A Cat's-Eye View of Japan

We meet cats whose owner grows plants used to make cloth in a traditional way. Another cat, Lock, lives at a temple. He takes part in sutra reading and is practically the chief priest's assistant!

Cats live near three torii gates in the sea. The beach changes at low tide. We also meet a cat who lives in a pottery production area. She's allowed in all the shops and even inspects the merchandise.

Furano is full of vast wheat fields. For a local farmer's cat, it's the perfect place to hunt or go for a run. We meet two cats who live at an inn and love to play on the exposed hot water pipes.

A cat patrols Ogaki Castle and has a special place where he cools off on hot days. In Magome-juku, a 400-year-old post town, two cats live at a souvenir store. We capture an unexpected interaction!

Yushima is a cat island only four kilometers around. Hungry cats gather at the port for fresh fish, including a talkative kitten. A cat lives at the local school and watches over the eight students.

We meet Kiiro, a cat who draws admirers whenever he goes out for a stroll. Children and adults alike gather to scratch his head. We also visit a beauty salon where a cat provides customer service!

Three energetic kittens love playing on the roof of a building by sliding down the slope and pouncing on dead leaves. In a seaside town, a cat named Kinako leads us to a beautiful scenic spot.

Mack the cat lives among vast fields with two Akita dogs. They're friends and always make up after a spat. Meanwhile, a mother cat and her son love their owner but are quick to fight with each other.

Castle ruins are a local cat's favorite spot for a stroll, though he somehow gets a stick caught in his collar. Meanwhile, a cat and dog living in a bookstore go to sleep as soon as the store opens.

A wood carving workshop makes decorations for festival floats. It's also home to Leo, a cat who spends his days with the artisans. Another cat, Konatsu, lives in an old house with a tea master.

Photographer Iwago Mitsuaki reunites with cats from his past! He meets Kurobe, a temple cat, for the first time in six years. He then visits a seaside town to see Ponzu for the first time in twelve.

Saburo the cat lives in a lovely vineyard, but her rival Shiroo is nearby. Can they get along? Meanwhile, another cat lives peacefully in a workshop that makes and repairs Buddhist statues.

We head to Yashima, where the local boss cat leads us to a temple along the Shikoku Pilgrimage. The temple grounds are home to cats that nap, play, and greet pilgrims and other visitors.

Two herb farmers' cats live next door to each other. Their relationship is tense due to a past fight. At Takeya Kannonji Temple, the chief priest lives with four cats that always stay by his side.

We spend a day with the cats of Shinjuku Golden-Gai, a retro bar district in Tokyo. One cat goes on a quiet morning patrol. At night, customers visit a bar where they can drink with two cats.