Catland: The Soft Power of Cat Culture in Japan

Published in 2020
192 pages

epub


Sarah Archer is a writer and curator who specializes in design and material culture. The author of Midcentury Christmas and The Midcentury Kitchen, she contributes to SlateThe AtlanticArchitectural Digest, and newyorker.com. She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

What is this book about?
An irresistibly cute and colorful celebration of Japan’s thriving cat culture

Before Hello Kitty rocketed to fame in the United States and around the world, she was a shoo-in for stardom in a country famous for its feline love affair: Japan. From cat cafes to “cat islands,” all of Japan’s furry friends take the spotlight in Catland. Picturesque city streets, shop windows, temples, and more are the stage for cats across the country. But Sarah Archer will also take readers behind the scenes of this phenomenon.

With charming storytelling, Catland explores both the past and present of Japan’s affinity for cats. Archer transports readers to modern workshops where the Japanese carefully craft traditionally woven cat beds, “beckoning cat” statues, and cat clothing.