I used to answer without hesitation that I was a dog person if asked whether I preferred cats or dogs. The reason for this was a childhood incident where I was scratched by a cat and bled, and since then, I've harbored a lingering sense of unease towards cats.



Having been abandoned before, Hana is naturally wary and doesn't tend to warm up to people easily. Yet, if left alone, he seems to get lonely and will rub against my legs, looking up with a "play with me" expression. So, I'll gently pet him, and he'll purr contentedly, "Grrrr~," but sometimes he'll also playfully nip at me. It can actually hurt quite a bit. I sometimes wonder if he wants affection or if he's just complicated.



This time, I'd like to introduce "Junji Ito's Cat Diary: Yon & Mu." It's a manga about cats (based on a true story) by Junji Ito, a leading figure in Japan's horror manga scene. When I first read this book, I was surprised because it felt like it was about me.

The cast includes Yon, a cat with a cursed face and a skull marking on his back; Mu, a gentle foreign breed cat; and his wife, A-ko, who has charming white pupils and effortlessly wears striped pants. The content consists of heartwarming short stories about interacting with cats, but the visuals are pure horror. Eerie drawings fill the pages. Thus, the juxtaposition of horror-style art with gag-like stories creates a unique humor and a work brimming with exquisite surrealism. Packed with detailed depictions of cats, each panel in this work possesses a powerful presence, simply leaving me in awe.



I understand well the feeling of growing affection for a cat after spending time together, to the point where they become irresistibly cute. Incidentally, my Hana has changed considerably since we first met. His fur has become fluffier and glossier, and most importantly, his wariness has softened, making his expression more gentle. His lovability continues to increase.