"旅猫リポート," or Tabineko Report, is a popular book written by a Japanese female novelist, Hiro Arikawa.
Have you ever read it?
It is already translated into many languages including English.
Its English title is; "The Travelling Cat Chronicles." The original Japnaese book's released its picture book as well.
Well, "旅猫リポート" was first published in Japan in 2012.
My sister has lots of Hiro Arikawa's books, and I borrowed it from my sister. But I didn't finish reading at the time. Then, I didn't return it to my sis because she forgot it, haha.
This year, when I took a trip to Kyoto & Osaka in February, I read it while I was on a bullet train on the way there and the way back. My tears didn't stop.
As I wrote in "Flowers For Kuro," my cat named Kuro passed away on January 10 this year.
To be honest, I really regreted that I couldn't stay beside him when he passed away. I still do regret. I've been blaming myself since he left. I'm still missing him very much.
But the book taught me something important and made me realize what I hadn't noticed.
Spoiler Warning; In the book, the owner of the male cat named Nana passed away before Nana did. They went on a journey to find a new owner since they knew Satoru, the owner of Nana, was going to die and they would not be able to live togehter anymore.
Though I couldn't be there when Kuro was on his deathbed, he was loved by my family and he's still loved and never be forgotten. We kept many cats before and after he appeared in our lives, but he's the only cat that is special for all of us, not just me or one of us. Well, both my mother and father didn't like cats that much, especially my father didn't, but Kuro changed them. My father really loved Kuro and Kuro loved my family. He didn't seem to like my sister, though.
You know what? I thought Kuro liked me the best. But my mother also thought Kuro liked her the best more than anyone, haha. This kind of thing happen sometimes when a family keeps a cat or a dog, huh? Anyway, my dad still displays Kuro's photos in his room, and so do I. Kuro must have been happy to be with us for almost 20 years though he may have wanted to live much longer and we also wanted him to live much longer.
But the book made me wonder what would have happened if all of us died before Kuro did. Kuro was very shy around strangers and new people. Also, he was so sensitive and smart. he got lonely so easily, and he always wanted to be with any of us. He couldn't live without us. So, though I'm so sad he passed away and that couldn't stay by his side then, but I was glad we didn't leave Kuro, I mean, any of us didn't die before Kuro. Nobody could keep Kuro except us. He didn't take to many people.
The movie of 旅猫リポート is going to be released on October 26 in Japan.
When I saw its trailers for the first time, I was very surprised and really glad to find that the cat who plays Nana looks like Kuro. Nana on the cover of the original novel is not like that.
In Japanese, the pattern of these cats like Nana and Kuro is sometimes called Hachiware, はちわれ.
I guess some Japanese still think it's a symbol of bad luck like black cats, who cares? I don't care at all. I even felt angry when I heard it for the first time. On the other hand, other people say Hachiware cats bring good luck. It's so confusing. Why both can be said? I've googled it.
Well, in the olden days, "鉢割れ" are used as kangi characters for Hachiware. The kanji characters imply a helmet or head is split. So, in this sense, Hachiware was thought as an unlucky symbol in some areas for some period.
On the contrary, when "八割れ" are used, they bring good luck. Why is that? Well, in Japan, 八 is thought as a lucky number because the shape of the kanji character is called 末広がり, Suehirogari, and it's wider towards the end, as you see. Well, the pattern of the cat's forehead is like the kanji 八, right?
This reminds me of the popular game called ねこあつめ, or Kitty Collector. I played it in Japanese at first, but later I used its English version instead. And I found the English one calls the cat like Kuro "Gabriel" while its original Japanese one names it "はちわれ," Hachiware, as I've just explained. "Gabrie"l sounds cool, huh? Well, my IPad was broken a few months ago and I don't play it anymore, but I really liked the game.
He used to use my books and so on as a pillow while I was studying. I took these pictures several years ago. I was learning laws in those days. I don't study anymore, though.
Also, he often used to lie on lots of stuff like these. He always made me laugh and smile.
He even used a real pillow like people do.
He was so cute. I miss him so much. Kuro used to sleep with me especially every autumn and winter. He was so fluffy and made me warm. My honey never beats Kuro, haha. I'm joking.
Me and Kuro.
There're my honey's books. Can you see it?
I should have taken much more photos of us ...
I remember I took these ones after I took a trip to Kyoto a few years ago.
I thought blue looked good on Kuro.
Though I already have the book, I just bought the smaller one the other day. In Japan, a bigger book called 単行本, Tanko-bon, is published first. When a few years pass since then, a smaller one, 文庫本, Bunko-bon is published, and it's cheaper than the bigger one.
That's why a smaller one is released a few years after its bigger one is first published. Some novelists like Keigo Higashino and Jun Ikeido sometimes release only a smaller one for some works though their books sell well and they don't have to. I think they're nice. More people can get and read their books, huh?
And, when a book is made into a movie, a movie version cover is put on the original one like the photos to promote the movie release.
Well, Hiro Arikawa's work is often released by several publishers for some reason though the contents themselves are exactly the same. I like Hiro Arikawa and her works, but I don't think it's a good thing. I guess some people get confused or wonder why when they see her books at a book store.
I'm really looking forward to seeing the film in a theater.