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ゴジュッセンチの一生 [Gojussenchi no Isshou] #1-3
A Story of Seven Lives: The Complete Manga Collection
Nanao used to be a house cat, but after tragedy struck, he was abandoned on the rough streets of Tokyo. Now, alongside his best friend and fellow stray Machi, Nanao has to fight every day just to get by. Aside from foraging for food and finding somewhere to sleep, Nanao and Machi must remain vigilant about all sorts of dangers, including humans who want stray cats gone. When a woman named Yoshino starts feeding the neighborhood cats, Nanao reluctantly bonds with her. But the woman has emotional scars and a past entwined with Nanao's. Can Nanao help her heal, and perhaps heal himself in the process?
456 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 10, 2018
30 people are currently reading
576 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
March 9, 2024
What if we fell in love and we were both boy cats!? (!!!) 😳😳!!
July 21, 2023
Sobbed from the beginning to the end. And now I'm going to hug my cats and tell them how much I love them (for the millionth time today).
December 23, 2024
This story is a slice of life that follows along a cat named Nanao and his life as a stray cat in a subsection of Tokyo, Japan. The story follows him as he battles the internal conflict of hating humans despite being a former house cat himself. The story occasionally pivots to a human who lives in the town so you can see the story from a human perspective.
If you've read/watched "Wolf Children," I recommend reading this.
If you've read/watched "Wolf Children," I recommend reading this.
May 7, 2025
I love cats! 😻
March 4, 2024
Nanao used to be a house cat, but he's now yet another abandoned stray cat. He spends his days alongside his best friend Machi, a fellow stray, trying to survive just like all of the other strays in their neighborhood.
Meanwhile, Yoshino, who for some reason has an aversion to cats, runs the Narita Bathhouse with help from her younger brother. The neighborhood the bathhouse is in is known for its feral cat population, which creates some cute moments for tourists to photograph but has negative aspects as well. In the interests of reducing the local feral cat population, people are now forbidden from feeding them unless they're on the neighborhood cat feeding schedule, which all the local shops are part of. To her shock, Yoshino is first up on the schedule, which requires her to face her feelings about cats and her memories of and grief over her husband, who died in an accident shortly after they were married.
This manga is a combination of several things: a "keep your cats inside" PSA, a story about a widow overcoming her grief over the death of her husband and learning to love the cats he loved, and a story about cats dealing with feline politics and trying to figure out how and whether to trust humans.
A warning: there's some on-page cat death in this, as well as some on-page animal cruelty (a guy who catches Nanao and plans to torture and kill him - he does get as far as breaking Nanao's tail), and lots of "cat in peril" moments. One of the main ways this series tackles its "keep your cats inside" PSA aspects is by showing readers lots of ways being outside can turn out badly for cats - being injured by cars, people, or other cats, the possibility of starvation, and more. There was very little, if any, focus on the damage feral cats can do to the environment - the author knew readers were likely cat lovers who'd be most likely to listen to messages focused on preventing cats from getting hurt.
Although I hated the amount of time I had to spend feeling anxious about Nanao and Machi (I flipped to the end, at one point, in an effort to find out whether they both survived), I was interested in their story and its intersection with Yoshino's. The flashback to the accident that killed Yoshino's husband was heartbreaking on multiple levels (and also frustrating, because he could have waited just a bit longer and it probably would've been fine).
The cat politics-focused bits engaged in more anthropomorphization than I'd have liked. Machi was the son of Ten, the cat who was the "Ao" (leader) before the current one. Because he'd inherited his father's blue eyes, it seemed likely that Machi would be a future Ao, but All of this gave Machi almost as harrowing a story as Nanao's, but overall I preferred Nanao and Yoshino's story.
It's an anxiety-inducing read,
This was an impulse purchase, a result of browsing through available manga omnibus editions looking for something I might enjoy. All in all, I enjoyed it despite its upsetting moments. The artwork was lovely, and the story felt like it was just the right length.
Extras:
Three full-color illustrations, a few pages of concept artwork and notes from the author, and a couple pages about TNR and related topics. There's also a short bonus manga that I suspect was originally released at the end of volume 1 but which was included at the very end of this omnibus volume. The manga features Nanao and Machi transforming into human boys.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
Meanwhile, Yoshino, who for some reason has an aversion to cats, runs the Narita Bathhouse with help from her younger brother. The neighborhood the bathhouse is in is known for its feral cat population, which creates some cute moments for tourists to photograph but has negative aspects as well. In the interests of reducing the local feral cat population, people are now forbidden from feeding them unless they're on the neighborhood cat feeding schedule, which all the local shops are part of. To her shock, Yoshino is first up on the schedule, which requires her to face her feelings about cats and her memories of and grief over her husband, who died in an accident shortly after they were married.
This manga is a combination of several things: a "keep your cats inside" PSA, a story about a widow overcoming her grief over the death of her husband and learning to love the cats he loved, and a story about cats dealing with feline politics and trying to figure out how and whether to trust humans.
A warning: there's some on-page cat death in this, as well as some on-page animal cruelty (a guy who catches Nanao and plans to torture and kill him - he does get as far as breaking Nanao's tail), and lots of "cat in peril" moments. One of the main ways this series tackles its "keep your cats inside" PSA aspects is by showing readers lots of ways being outside can turn out badly for cats - being injured by cars, people, or other cats, the possibility of starvation, and more. There was very little, if any, focus on the damage feral cats can do to the environment - the author knew readers were likely cat lovers who'd be most likely to listen to messages focused on preventing cats from getting hurt.
Although I hated the amount of time I had to spend feeling anxious about Nanao and Machi (I flipped to the end, at one point, in an effort to find out whether they both survived), I was interested in their story and its intersection with Yoshino's. The flashback to the accident that killed Yoshino's husband was heartbreaking on multiple levels (and also frustrating, because he could have waited just a bit longer and it probably would've been fine).
The cat politics-focused bits engaged in more anthropomorphization than I'd have liked. Machi was the son of Ten, the cat who was the "Ao" (leader) before the current one. Because he'd inherited his father's blue eyes, it seemed likely that Machi would be a future Ao, but All of this gave Machi almost as harrowing a story as Nanao's, but overall I preferred Nanao and Yoshino's story.
It's an anxiety-inducing read,
This was an impulse purchase, a result of browsing through available manga omnibus editions looking for something I might enjoy. All in all, I enjoyed it despite its upsetting moments. The artwork was lovely, and the story felt like it was just the right length.
Extras:
Three full-color illustrations, a few pages of concept artwork and notes from the author, and a couple pages about TNR and related topics. There's also a short bonus manga that I suspect was originally released at the end of volume 1 but which was included at the very end of this omnibus volume. The manga features Nanao and Machi transforming into human boys.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
December 16, 2024
This was so good, but so sad. I cried the entire time I was reading this. I love cats so much. The ending was amazing.
September 18, 2024
The way this manga made me quite emotional was entirely unexpected, but I’m so glad I finally read this one! I loved Nanao, Machi and their story.
September 14, 2023
Trigger warning for all my fellow people who can't handle animal abuse/pain/death in a book!
And though I really struggle with that this was a beautiful, heartfelt story that was worth the moments of pain throughout. I can easily see this being in my top reads at the end of the year.
I genuinely hope anyone who lets their cats roam outside learns something from this book.
And though I really struggle with that this was a beautiful, heartfelt story that was worth the moments of pain throughout. I can easily see this being in my top reads at the end of the year.
I genuinely hope anyone who lets their cats roam outside learns something from this book.
September 8, 2024
Emotional damage gets 5 stars I guess.
March 5, 2025
Crying and hugging my cats rn. i adopted my bonded pair of boys after they were strays for the first 5 years of their lives. this book DESTROYED me i was sobbing at the end, but i’m so glad everyone got a happy ending <3
February 24, 2025
Sweet and sad and cute and wholesome and I will confirm - despite all the sad bits - it ends happily. I really enjoyed it. Quick read, lots of emotions. Kitties.
June 12, 2025
A story of stray cats and an equally lost woman navigating grief. This book had equally beautiful art and story. Will I ever emotionally recover? Unknown, but this was everything to me!!
September 18, 2025
OMG. I love this story so much. Im a cat mom and this story hit me so hard, I cried when reading this manga. I recommending reading this just bring tissues.
January 11, 2025
this book absolutely wrecked me and i loved every second of it!!!!!! i love these little gay cats so fkn much <3 they remind me so much of my sisters gay cats she rescued and i love that for her
July 3, 2023
Really enjoyed this book, there are sad parts but the rest are happy parts, would definitely read again!
October 2, 2023
Don’t be fooled by the cute cover this book was depressing. Hurt my heart, but so good!
January 25, 2024
4 stars
Sobbed the entire way through. Cried and cried and cried afterwards.
Sobbed the entire way through. Cried and cried and cried afterwards.
December 30, 2024
5 ⭐️
🥹😭😭😭 hi~ I’ll just be bawling my eyes out brb 🤧
I’ve never owned a cat so I wouldn’t understand how most cat owners would feel, but in a similar sense with how dogs are loyal to their owners and would wait for them (kinda like in the movie Red Dog) this has touched my heart.
This story was so sad, funny and beautifully written. Nanao and Machi are absolutely adorable… Nanao’s backstory was so sad had be crying while reading. His owner 🥹 his owners wife 🤧😭 my heart!!
The art was so beautiful too. If this became an anime/movie I will wholeheartedly watch and cry ❤️
🥹😭😭😭 hi~ I’ll just be bawling my eyes out brb 🤧
I’ve never owned a cat so I wouldn’t understand how most cat owners would feel, but in a similar sense with how dogs are loyal to their owners and would wait for them (kinda like in the movie Red Dog) this has touched my heart.
This story was so sad, funny and beautifully written. Nanao and Machi are absolutely adorable… Nanao’s backstory was so sad had be crying while reading. His owner 🥹 his owners wife 🤧😭 my heart!!
The art was so beautiful too. If this became an anime/movie I will wholeheartedly watch and cry ❤️
July 19, 2025
Mai ce mi-a plăcut aceasta manga. WOW. Știam ca îmi va plăcea mult, pentru ca ador pisicile, dar nu ma asteptam sa plâng, rad și sa simt cum anumite părți din mine se reîntregesc. O recomand cu toată caldura. Plus arta e atât de draguta.
August 4, 2025
If you’re a cat lover, then this is for you!!!!
Animals and humans want the same thing, to love and to be loved!!! Crazy how much cuddles from your favorite animal can make everything better. I’m going to cuddle my cat now! Haha
Animals and humans want the same thing, to love and to be loved!!! Crazy how much cuddles from your favorite animal can make everything better. I’m going to cuddle my cat now! Haha
May 25, 2024
SO FUCKING CUTE I CRIED
October 8, 2024
No thoughts, I just love cats 🐱
November 21, 2024
I don’t think I’ve ever cried more while reading a book than I did while reading this one.
December 21, 2024
Such a beautiful and heartwarming story! If you are a cat lover, I can't recommend this enough!
May 8, 2025
just sobbing most of the time tbh
September 2, 2025
Cool cool cool cool cool
Just sobbed my way through this
Life’s great
I’ll never be the same again
Just sobbed my way through this
Life’s great
I’ll never be the same again
November 28, 2025
This wrecked me 😭
July 3, 2025
I've read a lot of cat related manga, mostly the cute & silly ones. As someone who does TNR, takes care of community cats & has a house full of adopted strays, this manga hits hard. It is also my favorite.
October 10, 2025
Who wouldn't like kitties who finally find a home after being strays for two years?? This was so much better than I thought it would be. Very emotional, a story about grief and healing.
December 14, 2024
Lovely art, it made me cry, what more can you ask for in a manga about stray cats? The bonus story with them as humans was cute. I’d like to read more of this artists work because I enjoyed the art.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews