A short and poetic story about a workaholic couple in 1980s Tokyo who bond with a local neighborhood cat. Chibi, the neighborhood cat, enters the lives of the young couple during a period filled with constant change. The illness of a friend, having to move to a new home, job changes, and all the warning signs of an impeding economic recession (Japan's Lost Decade). In The Guest Cat, Hiraide uses the relationship between the couple and Chibi to highlight the importance of nature and emotional well-being. It is through Chibi's faithful visit that the couple begins to experience a life outside of work. The couple's fondness for Chibi brings them closer together as they begin to communicate more with each other and begin adjusting their work schedules to spend more time outdoors with Chibi.
With the main setting being Tokyo during a time period of increasing urbanization and "work-for-life" culture, it is easy to see why Hiraide would use the couple and Chibi to highlight nature and the positive impact it can have on one's well-being. Although the ending of The Guest Cat is ambiguous and has bothered some readers, I felt that it matched the overall tone of the story. Past. Future. The only thing we truly have is the present and what we make of it. My family has always emphasized the importance of nature in one's life so perhaps it wasn't as profound to me as it was to other readers who have read The Guest Cat, but I did find it a good read. It was interesting seeing the couple change over time and Hiraide's descriptions of the couple's garden made it feel like I was actually there. My Rating: 3/5 Amazon | Bookshop
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