I love cats, I love books, and I write. What chance did I have?
OP: “Unknown World (アンノウンワールド)” by Schrodinger’s Cat adding Kotringo
For some reason, I’ve been dreaming about cats a lot lately. I’m in a 100% no pets apartment so that’s a non-starter. And cat cafes? Well, they’re fun – but they’re also expensive and honestly, it’s just not the same. I’ve lived in feline-free housing before, so this isn’t a new experience for me, but there’s definitely an empty space in my life. I guess sometimes the awareness of that spills over the sides of the bathtub that is our subconscious and demands it be acknowledged.
That brings us (in rather roundabout fashion) to Doukyonin wa Hiza, Tokidoki, Atama no Ue., the new Zero-G shoujo manga adaptation that I feel quite certain will fly well below the radar this season. That I liked the premiere a lot is hardly a surprise – I fully expected to, both because of my nature and because the manga (by Minatsuki Tsunami (!) and Futatsuya As) is very well-regarded. Thematically this show was on very safe ground with me, but of course you still have to execute – and fortunately it did.
The co-protagonist of Doukyonin wa Hiza is Mikazuki Subaru (Ono Kenshou, who’s certainly making a healthy career out of playing deadpan bishounen). His parents died in a bus crash (seriously anime parents – just stay home), though how long before the series’ present timeline isn’t clear. Subaru has become a mystery writer and effectively a hikikomori – he’s quite peeved when his new editor Kawase-san (Shimono Hiro) arranges to meet at a “noisy” cafe. The other human of consequence here is Hiroto Yasaka (Horie Shun), who seems to be the one person Subaru can call a friend (though to say he’s tsun towards him would be an understatement).
That said, there’s a co-protagonist here – and that’s the cat (Yamazaki Haruka). She and Subaru cross paths when he’s at his parents’ grave, leaving an offering of some sashimi-grade tuna (seriously, what cat could resist). Subaru finds she reminds him a bit of his mother, and takes the cat home ostensibly because she’s given him an idea that nudges him off his writer’s block where his next novel is concerned. Subaru doesn’t know much about cats, and he’s pretty much a classic eccentric author – a basket case who doesn’t think much about his basic physical needs when it comes time to work.
This sounds like a fairly cliche setup, but where Doukyonin wa Hiza veers off the well-trod path is in making each (I’m assuming) episode into a kind of mini-Rashomon. Part of the story is told from Subaru’s POV, but the same events are retold from the perspective of the kitty (who I’ll just start calling by her eventual name, Haru, even if it is a minor spoiler). This is a bit of a minefield if the writing isn’t up to it, but so far so good (the series composition is being handled by the excellent Akao Deko). The series offers what feels like a pretty authentic cat’s-eye view of events, including some flashbacks to Haru’s painful life on the streets.
There are a lot of little touches I really like here, such as Subaru’s obsession with not being “spoiled” – not when it comes to books, and not when it comes to life (including Kawase sending him books explaining cats, though one does prove useful). I feel him – I like to find stuff out for myself (which is one reason I moved to Japan, where it happens every day). Obviously there’s a fair measure of sentimentality in this premise, but having spent most of my life in the company of cats I can assure you – when they sense a human they care for is vulnerable, they get extremely nurturing. Haru comes off as authentic to me, as much as any cat whose thoughts we hear in Japanese ever could.
This is a personal pick for me, no question about it, but I don’t sweat that – every show is to some extent or another. Doukyonin wa Hiza is on the same wavelength as me, sure, but it’s also really well-made and the emotions hit home. I suppose we’re at the tip of the iceberg stage story-wise, but the essence of this show is surely going to be the man and his cat. For a guy that loves mysteries, no animal could be a better muse than a cat – they remain bewitching puzzles no matter how long you know them, dancing to the beat of a drum only they can hear. I look forward to seeing Subaru have his world rocked by that over the course of this series.
ED: “Kimi no Tonari Watashi no Basho (君のとなり わたしの場所)” by Yoshino Nanjo
Simone
January 10, 2019 at 9:03 pmMe and my girlfriend are definitely gonna watch this – she’s the resident cat maniac, though that love has rubbed off on me quite a bit too. It’s a niche show appealing to a very specific need (moar kitties!) but within that sphere, it feels like it’s definitely a winner. And I found the cat perspective especially touching. As far as fluff goes, this is top notch and goes right besides mugumogu’s videos of Maru and Hana XD.
lalu
January 11, 2019 at 5:56 amOmg thank you so much! This one totally went under my radar somehow but thanks to you and your post I spent an absolutely wonderful 22 minutes just now watching this absolutely adorable and funny and cute and relatable little gem!
Having had a cat myself too I can absolutely agree that this seems very real. And Mr. Writer alsp feels very true to real life too haha.
Really didn’t expect to like both main characters this much after just one episode but damn this show really clicked for me. So thank you again for your post!
Guardian Enzo
January 11, 2019 at 7:32 amAs always, love to hear someone got turned on to a series because of this site. That’s why I do it.
I do feel like this series is good enough that it should penetrate beyond the “cute Nyan-chan” sphere, but I kind of doubt that will happen.
Marty
January 11, 2019 at 11:19 amThis sounds like my kind of show. I loved she and her cat, and I’m sure I’ll love he series too.
Collectr
January 11, 2019 at 12:06 pmThere have been lots of short episode cat shows, recently; it’s good to have long-form again. And an ongoing feline narrator is a treat; Nyanko-big spoke out in only one episode.
Personally, I’ve never had any cat bring me food. Steal it, yes – from the table, the desk, my fingers. But bring it, never. After all, dogs may have masters, but cats have staff.
Guardian Enzo
January 11, 2019 at 1:16 pmVery good cat shorts, too. But yes, it’s nice to have a full-length one. And the Nyanko-big ep may have been the highlight of Tada-kun.
That behavior is very typical for cats – they’re big gift-givers. It’s not always food (as they define it) but often is.
Simone
January 11, 2019 at 5:01 pmWe had one neighbourhood cat that had taken to visit our house pretty regularly, and we knew he considered himself part of the family when he showed up in the middle of the night bearing gifts of dead mice. A high honour.
Ronbb
January 11, 2019 at 3:11 pmThis show is super adorable, and I love seeing things through Haru’s eyes. It’s just incredibly cute. I have already rewatched it three times, and yes, I’m a cat lover.
Guardian Enzo
January 11, 2019 at 3:37 pmI think this one is like Gurazeni – it helps if you’re into the hook, but the show is good enough generally that most people would enjoy it anyway.
Ronbb
January 12, 2019 at 4:07 pmYes, this show is warm and soul soothing, and I hope it attracts not just the cat lovers but everyone. It’s just so endearing that it makes you smile…you can watch it on your couch sipping a cup of tea or a glass of wine. For me, I’m hugging the screen every time Haru comes on. Totally loving it.
Marty
January 12, 2019 at 2:15 amI remember seeing a comment in the YouTube trailer for this anime that read along the lines of:
“A dog’s love and loyalty is immediate and undying. But cats are more selective of those they choose to bond with; those relationships essentially boils down to the cat deciding that you’re to become the central person in its life, a unique relationship between that individual cat and its owner it decided to accept into its life.”
Nothing against dogs, but their movies are a dime a dozen, I’m finally glad there’s something for the cat folks.
And Nyako-Big is the MVP of Tada-kun.
Guardian Enzo
January 12, 2019 at 9:11 amI agree with that to an extent, but only an extent. In truth it’s more nuanced, but the essential nature of the matter is due to this IMO – dogs are pack animals, and cats are not. Cat’s are, to an extent, more akin to humans in a lot of ways too. And their relationships with their humans are more complicated.
One thing I tell people when they ask me the difference between America and Japan is “when you go to the supermarket in America, the dog food section is twice as big as the cat food section. In Japan, it’s just the opposite”. It sounds like a jokey answer, but I think it’s actually sort of telling in a lot of ways.