?" with respect to cat asking to make toast... akadkgdflgdfgdlg so cute

bye

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good first volume! It's a slice of life supernatural manga following the life of an old man and his Two-Tailed Yokai Cat. I really liked the inclusion of grief in the story, though it's not the focus. It shows just enough without being triggering for me, personally. This was a cute read.

[Sarah AK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally a cat book that my broken heart didn't think was dumb! Well, that's not true, it's totally dumb, but it's also absolutely perfect. I bet no one else sobbed while reading this, but I sure did. I lost my vegetable-loving soul cat to a blood clot last month, and more than anything I would like him to visit me in my dreams tonight as a giant two-tailed yokai cat...

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quiet, beautiful slice of life (with a nekomata) story. Dad (Sou) and Mom retire to the countryside with their beloved cat Nii. Mom passes in a year. Nii dies but does want to leave Dad alone so Nii comes back as a two taled cat yokai. I get the story and it gets me, some tears on cherished memories along with appreciating the present.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful read full of food, cuteness, & tender moments. I could feel the main character’s grief permeating through the light hearted slice of life moments which moved me in unexpected ways. The afterword added depth & richness to the story—how beautiful that Ai Shimizu created this manga to showcase his birthplace & favorite things.

[Kuroyuri · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable and heartwarming story. It has such a peaceful feel to it, and all the dishes look delicious. Nii is super cute and all the little flashbacks are lovely and soft. It really shows the hardship of grieving but also the beauty of remembering those you love. I hope to read more of Nii and Souichiro!

[Lilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute! It’s so cozy it’s just about cooking meals and sharing them with a giant cat. It got repetitive which makes my rating go down. I noticed a lot of volume 1 of mangas get repetitive and I just don’t think they should since they’re so short. I loved how the cat called his owner Dad, I’m always calling my cat my child.

[Stella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad, sweet, and silly all in one. The back cover tells you the story…a couple retired to the country but the wife died within a year. Their cat transforms into a yokai to keep the man company. The man learns to cook for himself and the cat, enjoying fresh seasonal produce from the surrounding countryside.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

As far as cozy stories and manga go, this is the best of the best. It's very somber at times yet also reminds you to appreciate life around you and with those still with you.

The other thing I love about this book is the inspiration to cook. I've been in a rut in recent months (I largely blame Blue Apron's process for making cooking joyless).

Overall, I love this and can't wait to read more.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a cute story and art about a two tailed cat and his Dad learning how to cook and make meals that they eat each day as well as what happened in the past. It reminds me of my cat that wants to eat everything I eat. Lol

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so damn cute! I love cat manga. The artist has made Nii so lifelike and some of the reactions and movements (especially with ears) is spot on cat behaviour. It is a beautiful story and I love that Nii calls him Dad. Can't wait for the next volume.

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is SO adorable and makes me laugh out loud, despite the lingering grief and sorrow in the story. I love the artwork and how the characters express themselves.
I love that there is even a panel for him to clean off his glasses after getting them steamed up while cooking! I get it!!

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't prepared for this to be as sad as it was to me. The food content is great, the cat/yokai is cool; but there's not much story-story aside from a man dealing with grief. Not a bad read- just make sure you're in the right headspace for it.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderfully cute slice of life story about family, loss, grief, and happiness.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute and a little poignant. I really enjoyed this.

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute slice of life with a Yokai cat. Sweet little cooking segments.