In a lighthearted slice of life manga where a chubby feline steals the spotlight and a lonely man finds unexpected companionship, join Kanda and Fukumaru as they explore a found family trope-esque manga that will tug at your heartstrings!
Before delving further into my review, let me introduce what a Manga is. Simply put, Mangas are Japanese comics that are generally aimed at both children and adults and are read from right to left and top to bottom. Genres expand from lighthearted comedy to psychological dramas and everything in between. It is characterized by fine line art, dynamic characters, and addicting plots. Many popular anime series are adaptations of manga and vice-versa. Furthermore, Mangas often reflect the social, historical, and cultural context of Japan making it a valuable cultural medium of expression.
A Man and His Cat is a slice of life and comedy manga series released in 2018 which was written and illustrated by Umi Sakurai. The manga centers around Fukumaru, a year-old, overweight, short-haired cat, who is often passed by other shoppers opting for a smaller and cuter kitten. Unexpectedly, Kanda, an older gentleman, passed by him at the pet shop window and instantly fell for the cat.
As we read the manga, both POV’s are portrayed wherein we see Fukumaru and Kanda slowly fall for each other. Kanda learns how to care and love for a cat, while Fukumaru learns how to be himself and accept himself through receiving love. The manga also shows the struggles all cat owners can relate to when it comes to caring for their feline companions.
The manga explores the joy and fulfillment of caring for a pet, especially when you feel alone. In the manga we find out that Kanda was recently widowed and that all his children are far from him, evoking a feeling of loneliness and somberness. This is quickly overshadowed by the joy that Fukumaru brings, having his uniquely designed body and personality brightens the reading atmosphere of the manga.
I may have read it quite a couple of times and even purchased a physical copy of the manga. I cried and laughed because of the complex-feelings evoking plot mixed with the simple narrative telling of this manga. I encourage others to read this manga, especially those who are new to reading Japanese comics and cat owners. This is a heartwarming and simple story where we see a pet and their owner’s love for each other. Happy reading!
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