Tanada Yuki is the director of films such as 'Hyakumanen to Nigamushi Onna' ('One Million Yen Girl') and 'Oretachini Asuwa Nai-su'. She also wrote the script for a motion picture titled 'Sakuran'. Her directorial effort titled 'Fuganai Boku wa Sora wo Mita', which is an adaptation of a novel by Kubo Misumi, will be released in November of this year. She currently lives with two cats - the wonderfully-named Hirune ('Nap') and Gorone ('Lie Down'). We caught up with Tanada-san's pair of sibling-like felines as they were relaxing at home.
I Was Always Waiting for Cats
- 'Hirune' ('Nap') and 'Gorone' ('Lie Down') sure are unique names.
"I named them after the things I love best. (laughs) Whenever I go to visit the vet, their names are certain to elicit some laughter. Hirune, the one with a mixed white and tabby pattern, has a very friendly personality. Though his face is small, he's got a big belly that really sticks out. The Black and white Gorone is more serious. She's always doing her best to assist Hirune. However, because Gorone is a little shy, she won't come out right away when new people come over."
- How did you come to meet your two cats?
"Hirune was in bad shape when he was first taken in by an acquaintance of mine. Starving and literally a flea-bag, he had been living on the street as a stray. However, my acquaintance already had two other cats and would have been hard pressed to keep another. So he came to live with me. Now, he's fine except for a slightly bad nose and some bronchitis."
- Had you ever kept a cat before?
"My family had cats when I was growing up. Even after I came up to Tokyo, I constantly thought that I wanted to live with one. That's why I initially moved into an apartment that was pet-friendly. While waiting on stand-by, I left it up to fate to decide what cats would come to live with me. It was almost exactly a year after I moved that I encountered Hirune."
- Moving into housing that allows pets before even getting one can only be called forward thinking.
"I had reached my limit. Though I was raising some plants, I felt that nothing would satisfy me except for a cat. Working on a film set really requires a lot of stamina. To be honest, I'm not really all that cut out for directorial work. I actually prefer spending time at home. Cuddling with my cats helps me to recharge after a hard day of filming. I'm often inviting cat-lovers to my house to take part in this recharging process."
- Why did you decide to take in a second cat?
"After seeing a stray cat through the window, Hirune tried to beckon it with some meowing. Though he seemed to say, 'come play with me!', the stray cat totally ignored him (laughs). Worrying that he would become lonely when I was out, I started searching for another cat. Through another acquaintance, I found a kitten that had recently been born. This was Gorone. Before being separated from its parents, the kitten was completely potty trained and taught other 'ways of the cat.' In fact, Hirune finally learned that he should cover his waste with litter by watching Gorone."
- Did the two cats have good chemistry with each other right from the beginning?
No, it was terrible. On the way back to my house, Gorone got sick and threw up. She also took both a pee and poo in the car... Because I had to give her a complete wash after she arrived, I wasn't able to slowly introduce her to Hirune. While I was drying Gorone, Hirune came running over to us. He probably thought, 'I've got a new friend!' (laughs). However, because Gorone had been properly brought up in cat society, she repeatedly hissed at Hirune as if to ask, 'What the heck are you doing?' At first I was like, 'This was a mistake.' However, after placing Hirune near the sleeping Gorone for about a week, they gradually got used to each other. Soon, they even started to influence each other. In addition to the potty custom I mentioned earlier, Gorone eventually started emulating the brave 'meow' that Hirune always announces before jumping from high places. In human language, it would probably mean something like, 'Okay, let's go!' Because the cats can play with each other, it makes it kind of easy for me."
Preparing for Difficult Times Ahead
- What kind of cats did you have growing up?
"Because we lived in the countryside, we usually just took in cats that had been abandoned. In addition to keeping dogs and rabbits, there was even a time my dad brought home a Japanese mink. (laughs) I remember that one of our old cats would come running up to me and 'meow' whenever I returned home. As a child, thinking it was bad to ignore to my cat, I would continue listening to it meowing until it completely shut up. After it stopped, it would have this totally contented look upon its face. Then it would just go away. Maybe it was complaining about something. (laughs). However, even now, I believe in listening to Hirune whenever he meows. Listening to him actually makes him stop. Before Hirune has to go to the bathroom, he will habitually let out a meow. It is only after I reply with an 'okay, okay' that he actually goes. When there is something that they want, both cats have a range of voices for making demands. It is quite interesting."
- They really seem to get along like siblings. What kind of toys and litter boxes do they prefer?
"They share the same toilet. They will play with toys forever. Their absolute favorite has to be cat-teasers. As for devices that allow them to scratch with their claws, I have both a scratching pole as well as a scratcher made out of cardboard. To protect the floor, I also have a cork board for the cats to scratch at. It also helps them to stay warm in the winter. Gorone has a particular liking for a sewing machine chair. The very day I bought it, she jumped up and claimed it as her own. It's strange, but Hirune will absolutely not sit on it. It really seems like he understands that it belongs to Gorone. However, Gorone will try to sit on Hirune's favorite cat cushion. Whenever she comes up to it, he will snap his teeth at her and make her run away."
- Do they have any preferences when it comes to food?
"At first, Hirune was extremely skinny. I thought this was because he ate like a bird. Because I was worried, I always made sure that he had food. Even though he ate just a little at each sitting, he ended up eating a lot of food in total. As a result, Hirune came to quickly weigh 6 kilograms... The vet actually had me put him on a diet of special Royal Canin food. Hirune has no interest at all in wet catfood. Because he was originally a stray, he probably thinks that wet food means that the food has gone bad. In other words, Hirune almost worships dry food. Gorone is really picky about her food. Her absolute favorite is wet CIAO Yakikatsuo ('CIAO Grilled Bonito'). In order to get some, Gorone will say goodbye to her dignity. She'll appeal for food by wriggling around on the floor while showing her belly. (laughs)"
- Do you take them to the veterinarian regularly?
"Recently, Gorone got an infection in her butt. In order to have surgery, she spent a half-day at the vet. In addition, because he has bronchitis, I take Hirune to the vet to have his throat cleared. Bronchitis makes his breathing sound like a rattle. Because he weighs over six kilograms, I cannot carry him in my arms. Therefore, I've been looking for a cat backpack. Following the earthquake, I also prepared an emergency baby buggy for the cats. Considering their weight, if a difficult situation should arise, I don't think I could carry them both in my arms or even in a backpack."
The Attraction of Cats that Refuse to be Melodramtic
- Are there any cat-related books or products that you like?
"I love the work of Oshima Yumiko. 'Wata no Kuniboshi' ('The Star of Cottonland') is the gold standard for cat manga. It's so cute and sentimental. However, I'm actually not all that passionate about cat-related items. My interest is definitely in real live cats."
- In your film titled 'Hyakumanen to Nigamushi Onna ('One Million Yen Girl'), the story begins with a pair of roommates who get rid of a cat. Does this scene show some of your feelings?
"That film is based on something that really happened to a friend. In the movie, there is a scene in which a cat is involved in an accident. I think people who like cats will naturally feel both anger and sadness when they see it."
- Have you every thought about making a story in which a cat plays the main character
"I know well that cats don't act. (laughs). If I think about how such a film would be shot, it seems very difficult. I think it is better to use a human as the main character. Then I could place a cat at their side and build a story about how they relate to each other. I think it is much easier to make a cat the main subject of an essay. There are occasions when I use stories about my cats as the topic of serialized essays and other writing."
- In your opinion, what is the biggest attraction of cats?
"Maybe I like how assertive they are. In addition to each having a unique character, they have strong likes and dislikes. They even have their own opinions. This is the most interesting things about cats. I don't like cats because they are relaxing or let me pet them. I'm happy being around cats because they are creatures with wills of their own. Being with cats involves a little 'give and take'. For example, cats negotiate to get food. Moreover, when friends come over to my house, the cats can tell apart which people will play with them and which won't. Though they can't speak the same language as us, cats are extremely sensitive. They are creatures to be reckoned with."
