Diary of a Cat

by Mayumi Nagano, Yui Kajita (Translator)

The perfect cosy read for 2025 - cats and food come together as the seasons change.

Meet Chimaki and Norimaki - two young cats lost in the sprawling metropolis of Tokyo, sniffing out cat-lovers who might be kind enough give them a ride or place to sleep for the night . . . Until they find a new home with the Hōrai family, an eccentric assortment of artists, dreamers and caterers who have one thing in their love of good food.

Inspired by the bougie magazine column written by Madam Hōrai, Chimaki decides to keep his own diary, inviting us in to share the family's meals and activities, his younger brother's comical scrapes, and the movements of a mysterious stranger around the house. His journal follows the change of the seasons from early spring to midwinter, with each entry featuring all kinds of delectable dishes and a wealth of Japanese culinary lore.

Playful, gentle and curiously addictive, Diary of a Cat offers intriguing glimpses into Japanese culture on every page, recipes to follow and characters to fall in love with - all through the eyes of an endearingly curious cat.

Genres: Fiction, Japan, Japanese Literature

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 27, 2012

About the author

Mayumi Nagano [長野 まゆみ (ながの まゆみ) ] is Japanese author. Graduating from Joshibi University Of Art And Design. Therefore, She is also an illustrator that draws covers etc for her own works.

Reviews

[Silke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a little bit of a disappointment, wanted more cat stories but it was mostly about food.
Also not really a storyline going on

[Mark Warmby]

A fun read, lots of food references and hints of contemporary Japanese life today. uplifting basically and it helps if you like cats 😊

[Shona · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 starts rounded up. It’s a shame this book has such low ratings on Goodreads, and I think that’s likely because people look at the front cover and make assumptions about the plot. The blurb is a more accurate representation of the story. This is a really quirky book where the cats are observers of family life. There are lots of insights into Japanese culture and society, with a sprinkling of cat-specific plot. I enjoyed it for what it is: an offbeat look into family life in a culture very different from mine.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Diary of a Cat 🐈

A book that's more about Japanese cooking and culture than cats, this one rides the recent wave of cat-related cosy Japanese books.

Diary of a Cat is a slice-of-life novel that's dedicated to the fine art of Japanese cooking, nutrition, food, the ever-changing culture, traditions, mannerisms and history of Japan. It's all told from the perspective of a boy cat, Chimaki, who after getting separated at the airport from his previous owner, a woman named Mademoiselle Rocco, lives with his brother Norimaki, and the Horais, an eccentric family obsessed with food.

Inspired by Madame Horai's newspaper column, Chimaki keeps a diary with the entries segmented by the changing seasons and seasonal Japanese dishes.

A must-read if you're a Japanese food foodie, or simply obsessed with the finer details of Japanese linguistics and way of life.

[Periplus Bookstores · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yuk, temani Chimaki dan Norimaki, dua anak kucing yang tersesat di Tokyo … hiks! hingga menemukan rumah hangat bersama keluarga Horai yang begitu doyan makan. Melalui jurnal harian Chimaki, kita diajak menikmati momen-momen sehari-hari keluarga, kekonyolan sang adik, hingga misteri sosok asing yang berkeliling rumah. Setiap halaman memadukan perubahan musim dengan hidangan lezat dan pengetahuan kuliner Jepang yang menarik. Kisah ini memikat dengan kelembutan, humor ringan, dan kehangatan keluarga yang terasa nyata. Bagi pencinta kucing, makanan, dan kisah nan hangat, novel dengan sudut pandang anabul ini menawarkan pengalaman membaca yang tak terlupakan. https://blog.periplus.com/2025/09/15/...

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This to me had more of a ‘cosy mystery’ feel than other Japanese authors. The main focus was on cooking with the cat being the narrator. Lovely relaxing reading, however, lacking (I think intentionally) the deeper meaning and understanding I do love from Japanese authors.

[Spike · Rating 3 out of 5]

sweet, innocuous and calming. the cats are sweet, but the story went no where. however, i suspect that was the point

[Daniella · Rating 2 out of 5]

No plot - just lengthy descriptions of food...