She And Her Cat

Adapted by Shinkai from his short film and manga of the same name, She and her Cat is a warming hug of a novel about the connection between humans and felines told through a series of vignettes set on the outskirts of Tokyo.

For fans of The Travelling Cat Chronicles and translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori, translator of Convenience Store Woman, a tender and mesmerizing story about kindness, community and the wonder of life.

On the outskirts of Tokyo, in a neighbourhood crossed by a commuter railway, local cats weave their way through the lives and homes of their owners as they navigate difficult times.

A cat named Chobi sends silent messages of courage to a young woman, willing her to end a faltering relationship; a gifted artist fatally misunderstands her boss's enthusiasm for her paintings; a manga fan shuts herself away after the traumatic death of her friend, while her cat Cookie hatches a plan to persuade her outside; a woman who has dedicated her life to a distant husband learns a lesson in independence from her cat.

Against the urban backdrop of humming trains and private woes, She And Her Cat explores the gentle magic of the everyday. Populated by both the friendly and the feral, it reveals - with heartstopping clarity and warmth - how even in our darkest moments, community and connection may lead us to a happier place.

Makoto Shinkai is the hugely popular anime filmmaker of Your Name. His debut novel She And Her Cat is inspired by his highly praised five-minute anime and will be published in fourteen territories around the world. Ginny Tapley Takemori is the award-winning translator of Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata and other highly acclaimed Japanese fiction. She lives in rural Japan.