Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan

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It's also not clear where some of the excerpts come from (particularly those that start the chapters) and it's my impression they may be the author's invention -- which can be fine to get the right sense across to the reader and introduce an idea, but since this book is specifically about Japanese folklore (and presenting as an authority on Kaibyo), I wish it was made clear whether anything was created, and if so: what was original; how much was derived but written in the author's own words; and why it was included as it was. Without that clarity, there is some danger in how these bits might be interpreted by readers present and future (i.e., as specific examples of Japanese folklore when they may more accurately be interpretive representations or suggestions of it). review by Scot D. Ryersson and Michael Orlando Yaccarino, co-authors of Infinite Variety: The Life and Legend of the Marchesa Casati and The Marchesa Casati: Portraits of a Muse Davisson mixes each chapter with the origins of the kanji used to describe each kaibyo, a history of their emergence (mainly in the Edo period) and their respective powers, some fantastic artwork of the cats themselves to help you visualize how their creators saw them, and a short story or two featuring that particular type of kaibyo, often with a moral message for the audience. I'm happy to say that's not the case. Intrigued by the theme and cover after seeing it in a local bookstore, I am thrilled that I took a chance on this book. It is genuinely informative on the different types of kaibyo that are seen in Japanese art and literature, along with a great history of their emergence and their popularity. Tombs, Pete (1998). Mondo Macabro: Weird & Wonderful Cinema Around the World. St. Martin's Griffin. p.169. ISBN 978-0312187484.

I have a fondness for yokai, and the more I learn about them, the more I discover just how limited my knowledge is. Japan isn't sometimes called The Land of Eight Million Gods and Demons for nothing; prior to reading Kaibyo, I was familiar with nekomata (from the Shin Megami Tensei series of RPGs), and maneki neko (ubiquitous to Asian restaurants), but I really wasn't acquainted with any other varieties of cat yokai. I'm happy to say that this slim volume went a long way toward remedying that, covering the shape-changing bakeneko, to the whimsical gotoku neko (that made me think of one of my dearly departed cats, and her love of the fireplace), and more. Macalanda, Dana (28 October 2017). " 'Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan': Traditionally spooky felines". The Japan Times . Retrieved 13 July 2021. Davisson lectured on translation, manga, and folklore at Duke University, UCLA, University of Washington, Denison University, as well as contributed to exhibitions at the Wereldmuseum Rotterdam and Henry Art Museum. He has been featured on NPR, BBC, and The New York Times, and has written articles for Metropolis, The Comics Journal, and Weird Tales Magazine.Then there are the cat demons, witches, and other monsters (including a nice piece depicting a female cat playing an instrument). The author tries to provide as much context as relevant along with brief summaries of notable fairy tales relevant to each chapter. As for the content itself? It's neatly divided into chapters - with each section focusing on a different form of cat-yokai. Expect all sorts of bizarre feline spirits here; from the eerie bakeneko (the shapeshifting cat) to the terrifying kasha - which is more of a demon than a yokai. It's not all scary though; there's also a chapter on the maneki-neko, which you may know better as the cheery waving cat (often gold) that is so often spotted in people's homes or in Chinese takeaways! (We've got one sat cheerily waving away in our spare room...). Curran, Beverley; Sato-Rossberg, Nana; Tanabe, Kikuko, eds. (2015). Multiple Translation Communities in Contemporary Japan. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-138-83170-4. An in-depth exploration of the sometimes charming, sometimes gruesome feline creatures and ghosts of Japan. Davisson illuminates the vast realm of kaibyō, or supernatural cats, with historical and modern cultural context. Lushly illustrated in full color with dozens of ukiyo-e prints and drawings. A must-have book for the Japanophile and cat-lover alike! First in a forthcoming series about the supernatural animals of Japan.

This book was a gift from a friend who knows me oh-so-well, and knows my adoration for all things supernatural and all things cat-related. I've also been a long-time fan of Japanese folklore, particularly the weird and wonderful yokai; so much fodder for future book inspiration! As a manga translator, Davisson was nominated for the 2014 Japanese-US Friendship Commission Translation Prize for his translation of the multiple Eisner Award-winning SHOWA: A HISTORY OF JAPAN. Other acclaimed translations include Satoshi Kon’s OPUS and THE ART OF SATOSHI KON, Mamoru Oshii’s SERAPHIM: 266613336 WINGS, Leiji Matsumoto’s QUEEN EMERALDAS, Kazuhiro Fujita’s THE GHOST AND THE LADY, Go Nagai’s CUTIE HONEY, and Gou Tanabe’s Eisner Award-nominated HP LOVECRAFT’S THE HOUND AND OTHER TALES. Dannery, Letizia (31 May 2018). "Enfer et damnation au Quai Branly". L'Express (in French). Archived from the original on 13 July 2021 . Retrieved 13 July 2021. Fun, easy read. The visual layout of the text is excellent. Having virtually no familiarity with the specific subject on my way in, I do get the sense that it covers the fundamentals. The author appears to know his history, writes succinctly and with authority but is simultaneously very approachable, and doesn't dance around anything -- If he doesn't know something, he says it outright.Monster cat" or "ghost cat" films ( kaibyō eiga or bake neko mono) are a subgenre of Japanese horror films featuring kaibyō, derived primarily from the repertoire of kabuki theatre. [10] The subgenre first gained popularity prior to World War II; its popularity declined after the war, arguably because Japanese audiences no longer believed in or feared such entities. [10] However, the subgenre experienced a resurgence of popularity in the 1950s and 1960s due to actress Takako Irie appearing in "monster cat" film roles. [10] Films featuring depictions of kaibyō include: All that said, though, it ultimately feels more like a good coffee table book than some kind of reference book for Kaibyo (which admittedly is probably beyond what it's trying or claiming to be).