How did cats, beloved by so many people, become integrated into our lives? We will explore the deep relationship between Japanese people and cats through history.
How did cats become so closely associated with the Japanese people?
(Artist) Kyosai Kawanabe
In ancient Japan, when grain cultivation began, rats that devoured harvested grains were a nuisance for humans. Cats, which preyed on rats, became valued as grain storekeepers. Cats caught rats, and humans escaped the harm they caused. Living together benefited both parties. Being close to humans provided cats with access to water and food, protection from predators, and a safe, comfortable environment where they could shelter from the rain and dew. It's entirely possible that humans also found healing in living with cats. It's likely that this mutual coexistence led to a deepening of the relationship between cats and humans. Cats, who freed humans from the harms of rats, eventually became beloved in Japan as symbols of wealth and abundance and guardian deities.
Where did cats come from and when did they come to Japan?
The relationship between cats and humans is believed to have begun approximately 9,500 years ago, with the domestication of the African wildcat in the Middle East. Cats then spread from the ancient Egyptian dynasty throughout Europe and then into Asia, before arriving in Japan via China. Cats are believed to have first arrived in Japan 1,200-1,300 years ago, during the Nara and Heian periods. The long-held belief was that when Buddhism was introduced from China, cats were brought on board ships to protect the Buddhist scriptures from rat damage.
Yayoi period ~
Later, bones believed to be those of a domestic cat were excavated at the Karakami ruins in Iki City, Nagasaki Prefecture. This strengthened the theory that cats had already been present in Japan since the Yayoi period, approximately 2,100 years ago. If this theory is true, it would bring forward the history of cats' arrival in Japan by several hundred years. This is surely great news for cat lovers. Cats in ancient Japan were not kept as pets as they are today, but rather played a role in protecting stored grain from mice and insects.
Cats loved by people of noble status from the Heian period onwards
(Artist) Reizei Tamechika
During the Heian period, cats finally began to be treated as pets, as they are today. However, because they were still rare and precious, keeping cats was a pleasure reserved for a select few of the noble. The 59th Emperor, Emperor Uda, is famous for keeping a black cat inherited from his father, Emperor Koko, and a description of that cat remains in his diary, "Kanpei-goki." This is said to be the oldest record of keeping a pet cat in Japan, and may even be considered the roots of modern cat blogs. Furthermore, the 66th Emperor, Emperor Ichijo, was an avid cat lover, holding ceremonies to celebrate his cat's birthday and even bestowing rank on his pet because he was not allowed to enter the palace. According to "The Pillow Book," a court lady was also assigned to nurse his cat.
Was it the rat that was the deciding factor? Azuchi-Momoyama period to Edo period
In 1602 (Keicho 7), an order was issued to let cats roam free in order to reduce the damage caused by rats. It is said that this order dramatically reduced the damage caused by rats, and it seems to have been quite effective. However, the number of cats did not increase until the early Edo period, and they were still a valuable commodity. Therefore, there is historical evidence that paintings of cats were highly valued as they were believed to have the power to exterminate rats, in place of the few cats that remained. Lucky charms such as maneki-neko (beckoning cats) were created, and cats became popular as guardian deities, and eventually the custom of keeping cats to exterminate rats spread among the common people as well.
Cat-loving people and culture from the Edo period to the present day
Utagawa Kuniyoshi, an ukiyo-e artist active in the late Edo period who left behind numerous ukiyo-e prints featuring cats, was also known for being a passionate cat lover. Kuniyoshi kept several to a dozen cats, and even prepared Buddhist altars and memorial tablets for his deceased cats to hold in their laps while he created his works, demonstrating his true love for cats. During the Meiji period, cats began to appear in even more paintings. Takehisa Yumeji's portraits of beautiful women are particularly famous, adding a touch of allure to the paintings. Cats also feature in numerous literary works, perhaps most notably Natsume Soseki's "I Am a Cat." In Japan, cats continue to be a popular motif in many artistic works and beloved by the people. After the end of World War II, as ordinary people began to enjoy more financial freedom, more and more households began to keep animals as pets. While the popularity of dogs never wanes, the popularity of cats has grown year by year, and the number of people keeping them as pets continues to increase. Their free-spirited personalities and adorable looks are the secret to their popularity, but another factor is that cats' characteristics match the housing conditions and home environments in Japan, as they do not require as much care as dogs, such as walking.
summary
(Artist) Suzuki Harunobu
We've introduced how cats and humans have interacted throughout Japanese history. Isn't it heartwarming to think that cats are here in Japan today because they followed various paths thousands of years ago? Since coming to Japan, cats have interacted with many people and continued to fascinate them. When you come into contact with the adorable charm of cats, you can't help but empathize with the feelings of our ancestors!
Cat goods and accessories
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