The Travelling Cat Chronicles
by Hiro Arikawa
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"A life-affirming anthem to kindness and self-sacrifice, The Travelling Cat Chronicles shows how the smallest things can provide the greatest joy. We take journeys to explore exotic new places and to return to the comforts of home, to visit old acquaintances and to make new friends. But the most important journey is the one that shows us how to follow our hearts... An instant international bestseller, The Travelling Cat Chronicles has charmed readers around the world. With simple yet show more descriptive prose, this novel gives voice to Nana the cat and his owner, Satoru, as they take to the road on a journey with no other purpose than to visit three of Satoru's longtime friends. Or so Nana is led to believe... With his crooked tail--a sign of good fortune--and adventurous spirit, Nana is the perfect companion for the man who took him in as a stray. And as they travel in a silver van across Japan, with its ever-changing scenery and seasons, they will learn the true meaning of courage and gratitude, of loyalty and love"-- show lessTags
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An incredibly sweet story. I had to take a moment before writing my review. Partially because my eyes were so puffy from reading the ending.
Told from multiple perspectives, one of which is through the voice of Nana, a cat. We’re taken on a journey of Nana’s owner, Satoru, trying to find a new home for Nana. Nana tells how he initially came to know Satoru, then came to live with Satoru. After 5 years, Satoru takes Nana to different homes, revisiting old friends, trying to find a new home for Nana to live. We’re not initially told why Satoru is trying to rehome Nana. After visiting with these old friends, we’re given brief but poignant stories that drew Satoru and these friends into their friendships. However none of these old show more friends seem to be the right fit for Nana, and sometimes Nana makes sure he won’t be left. Although we are given small clues as to why Satoru needs to rehome Nana, we find by the climax what that reason is, and it is heartbreaking. I think the story was delivered in a compelling way. While I didn’t want to put down the book, I was reading at work over the course of a few days. It’s a short book, less than 300 pages, and I think would be an easy, bingeable book that could be read over the course of an afternoon.
!!SPOILER: As a young cancer survivor in my 30’s I found this to be a difficult story to get through at the end. We see as Satoru begins to slowly fail in health, eventually choosing to go to hospice. Through Nana’s eyes, we see a way in how a cat may choose to process this change and the grief that comes before the end. It was beautifully done, but it was hard for me to read personally. I think having Nana talk through Satoru’s last few months, how he slowly deteriorates in health and energy, was difficult. show less
Told from multiple perspectives, one of which is through the voice of Nana, a cat. We’re taken on a journey of Nana’s owner, Satoru, trying to find a new home for Nana. Nana tells how he initially came to know Satoru, then came to live with Satoru. After 5 years, Satoru takes Nana to different homes, revisiting old friends, trying to find a new home for Nana to live. We’re not initially told why Satoru is trying to rehome Nana. After visiting with these old friends, we’re given brief but poignant stories that drew Satoru and these friends into their friendships. However none of these old show more friends seem to be the right fit for Nana, and sometimes Nana makes sure he won’t be left. Although we are given small clues as to why Satoru needs to rehome Nana, we find by the climax what that reason is, and it is heartbreaking. I think the story was delivered in a compelling way. While I didn’t want to put down the book, I was reading at work over the course of a few days. It’s a short book, less than 300 pages, and I think would be an easy, bingeable book that could be read over the course of an afternoon.
!!SPOILER: As a young cancer survivor in my 30’s I found this to be a difficult story to get through at the end. We see as Satoru begins to slowly fail in health, eventually choosing to go to hospice. Through Nana’s eyes, we see a way in how a cat may choose to process this change and the grief that comes before the end. It was beautifully done, but it was hard for me to read personally. I think having Nana talk through Satoru’s last few months, how he slowly deteriorates in health and energy, was difficult. show less
It has a special charm that this book is narrated by a cat. It strips the story from human biases and allows it to focus on the simple truths that connect us all. It starts very trivial but, as the story progresses, you get immersed into their journey. A profoundly emotional journey of retrospection that makes you think about what is truly important in life, how our actions affect others and the immeasurable value of the bonds we form.
About the story:
Nana (it means 7 in japanese, but it is also a girl's name) is a stray cat living in Tokyo, or better said, he was until Satoru welcomed him into his life and heart. Nana used to be an independent cocky cat that couldn't care less about humans, his relationship with Satoru was simply that show more of a "food provider". No strings attached. However, fate had another plan: a car accident brought them together and Nana became Satoru's cat.
Five years ahead, Nana tell us the stories surrounding a car trip he and Satoru took. While visiting Satoru's friends and relatives across the country, Nana gets to experience the beauty of Japanese nature, learn about Satoru's past and reaffirm his bond with his owner. Through his eyes, we are able to experience a world full of beauty, friendship, devotion, and the inevitable bittersweetness of life.
My impression:
My ipad got covered in tears. Japanese authors tend to pull my strings and show me the beauty of the world and human soul while tearing my heart apart. If you enjoy stories with emotional focus I couldn't recommend this enough. It is not drama but the beauty of their relationship that will make you smile, laugh, cry and claim their journey as yours.
I got my eArc from NetGalley show less
About the story:
Nana (it means 7 in japanese, but it is also a girl's name) is a stray cat living in Tokyo, or better said, he was until Satoru welcomed him into his life and heart. Nana used to be an independent cocky cat that couldn't care less about humans, his relationship with Satoru was simply that show more of a "food provider". No strings attached. However, fate had another plan: a car accident brought them together and Nana became Satoru's cat.
Five years ahead, Nana tell us the stories surrounding a car trip he and Satoru took. While visiting Satoru's friends and relatives across the country, Nana gets to experience the beauty of Japanese nature, learn about Satoru's past and reaffirm his bond with his owner. Through his eyes, we are able to experience a world full of beauty, friendship, devotion, and the inevitable bittersweetness of life.
My impression:
My ipad got covered in tears. Japanese authors tend to pull my strings and show me the beauty of the world and human soul while tearing my heart apart. If you enjoy stories with emotional focus I couldn't recommend this enough. It is not drama but the beauty of their relationship that will make you smile, laugh, cry and claim their journey as yours.
I got my eArc from NetGalley show less
Did you know that cats possess the widest range of vocalizations of any domestic pet? Hiro Arikawa's wildly popular Japanese novel adds a twist by giving a human voice to a sassy stray cat that let's us know he has kept himself alive for one full year, without a name and human help, thank you very much.
The simple story has a deep meaning that becomes clearer and clearer before tenderly breaking your heart in the last forty pages. The two main characters, the sassy cat and his master, Satoru Miyawaki, a gentle man with a quiet nature, remain with me long after I finished this fictional gem.
The hood of that silver van was my favorite place to sleep. Why there? Because no one would ever shoo me away. Even in winter, the sun made it all show more warm and toasty, the perfect spot for a daytime nap. One day I suddenly sensed a warm, intense gaze upon me...A tall, lanky young man, staring down at me...
And so began the perfect life from the cat's point of view. The man would place a little food under the van and the cat would allow the man to stroke him in exchange. This worked right up until the day the cat had a run-in with a hit-and-run driver.
Satoru rescued the injured cat and the two soon developed a deeply satisfying five-year relationship. Their conversations are charming and will warm your heart. It reminded me of the old tv show, The Odd Couple and the snappy repartee between Oscar and Felix. Satoru, named him Nana, as his tail resembled the Japanese character for the number seven.
Now wait just a second, Isn't Nana a girl's name? I'm a fully fledged, hot-blooded male. In what universe does that make sense?
In a move that surprises the readers as much as Nana, Satoru, now about 30 years-old, tells him they are going to take a road trip together - to find Nana a new home.
"Nana, I'm sorry. I 'm really sorry it's come to this. I never intended to let you go."
No need to explain. I'm quick on the uptake... so don't look so glum, chum.
As they travel from one childhood friend's home to the next along their journey, Satoru's earlier story unfolds like an onion; an apt metaphor. Each layer revealing another sad chapter, that somehow, Satoru overcomes keeping his remarkably upbeat attitude. The odd duo crisscross Japan in the hopes of finding a new home for Nana. Each old friend seems willing to accept Nana, often with conditions and a promise to feed but not pamper. At each stop along the way, Satoru manages to avoid revealing the reason he needs to leave Nana. Just when it looks like Nana will have a new home, the cat, fiercely loyal to his master, sabotages the transfer.
In the end, Satoru realizes he just can't part with Nana. The lonely man and the loyal sidekick take a long tour of the highs and lows of Japan together; traveling from Mount Fuji to the beautiful sandy beaches. Along the miles, the reader begins to understand Satoru's secrets. As the sun sets on their journey, Satoru will find peace and the reader will have a good cry.
Highly recommended reading for everyone; not just cat lovers.
ARC from Netgalley and Berkley show less
The simple story has a deep meaning that becomes clearer and clearer before tenderly breaking your heart in the last forty pages. The two main characters, the sassy cat and his master, Satoru Miyawaki, a gentle man with a quiet nature, remain with me long after I finished this fictional gem.
The hood of that silver van was my favorite place to sleep. Why there? Because no one would ever shoo me away. Even in winter, the sun made it all show more warm and toasty, the perfect spot for a daytime nap. One day I suddenly sensed a warm, intense gaze upon me...A tall, lanky young man, staring down at me...
And so began the perfect life from the cat's point of view. The man would place a little food under the van and the cat would allow the man to stroke him in exchange. This worked right up until the day the cat had a run-in with a hit-and-run driver.
Satoru rescued the injured cat and the two soon developed a deeply satisfying five-year relationship. Their conversations are charming and will warm your heart. It reminded me of the old tv show, The Odd Couple and the snappy repartee between Oscar and Felix. Satoru, named him Nana, as his tail resembled the Japanese character for the number seven.
Now wait just a second, Isn't Nana a girl's name? I'm a fully fledged, hot-blooded male. In what universe does that make sense?
In a move that surprises the readers as much as Nana, Satoru, now about 30 years-old, tells him they are going to take a road trip together - to find Nana a new home.
"Nana, I'm sorry. I 'm really sorry it's come to this. I never intended to let you go."
No need to explain. I'm quick on the uptake... so don't look so glum, chum.
As they travel from one childhood friend's home to the next along their journey, Satoru's earlier story unfolds like an onion; an apt metaphor. Each layer revealing another sad chapter, that somehow, Satoru overcomes keeping his remarkably upbeat attitude. The odd duo crisscross Japan in the hopes of finding a new home for Nana. Each old friend seems willing to accept Nana, often with conditions and a promise to feed but not pamper. At each stop along the way, Satoru manages to avoid revealing the reason he needs to leave Nana. Just when it looks like Nana will have a new home, the cat, fiercely loyal to his master, sabotages the transfer.
In the end, Satoru realizes he just can't part with Nana. The lonely man and the loyal sidekick take a long tour of the highs and lows of Japan together; traveling from Mount Fuji to the beautiful sandy beaches. Along the miles, the reader begins to understand Satoru's secrets. As the sun sets on their journey, Satoru will find peace and the reader will have a good cry.
Highly recommended reading for everyone; not just cat lovers.
ARC from Netgalley and Berkley show less
A beautifully written, moving book about love and death. Narrated by a wise and sassy stray cat who is taken in by a kind-hearted man, it is also a story of friendship and devotion. Although the ending caused a cascade of tears, it wasn’t for the usual reason pet stories bring on tears. The writing is vivid and the translation is seamless. Highly recommended.
Beautiful, sad and heartwarming tale of a cat called Nana ('Seven', for the shape of his tail) and the man who rescued him. Saturo adopted the white cat with tabby patches after the stray was hit by a car, but after five years together, he suddenly starts looking for someone to take over the care of his beloved pet. Saturo and Nana visit his old school friends and recount formative moments in Saturo's life, from saving a cat who looked very much like Nana (called Hachi, for Eight!) to losing his parents in a tragic accident.
Being a crazy cat lady with much respect for the intelligence and independence of our feline friends, I absolutely loved this little story, which is told from Nana's perspective. I felt for him during the first show more chapters, a stray who suffers a painful injury after being run over, but really had to swallow back the tears at the end! I even came to care for the secondary characters, all Saturo's friends from childhood who impacted his life in different ways but didn't change his positive personality.
A wonderful interlude that I might buy again in book form. show less
Being a crazy cat lady with much respect for the intelligence and independence of our feline friends, I absolutely loved this little story, which is told from Nana's perspective. I felt for him during the first show more chapters, a stray who suffers a painful injury after being run over, but really had to swallow back the tears at the end! I even came to care for the secondary characters, all Saturo's friends from childhood who impacted his life in different ways but didn't change his positive personality.
A wonderful interlude that I might buy again in book form. show less
This is a gentle, quietly layered story that balances warmth, humour, and heartbreak equally. Told through alternating perspectives - between a sardonic yet affectionate cat named Nana and a third-person narrator - the story follows Nana and his owner, Satoru, as they journey across Japan together. On the surface, it’s a simple premise: a man and his cat travelling to visit old friends. But beneath that lies a story rich with reflection, love, and the quiet beauty of companionship of pet and owner.
Arikawa’s writing is deceptively straightforward. The story feels light and easy, yet it is laced with emotion throughout that creeps up on you. Through Nana’s sharp observations and Satoru’s understated kindness, the novel explores show more themes of loyalty, loss, and the small acts of care that define our relationships across animals and humans alike. It’s also peppered with moments of genuine comedy, much of it thanks to Nana’s wry commentary and (incredibly plausible) cat-like sense of superiority, which provides the perfect counterbalance to the emotional weight of the story.
What really shines here is Arikawa’s ability to evoke feeling without being melodramatic or overly obvious. The story doesn’t rely on grand gestures; instead, it builds its emotional power slowly, through small, tender moments and the gradual revelation of Satoru’s past. By the time the deeper layers of the story emerge, you realise how skillfully Arikawa has led you there - quietly and compassionately.
The Travelling Cat Chronicles is a tribute to friendship, to the (literally unspoken) bond between humans and animals, and to the fleeting connections that make life meaningful. It’s beautifully written, deceptively simple, and super moving...a book that makes you laugh and cry, and reminds you of the quiet strength in love, loyalty, and letting go. show less
Arikawa’s writing is deceptively straightforward. The story feels light and easy, yet it is laced with emotion throughout that creeps up on you. Through Nana’s sharp observations and Satoru’s understated kindness, the novel explores show more themes of loyalty, loss, and the small acts of care that define our relationships across animals and humans alike. It’s also peppered with moments of genuine comedy, much of it thanks to Nana’s wry commentary and (incredibly plausible) cat-like sense of superiority, which provides the perfect counterbalance to the emotional weight of the story.
What really shines here is Arikawa’s ability to evoke feeling without being melodramatic or overly obvious. The story doesn’t rely on grand gestures; instead, it builds its emotional power slowly, through small, tender moments and the gradual revelation of Satoru’s past. By the time the deeper layers of the story emerge, you realise how skillfully Arikawa has led you there - quietly and compassionately.
The Travelling Cat Chronicles is a tribute to friendship, to the (literally unspoken) bond between humans and animals, and to the fleeting connections that make life meaningful. It’s beautifully written, deceptively simple, and super moving...a book that makes you laugh and cry, and reminds you of the quiet strength in love, loyalty, and letting go. show less
This is a lovely little book told in a style reminiscent of wonderful and touching MG books, but with the subject matter of adult books.
Content Warnings:
- cancer
Representation:
- all of the characters are Japanese
Nana is a stray-turned-house cat whose beloved owner, Satoru, needs to find him a new home for reasons he keeps from Nana. Around the country in the old silver van where they first met, the two of them visit Satoru's old friends. They meet a man who hopes that taking in Nana will bring his wife back, a gruff farmer who thinks of cats as nothing but ratters, a couple who run a pet-friendly bed and breakfast, and Satoru's aunt, who never much liked pets at all. But along the way, Nana figures out why Satoru is trying so hard to show more find him a new home.
This is such a sweet and beautifully sad story. At first I found the telling of it to be a bit juvenile, but then it quickly grew on me to become charming, and then touching in a way very few books can be. Like I said above, it's almost written in a younger style, but it covers more mature topics (in this case, things like death, growing older, arguments between couples, familial relationships, etc.).
I love the narrator, Nana. Absolutely loved him. He's got to be one of the best cat characters I've ever read in a book before. This entire novel has so many sneaky little arcs, and in Nana's case he starts off as this tough little grump and ends up revealing himself to be such a sweet character.
I honestly had no idea what to expect when I picked this book up. My experience reading this went exactly as quote on the cover, by Stephen Rowley, describes: "Like the very best cats, Hiro Arikawa's inventive tale sneaks up on you and works its way into your heart on its own terms. Once it does, it doesn't let go." show less
Content Warnings:
-
Representation:
- all of the characters are Japanese
Nana is a stray-turned-house cat whose beloved owner, Satoru, needs to find him a new home for reasons he keeps from Nana. Around the country in the old silver van where they first met, the two of them visit Satoru's old friends. They meet a man who hopes that taking in Nana will bring his wife back, a gruff farmer who thinks of cats as nothing but ratters, a couple who run a pet-friendly bed and breakfast, and Satoru's aunt, who never much liked pets at all. But along the way, Nana figures out why Satoru is trying so hard to show more find him a new home.
This is such a sweet and beautifully sad story. At first I found the telling of it to be a bit juvenile, but then it quickly grew on me to become charming, and then touching in a way very few books can be. Like I said above, it's almost written in a younger style, but it covers more mature topics (in this case, things like death, growing older, arguments between couples, familial relationships, etc.).
I love the narrator, Nana. Absolutely loved him. He's got to be one of the best cat characters I've ever read in a book before. This entire novel has so many sneaky little arcs, and in Nana's case he starts off as this tough little grump and ends up revealing himself to be such a sweet character.
I honestly had no idea what to expect when I picked this book up. My experience reading this went exactly as quote on the cover, by Stephen Rowley, describes: "Like the very best cats, Hiro Arikawa's inventive tale sneaks up on you and works its way into your heart on its own terms. Once it does, it doesn't let go." show less
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Author Information
46+ Works 5,015 Members
Some Editions
Awards and Honors
Awards
Distinctions
Work Relationships
Has the adaptation
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Travelling Cat Chronicles
- Original title
- 旅猫リポート (Tabineko Ripooto) (Tabineko Ripooto); Tabineko Report
- Original publication date
- 2012-11-15 (original) (original); 2017-11-02 (English) (English)
- People/Characters
- Satoru Miyawaki; Nana, the cat; Kosuke Sawada; Daigo Yoshimine; Shusuke Sugi; Chikako (show all 7); Noriko Kashima
- Important places
- Japan
- Related movies
- The Travelling Cat Chronicles (2018 | IMDb)
- First words
- Prologue
The Cat With No Name
I am a cat. As yet, I have no name. There's a famous cat in our country who once made this very statement.
1
The Husband Without A Wife
Long Time No See.
So began the email. - Quotations
- At that moment, we were without doubt the greatest travellers in the world. And I was the world's greatest travelling cat.
On our last journey, let's see all kinds of amazing things. Let's spend our time taking in as many wonderful sights as we can.
I'm a wise cat. I know what to do in any and all situations. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Nana nuzzled his forehead against Noriko’s palm, and then once more began to lick, ever so delicately.
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Epilogue
Not the End of the Road
My story will be over soon.
But it’s not something to be sad about.
As we count up the memories from one journey, we head off on another.
Remembering those who went ahead. Remembering those who will follow after.
And someday, we will meet all those people again, out beyond the horizon. - Blurbers
- Truss, Lynne; Melrose, Fiona; Rowley, Steven
- Original language
- Japanese
- Canonical DDC/MDS
- 895.636
- Canonical LCC
- PL867.5.R54 A2 2018
Classifications
- Genres
- General Fiction, Fiction and Literature
- DDC/MDS
- 895.636 — Literature & rhetoric Literatures of other languages Literatures of East and Southeast Asia Japanese Japanese fiction 2000–
- LCC
- PL867.5 .R54 .A2 — Language and Literature Languages and literatures of Eastern Asia, Africa, Oceania Languages of Eastern Asia, Africa, Oceania Japanese language and literature Japanese literature
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 2,307
- Popularity
- 8,548
- Reviews
- 118
- Rating
- (4.09)
- Languages
- 13 — Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swedish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 53
- ASINs
- 13