Even those only superficially acquainted with Japanese literature (me! - those more well-versed please contribute below) are aware of the famed poet and novelist Natsume Souseki (夏目漱石, 1867-1916). One might imagine him as a sort of Mark Twain in kanji. A favorite story of his begins, “I am a cat,” although the kanji used (吾輩は猫である, `Wagahai wa neko de aru’) lends an immediate glimpse into the philosophical nature of this feline.
Though Tokyo-born, he (Souseki, not the cat) began his career lecturing English at Kumamoto University and wrote many of his earliest, most influential pieces here. Apparently, his house supported up to 100 cats, and a TV show I just watched discussed that many of the stray cats in the Kokai area are likely of that lineage, similar perhaps to Hemingway’s house on Key West. The cat further introduces himself, “I am akin to a Persian, of lacquer-like fur gray mottled with yellow.” (「吾輩はペルシア産の猫のごとく、黄を含める淡灰色に、漆のごとき斑入りの皮膚を有している」`Wagahai wa Perushia-san no neko nogotoku, ki o fukumeru tankaishoku ni, urushi nogotoki fuiri no hifu o yūshite iru’。) Recently, a stray of that description has abruptly settled in my neighborhood. It’s fanciful to consider him as a descendant of that famous Souseki cat.
The street in front of Kami Kumamoto Station is known as “Wagahai Street” (吾輩通り）in honor of this story. It contains many statues and sculptures of cats and one of the author himself. See the link below for photos. Cat lovers, bring your camera. - William
