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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Member Reviews
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
"Just try it - try pulling me out by force from this basket and I swear I'll scratch so many lines on your face you'll be able to play checkers on it for the next three months."
Let me start by saying that I'm a bit biased - I love cats and I love all things Japanese, so this book had me pretty excited. When I started the book, all I could think about was how cute it was; I was hooked from the very first paragraph! Part of the book is written from the perspective of the cat, Nana, while the rest is written from a third person point of view explaining Satoru's life and the lives of his friends and family.
Even though I'm extremely empathetic, easily connecting to others even when they don't exist, I always stand by one rule when it comes show more to media - if something can connect with you and invest you so strongly in the story that it can make you cry and tug so forcefully on your heartstrings, that's a sign that it's a damn good piece of art, whether it's a book, a movie or something else. This book has the ability to make you smile, laugh, and even cry. The characters are beautifully crafted and the story is wonderful.
"I have everything I need in life, so why am I such a mean, small person? Why can't I be kinder than Satoru, who has so much less?" Honestly, I felt such a strong urge to respond to this quote. From my own personal experience, those that have lost so much and felt so much pain and sadness, they are typically the ones that smile the brightest and have the kindest hearts. I believe they are like this because they don't want to worry or burden others, and they don't want others to feel as low as they have felt or may still be feeling.
This book reached out to me on so many levels. It warmed my heart, broke it, filled it with laughter, broke it again, and then warmed it again. The feels here are real, my friends. When I first bought the book, I thought the cat would be the main focus - that it would only follow the cat, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it explored his owner, Satoru, and his life as well as those that have entered his life. I'm not disappointed that the cat wasn't the only focus. Not one bit.
This next paragraph may contain a spoiler. From the start, I wondered why Satoru wanted to give away Nana so bad when he clearly loved his so strongly. It wasn't long before my worrisome mind started picturing a bunch of different scenarios as to why. Deep down, I knew why he was looking for a new home for Nana, but I had grown to love Satoru so much that I didn't want to admit it. The book hadn't openly stated it at first, so I held onto hope. Then, towards the end, they finally said it; Satoru was dying. It broke my heart. To think he had been so sick for so long but all he did was smile and act like he was okay...End spoiler
I would have finished this book sooner, to be honest, but I recently started playing World of Warcraft again and I'm a bit addicted. Plus, I was pretty sure how the book was going to end and I was trying to avoid that. By the way, Noriko, Satoru's aunt, drops a huge bombshell towards the end. Like holy hell, my jaw literally dropped open, I couldn't believe it!
So I finished the book last night, it's finally come to an end. How can something so sad be so damn heartwarming at the same time? If I knew what I was getting into, I wouldn't have bought this book solely because I try to avoid anything that's sad, but I have no regrets. If I could go back in time, I'd read this book again. It's the most beautiful story I've ever read in my life and it will forever stay in my heart. In the end, everyone's life must come to an end, but that's not the end of your book, it's just the end of a chapter. This book helps you to re-evaluate life and death in the best way possible.
Satoru. Nana. You'll both be in my heart forever. Thank you for sharing your story, I'll never forget the lessons you taught me. show less
Let me start by saying that I'm a bit biased - I love cats and I love all things Japanese, so this book had me pretty excited. When I started the book, all I could think about was how cute it was; I was hooked from the very first paragraph! Part of the book is written from the perspective of the cat, Nana, while the rest is written from a third person point of view explaining Satoru's life and the lives of his friends and family.
Even though I'm extremely empathetic, easily connecting to others even when they don't exist, I always stand by one rule when it comes show more to media - if something can connect with you and invest you so strongly in the story that it can make you cry and tug so forcefully on your heartstrings, that's a sign that it's a damn good piece of art, whether it's a book, a movie or something else. This book has the ability to make you smile, laugh, and even cry. The characters are beautifully crafted and the story is wonderful.
"I have everything I need in life, so why am I such a mean, small person? Why can't I be kinder than Satoru, who has so much less?" Honestly, I felt such a strong urge to respond to this quote. From my own personal experience, those that have lost so much and felt so much pain and sadness, they are typically the ones that smile the brightest and have the kindest hearts. I believe they are like this because they don't want to worry or burden others, and they don't want others to feel as low as they have felt or may still be feeling.
This book reached out to me on so many levels. It warmed my heart, broke it, filled it with laughter, broke it again, and then warmed it again. The feels here are real, my friends. When I first bought the book, I thought the cat would be the main focus - that it would only follow the cat, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it explored his owner, Satoru, and his life as well as those that have entered his life. I'm not disappointed that the cat wasn't the only focus. Not one bit.
This next paragraph may contain a spoiler. From the start, I wondered why Satoru wanted to give away Nana so bad when he clearly loved his so strongly. It wasn't long before my worrisome mind started picturing a bunch of different scenarios as to why. Deep down, I knew why he was looking for a new home for Nana, but I had grown to love Satoru so much that I didn't want to admit it. The book hadn't openly stated it at first, so I held onto hope. Then, towards the end, they finally said it; Satoru was dying. It broke my heart. To think he had been so sick for so long but all he did was smile and act like he was okay...End spoiler
I would have finished this book sooner, to be honest, but I recently started playing World of Warcraft again and I'm a bit addicted. Plus, I was pretty sure how the book was going to end and I was trying to avoid that. By the way, Noriko, Satoru's aunt, drops a huge bombshell towards the end. Like holy hell, my jaw literally dropped open, I couldn't believe it!
So I finished the book last night, it's finally come to an end. How can something so sad be so damn heartwarming at the same time? If I knew what I was getting into, I wouldn't have bought this book solely because I try to avoid anything that's sad, but I have no regrets. If I could go back in time, I'd read this book again. It's the most beautiful story I've ever read in my life and it will forever stay in my heart. In the end, everyone's life must come to an end, but that's not the end of your book, it's just the end of a chapter. This book helps you to re-evaluate life and death in the best way possible.
Satoru. Nana. You'll both be in my heart forever. Thank you for sharing your story, I'll never forget the lessons you taught me. show less
You ask if we cats can see ghosts. Don't you know that there are things in this world that are better left a mystery?
This is a beautifully heartbreaking book and now one of my favourites of all time.
I picked this up hoping for a light and breezy feel-good read after finishing a particularly devastating book...and found myself bawling through half of it. The story is as much tragic as it is hopeful and it speaks of such kindness in people that I think it could warm the heart of the biggest cynic.
The storytelling is exquisite. Throughout the book the narrator switches from Nana the cat (in what I would deem 'the present') and Satoru (in the stories from his past), with the last couple of chapters focused mainly on Nana's point of view. show more This gave me the feeling that I was actually there with the characters, traveling with them and in the room listening to their stories.
The relationships, friendships and dialogue between the characters were absolutely beautifully written, with the 'dialogue' between Nana and Satoru holding a special place in my heart. Even though whenever they spoke to the other it was realistically one-sided, they shared such a strong understanding through gestures and looks.
I particularly loved how each of Satoru's friends (including the cat) were portrayed. Both their flaws and their strengths were at the forefront the things they did in equal measure and that made them so endearing. They all felt like friends I would wish for.
Do yourself the favour of reading this. Cat-lover or not, there is something to be gained from reading an account of such hope in humanity and kindness. show less
Nana is living the life of a stray cat in Tokyo. He’s claimed the top of a van as his home. He’s doing just fine, thank you, until one day when he’s hit by a car and injured quite badly. Satoru, the cat lover who owns the van and who has been leaving Nana food, takes Nana to the vet and brings him into his home to recuperate. Nana reminds Satoru of a cat he had as a child that he had to give up. That cat’s name was Hachi and Satoru still mourns the loss of that beloved cat. Five years pass quickly when Satoru tells Nana that they have to take a journey. Satoru has to find another home for Nana but doesn’t tell the reason why this is so.
Have you ever had a cat that you loved beyond all reason? Then this is the book for you. show more Nana the cat is the witty narrator of this delightful yet poignant story. I’ve read several books by Japanese authors over the last year that had the same charm and quirkiness. These books are written in such a simple manner and yet are so profound. They read like a folktale with deep meaning and I’ve on the hunt for more like this one. This delightful book truly touched my heart and I know I’ll never forget it and that’s all I can ever ask of a book. Nana and Satoru crept into my heart and there they will stay.
Most highly recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review. show less
Have you ever had a cat that you loved beyond all reason? Then this is the book for you. show more Nana the cat is the witty narrator of this delightful yet poignant story. I’ve read several books by Japanese authors over the last year that had the same charm and quirkiness. These books are written in such a simple manner and yet are so profound. They read like a folktale with deep meaning and I’ve on the hunt for more like this one. This delightful book truly touched my heart and I know I’ll never forget it and that’s all I can ever ask of a book. Nana and Satoru crept into my heart and there they will stay.
Most highly recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review. show less
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 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
This is a gorgeous tale of Nana and his human Satoru: how they find each other and the journey they take in the silver van in search of a new owner for Nana. Along the way they visit three friends and a family member, each with a story from Satoru’s past that weaves into the present narrative.
It’s a complete tear-jerker - I was convinced I wouldn’t cry, but I did. The book will appeal not just to cat lovers, but especially to anyone who knows that special bond with a pet. I found myself thinking of my own cats and what life might be like from their perspective.
Despite some heavy themes, the writing carries a lightness - almost like a story painted in watercolours - which I often find in Japanese novels in translation. If anything, show more Satoru is almost too good to be true. His life is stacked with tragedy, and while I appreciate that this underlines the beauty of his relationship with Nana, I sometimes wished for a more flawed and rounded portrayal. Still, his Disney-princess-like characterisation fits the fairy-tale quality of the book, and in that sense, it works.
Have your tissues at the ready. show less
It’s a complete tear-jerker - I was convinced I wouldn’t cry, but I did. The book will appeal not just to cat lovers, but especially to anyone who knows that special bond with a pet. I found myself thinking of my own cats and what life might be like from their perspective.
Despite some heavy themes, the writing carries a lightness - almost like a story painted in watercolours - which I often find in Japanese novels in translation. If anything, show more Satoru is almost too good to be true. His life is stacked with tragedy, and while I appreciate that this underlines the beauty of his relationship with Nana, I sometimes wished for a more flawed and rounded portrayal. Still, his Disney-princess-like characterisation fits the fairy-tale quality of the book, and in that sense, it works.
Have your tissues at the ready. show less
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Author Information
46+ Works 5,061 Members
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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
- 2,337
- Popularity
- 8,423
- 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