Ito Junji's Cat Diary - Yon & Mu' (Kodansha Press) 680 yen amazon.co.jp
If you ask him whether he prefers cats or dogs, he'll tell you that he's a dog person. Down deep, the author, a writer of horror manga, thinks that he likes dogs because they are so loyal to their masters. However, his cat-loving partner, Ms. A, insists on bringing two cats into his home. The arrival of kittens - the funny-faced 'Yon' and the affectionate 'Mu', bring with them a string of agonizing days. He becomes envious when the cats choose Ms. A's bed over his. So, in the small hours of the morning, he spreads cat food on his bed (after the cats eat it, they promptly return to A-san). He then tries out a cat-teasing toy for the first time (the cats completely ignore him as he dances around like a fool). Readers will laugh out loud at the foolish ways the author tries to connect with cats, who have their own pace. Unlike other cat manga that features roughly drawn images, Ito's illustrations have an extremely detailed and dramatic touch that well-suits the funny story lines. No matter how many times I read this cat-themed manga, I find myself laughing.
P.S. Whatever you do, don't try reading this book on a train. Because you won't be able to stop yourself from laughing, people will think there is something wrong with you.
