A Man and His Cat (volumes 10-12 ongoing)
May. 10th, 2025 12:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meteordustVolumes 1-4
Volumes 5-9
This manga continues to be not just the story of a man and his cat, but all the lost souls and wounded hearts who come into their orbit, whose hurts begin to heal through human kindness and feline devotion. Every volume manages to punch me in the emotions, but in a good way.
Highlights
Teruaki brings a rescued cat to Mr Kanda's house, and is stunned to find two music legends casually hanging out there. When Geoffroy and Hibino learn he was once Mr Kanda's student, they ask him to play for them. Teruaki insists he's not good enough and just a nobody, but Hibino says that way of thinking makes him a nobody.
I love that we finally get to see when Mr Kanda met his wife Suzune. Of course they were childhood sweethearts! Little Kanda and Little Suzune are adorable. And I love that her love of bugs is probably where her daughter got it from.
Mr Kanda is introduced to social media by his daughter Sorako, and becomes a regular on a cat forum. Forum poster Makoto assumes that Fukumaru's owner is a pretty lady, because of how warm and polite she is. And also because her online pseudonym is "Twinkle Bell".
Twinkle Bell expresses enthusiasm when Makoto mentions he plays the guitar. So he invites Twinkle Bell to come hear him busking on the street. Except some unwelcome people from his past show up first.
And then Mr Kanda appears. ("Who's the silver fox?") And defends Makoto, and call him his friend. And Makoto, who has never had friends, or anyone who would stand up for him, has his faith in people restored. And he's inspired to play his music, and the admiring crowd deters the bullies, and even though Makoto has lost his imagined first love, he's happy to have gained a friend.
("Come to think of it, 'Fuyuki Kanda' really does sound familiar. I'll check online... 'Japan's Greatest Pianist.' Oh crap! I made somebody phenomenal listen to noise! I've gotta practice more!")
Mr Kanda reflects on the origins of his online pseudonym.
Volumes 5-9
This manga continues to be not just the story of a man and his cat, but all the lost souls and wounded hearts who come into their orbit, whose hurts begin to heal through human kindness and feline devotion. Every volume manages to punch me in the emotions, but in a good way.
Highlights
Teruaki brings a rescued cat to Mr Kanda's house, and is stunned to find two music legends casually hanging out there. When Geoffroy and Hibino learn he was once Mr Kanda's student, they ask him to play for them. Teruaki insists he's not good enough and just a nobody, but Hibino says that way of thinking makes him a nobody.
When a chance comes your way...
do you somehow think you'll be able to tackle it in top form?
The day of a concert.
The day of an event.
An impromptu performance.
I've never had a single "perfect day".
Even so, every time, I think...
"There's no better day than this one."
- Kanade Hibino, Volume 10
I love that we finally get to see when Mr Kanda met his wife Suzune. Of course they were childhood sweethearts! Little Kanda and Little Suzune are adorable. And I love that her love of bugs is probably where her daughter got it from.
My dear one...
You saved me again and again.
I met you so early...
and we were together so long...
that I couldn't imagine a world without you.
But now I'm walking through that world...
because you gave me the strength to do it.
I'll walk.
The courage you gave me...
has helped me get up over and over.
Even now, it shines warmly in my heart.
It's going to be alright.
I'll find my feet again.
- Mr Kanda, Volume 11
Mr Kanda is introduced to social media by his daughter Sorako, and becomes a regular on a cat forum. Forum poster Makoto assumes that Fukumaru's owner is a pretty lady, because of how warm and polite she is. And also because her online pseudonym is "Twinkle Bell".
Twinkle Bell expresses enthusiasm when Makoto mentions he plays the guitar. So he invites Twinkle Bell to come hear him busking on the street. Except some unwelcome people from his past show up first.
Bullies: "What? You want us to get lost? Then say the magic words. 'When I get bullied, it's my own fault'!"
I've thought about it again and again.
If I did what they said...
if I just smiled...
and kissed up...
and ignored the stuff I didn't want to see...
wouldn't life be easier?
But doing that...
would be worse than getting hit.
Worse than not being able to go to school.
Worse than letting Twinkle Bell see the mess I'm about to be.
It would hurt a whole lot more.
Makoto: "It's obviously the bully's fault!"
Bullies: "You little punk!"
- Makoto, Volume 12
And then Mr Kanda appears. ("Who's the silver fox?") And defends Makoto, and call him his friend. And Makoto, who has never had friends, or anyone who would stand up for him, has his faith in people restored. And he's inspired to play his music, and the admiring crowd deters the bullies, and even though Makoto has lost his imagined first love, he's happy to have gained a friend.
("Come to think of it, 'Fuyuki Kanda' really does sound familiar. I'll check online... 'Japan's Greatest Pianist.' Oh crap! I made somebody phenomenal listen to noise! I've gotta practice more!")
Mr Kanda reflects on the origins of his online pseudonym.
Back when Sorako was born...
while I was delirious with joy, my brain came up with...
a scintillating name.
Kanda: "I've settled on one."
Suzune: "What is it?"
Kanda: "Twinkle Bell."
Suzune: "Dear... I'm amazed you even managed to come up with a name that bizarre. Go change your own name to Twinkle Bell and try again."
Kanda: "I'm sorry!"
Even the silly things...
make me tear up now.
At the time, I had no idea that even the little memories...
would end up being irreplaceable.
- Mr Kanda, Volume 12
