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Japanese Haiku for Cat Lovers
Not yet published
Expected 7 Apr 26A lyrical celebration of cats through the timeless beauty of Japanese haiku and brush art.
This beautifully illustrated volume presents 82 cat-themed haiku by Japan's most celebrated poets—including Basho, Issa, Shiki, Buson, Soseki and many others.
Beautifully compiled and illustrated by award-winning artst Manda, and translated by bestselling author William Scott Wilson, this collection pairs classic verse with evocative artwork.
Free audio recordings of each haiku in both English and Japanese are available online.
The passing year!
The cat hunches down
on my lap.
—NATSUME SOSEKI
A night of frost;
opening the window to the cries
of an abandoned cat.
—ISSA
This charming edition makes a perfect gift for poetry lovers, cat enthusiasts and anyone captivated by the austere beauty of haiku.
This beautifully illustrated volume presents 82 cat-themed haiku by Japan's most celebrated poets—including Basho, Issa, Shiki, Buson, Soseki and many others.
Beautifully compiled and illustrated by award-winning artst Manda, and translated by bestselling author William Scott Wilson, this collection pairs classic verse with evocative artwork.
Free audio recordings of each haiku in both English and Japanese are available online.
The passing year!
The cat hunches down
on my lap.
—NATSUME SOSEKI
A night of frost;
opening the window to the cries
of an abandoned cat.
—ISSA
This charming edition makes a perfect gift for poetry lovers, cat enthusiasts and anyone captivated by the austere beauty of haiku.
96 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication April 7, 2026
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 19, 2025
These poems are just so sweet. They show that we all really DO have the same cat, including cat-owners from the 1700s. I will definitely be gifting copies of this book to my cat-lover friends once it is released! Out April 7th, 2026!
Thank you to Tuttle Publishing for approving me for an Edelweiss eARC!
Thank you to Tuttle Publishing for approving me for an Edelweiss eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Poetry | Japanese | Cats
Thank you to Tuttle Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Japanese Haiku for Cat Lovers introduces readers to the charm, elegance, and history of cats in Japanese culture through the lens of traditional haiku. Rather than focusing solely on poetry, this book emphasizes both visual beauty and cultural context, creating an immersive experience for readers and cat lovers alike.
The illustrations throughout the book are gorgeous in a painted style. One painting that stood out to me depicts a cat intently focused on a blue butterfly, which I loved.
One of my favorite poems was
"Even the insect,
though targeted by the cat,
is shown chirping"
Where we can take it literally or identify ourselves as the insect when there's conflict in regular life, we must go on.
The haikus themselves are thoughtfully presented, with English translations followed by the original Japanese and romaji. This makes the poetry both accessible and authentic.
Classic haikus from Issa are included. Another poem in particular:
"Even a dingy cat has a mate"
, resonated with me, reminding me of the strays I help take care of.
The book also shares historical facts, like how cats were brought to Japan by Buddhist monks to protect sacred texts from mice, and how cats were given as gifts among the wealthy. As a bonus, readers are given a link to audio recordings of the poems, first in English and then in Japanese, enhancing the reading experience.
Most haikus included we're highly visual and great, but a few about fleas or mating I felt were a bit off.
Overall, Japanese Haiku for Cat Lovers is a beautiful, thoughtful, and charming collection that combines art, poetry, and history. Its mix of visual and auditory elements, paired with cultural insights, makes it a perfect gift for anyone who loves cats or appreciates Japanese literature.
Thank you to Tuttle Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Japanese Haiku for Cat Lovers introduces readers to the charm, elegance, and history of cats in Japanese culture through the lens of traditional haiku. Rather than focusing solely on poetry, this book emphasizes both visual beauty and cultural context, creating an immersive experience for readers and cat lovers alike.
The illustrations throughout the book are gorgeous in a painted style. One painting that stood out to me depicts a cat intently focused on a blue butterfly, which I loved.
One of my favorite poems was
"Even the insect,
though targeted by the cat,
is shown chirping"
Where we can take it literally or identify ourselves as the insect when there's conflict in regular life, we must go on.
The haikus themselves are thoughtfully presented, with English translations followed by the original Japanese and romaji. This makes the poetry both accessible and authentic.
Classic haikus from Issa are included. Another poem in particular:
"Even a dingy cat has a mate"
, resonated with me, reminding me of the strays I help take care of.
The book also shares historical facts, like how cats were brought to Japan by Buddhist monks to protect sacred texts from mice, and how cats were given as gifts among the wealthy. As a bonus, readers are given a link to audio recordings of the poems, first in English and then in Japanese, enhancing the reading experience.
Most haikus included we're highly visual and great, but a few about fleas or mating I felt were a bit off.
Overall, Japanese Haiku for Cat Lovers is a beautiful, thoughtful, and charming collection that combines art, poetry, and history. Its mix of visual and auditory elements, paired with cultural insights, makes it a perfect gift for anyone who loves cats or appreciates Japanese literature.
Review of advance copy
A sweet book with lovely illustrations, a comforting little presence on the shelf. I couldn’t help but chuckle and think of my cats as I read.
Read
February 20, 2026Just Adorable.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
A cute and cozy read. I loved it just for the introduction alone, which gives the reader a neat bit of history on cats in Japan. Comes with lovely watercolor illustrations as well.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews