Land of the Rising Cat: Japan’s Feline Fascination

by Manami Okazaki

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. Accompanied by fun and adorable photographs, this pop culture book is the purrrfect addition to any cat-lover’s coffee table.

Genres: Nonfiction, Japan, History, Cats, Art, Animals

176 pages, Paperback

Published September 10, 2019

Reviews

[Ron S · Rating 4 out of 5]

A whisker to tail compendium of Japan's obsession with cats, from shrines to festivals, manekineko dolls to furniture, toy designers, architecture and fashion designers. Even those well aware of cat cafes may not be familiar with feline train stationmasters, hotel lobby mascots, cat islands and Doraemon collectibles. Publisher Prestel, best known for coffee table books on art, design and erotica, have enhanced the subject matter with their usual high production values and attention to detail, despite the low price. A great addition for public libraries or as a gift to the cat fancier or Japanophile in your life.

[noelluuhh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love cats. I love Japan. Ameowzing, but the author could've touched upon the ethics of some attractions more.

[Katja · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was immediately interested in this book when I saw it in the library database: cats and Japan! The book consists of chapters on cats in religion, design, pop culture etc. There are a lot of great photographs, and the interviews with people working with cats in some way and people who use cat motifs in their art and so on, which are really brief but interviewees' views on cats are pretty interesting.

However, the book gives very light look on the subjects it covers. Well, yes, the content is clearly meant to be only a quick look on cats in Japan and Japanese culture but for example the pop culture chapter still feels really lacking. The section on manekineko is the most prominent. And the artists chapter features many different styles of art which was nice even though not all of them were pleasing me personally.

Some of the words and expressions were a bit odd, like too literal translations, I think letting an editor or a proofreader look through those would've made the text flow better.

I liked the book but hoped for more substantial content.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Included some insights into Japanese art and religious history, as well as some cute cat pics.

[Irene ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening and totally kawaii with its neat layout and beautiful imagery, Land of the Rising Cat is a must read for any cat enthusiast with an interest in the historic portrayal of cats in Japanese culture. It is NOT a book about Hello Kitty!

[Ryan Fohl · Rating 4 out of 5]

People are always asking me “Ryan who is your favorite Japanese wood working artist?” Well now I can answer. (It’s Yasunobu Oki all day every day)

Cats are a great conduit to learn more about Japan. The cat craze intersects with Japanese Folklore; art fashion and modern life. You can get a peak at the spirit of a culture through its trends. The writing is mostly interviews. There are wonderful photos and you will find lots of things to google for more images. There was no discussion of origami, YouTubers, or emojis. 😾

What I learned: An atelier is an artist’s workshop. Mononoko are vengeful spirits. Neko means cat. The island of iriomote is “Japan’s Amazon” and it has a native cat species.

[Hannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Echt een boek voor kattenliefhebbers en mensen die geïnteresseerd zijn in de cultuur van Japan. Het boek gaat over welke rol katten spelen in het dagelijks leven en de Japanse kunst. Behalve dat het interessant is, bevat het ook grappige feiten, zoals een kat die stationschef is en zoveel toeristen trekt, dat het station van de ondergang gered wordt. Er komen allerlei onderwerpen aan bod, zoals religie, kunst, mode, eten, design, festivals. Ook worden er allerlei plaatsen genoemd die je kunt bezoeken, zoals kattenmusea, kattencafés, kattenhotels, katteneilanden. Als je zou willen, zou je gemakkelijk een reis door Japan kunnen maken die helemaal in teken van katten staat. Ik heb erg genoten van dit boek en daarom vind ik het een aanrader.

[Richard Janzen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very thorough and visually appealing look at all aspects of cats and Japan. From art, to fashion, to pop culture, comics, and so much more. If you like cats, you should like this one. I especially liked the feature on creating cat-friendly design in homes, the cat islands, and was pleasantly surprised to see a feature on my favourite Japanese artist- a woodblock print artist named Kiyoshi Saito from Aizu.

[Julian Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a lot of cat info. Speaking as someone who loves cats… a bit overwhelming.

[Liselotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

honestly, a great book for any catlover!!