Get to Know: The Honnomushi (Domestic Cat, Japan)

The Honnomushi ("Book worm" in Japanese), is unique among our adventurers as he is the only one who is not endemic to his region. The domestic cat is an import to Japan, but by the late 1800s had become quite common. Our little ninja cat learned all of his sneaking skills since his parents banned him from the library because he spent all of his time there!

During the late 1800s, Japan underwent a major era of modernization known as the Meiji period, which brought significant changes to the lives of domestic cats [5]. For centuries prior, felines were highly valued luxury items primarily owned by the nobility and kept on leashes [2]. However, by the late 19th century, cats had fully transitioned into common household pets and neighborhood street dwellers across rapidly growing urban areas [5].

Visually, the most distinct feline of this era was the native Japanese Bobtail, a cat famous for its unique, stubby tail that resembled a pom-pom [3]. These short-tailed cats became a staple of Japanese daily life, fitting perfectly into the modest dimensions of traditional city homes [3].

The daily lifestyle and diet of these urban cats were closely linked to the traditional Japanese household [1]. Because the local human diet consisted mostly of grains and vegetables, pet cats were frequently fed starchy leftovers [3]. To satisfy their biological need for meat, cats actively hunted rodents, making them highly respected guardians of grain storehouses and local silk factories [2]. Interestingly, this period also fueled famous folklore regarding feline behavior [2]. Houses at the time were lit by lamps containing rendered fish oil [1]. Hungry cats would frequently stand on their hind legs to lick the oil from these lanterns, casting large, eerie shadows on the walls [1]. This behavior reinforced popular cultural myths about the bakeneko, a supernatural, shapeshifting cat capable of walking upright [1].

Beyond their practical roles as pest controllers, cats held an important position in the artistic and commercial culture of late 19th-century Japan [2]. Master artists of the era obsessively featured felines in ukiyo-e woodblock prints, depicting them playing with strings, napping, or sitting alongside their owners [2]. It was also during the late 1800s that the iconic porcelain maneki-neko, or "beckoning cat" figurine, surged in commercial popularity [4]. These ceramic figures, depicting a cat with one paw raised, were placed in shop windows to attract fortune and good luck for businesses [4]. Through art, folklore, and daily companionship, domestic cats established a lasting cultural legacy during this pivotal transitional period in Japan's history [2].

References

• [1] Japan House London. "The tale of the cat in Japan." Cultural History and Folklore Guide.

• [2] Japan Society. "Cats Purr-vade Japan's History and Culture." Historical and Mythological Overview.

• [3] NIPPONIA. "The Cat in Japan - Breed Mutations and History." Web Japan Archives.

• [4] The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Cat and Kittens - Meiji Period Ceramics." The Met Collection Exhibition.

• [5] Wikipedia. "Pet Culture in Japan - Historical Ownership." Social History Resource.