Identify this short manga: man on business trip misses his cat
September 25, 2018 9:09 AM Subscribe
I read a few pages of this black-and white manga online: a man on a business trip enjoys his fancy hotel room, then suddenly thinks of his cat and is struck by guilt and sorrow. Please help me identify it.
The art style was on the "realistic" and detailed side, with shading and less stylized human faces. It looked similar to Junji Ito (but without Ito's gore and horror; so it might have been from the beginning of one of his stories?)
I don't know if it was a standalone piece or a few pages excerpted from a larger work.
The plot, as I remember it: a man in his 30s to 50s is on a business trip alone in a fancy hotel. He's talking to himself, describing how he relishes the luxuries of being in this plush environment with no household responsibilities.
He either thinks of his wife or speaks to her on the phone, and feels smug that he gets to be on this trip while she is stuck at home.
Then, he thinks of their cat or is reminded of it, and something about him not being present for the cat (perhaps something involving shoes?) makes him suddenly pity the cat and himself and break down in tears.
The overall tone is dark humor.
It's not "Ojisama to Neko" by Sakurai Umi; the cat is less cartoonish than that.
The art style was on the "realistic" and detailed side, with shading and less stylized human faces. It looked similar to Junji Ito (but without Ito's gore and horror; so it might have been from the beginning of one of his stories?)
I don't know if it was a standalone piece or a few pages excerpted from a larger work.
The plot, as I remember it: a man in his 30s to 50s is on a business trip alone in a fancy hotel. He's talking to himself, describing how he relishes the luxuries of being in this plush environment with no household responsibilities.
He either thinks of his wife or speaks to her on the phone, and feels smug that he gets to be on this trip while she is stuck at home.
Then, he thinks of their cat or is reminded of it, and something about him not being present for the cat (perhaps something involving shoes?) makes him suddenly pity the cat and himself and break down in tears.
The overall tone is dark humor.
It's not "Ojisama to Neko" by Sakurai Umi; the cat is less cartoonish than that.
Response by poster: Aha, it was Junji Ito after all! Thank you so much. Maybe I will avoid the rest of that story...
posted by What is E. T. short for? at 5:53 PM on September 25, 2018
posted by What is E. T. short for? at 5:53 PM on September 25, 2018
FWIW, the rest of Ito's Cat Diary is entirely without gore or horror; the main joke/appeal of the book is that it's funny slice-of-life stories about cute oddball cats, but drawn in Ito's trademark dark melodramatic horror style. Though the book does end on a bit of a down note, as
The manga is available licensed in English from Kodansha and I enjoyed it a lot.
posted by nicebookrack at 7:02 PM on September 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
one of the featured pet cats has passed away by the final chapter.
The manga is available licensed in English from Kodansha and I enjoyed it a lot.
posted by nicebookrack at 7:02 PM on September 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
viz. Ito's trademark dark melodramatic horror style
posted by nicebookrack at 7:19 PM on September 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by nicebookrack at 7:19 PM on September 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
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posted by Nedroid at 10:29 AM on September 25, 2018 [3 favorites]