Diary of a Cat

The perfect cosy read for 2025 – cats and food come together as the seasons change

Meet Chimaki and Norimaki – two young cats lost in the sprawling metropolis of Tokyo, sniffing out cat-lovers who might be kind enough give them a ride or place to sleep for the night . . . Until they find a new home with the Horai family, an eccentric assortment of artists, dreamers and caterers who have one thing in common: their love of good food.

Inspired by the bougie magazine column written by Madam Horai, Chimaki decides to keep his own diary, inviting us in to share the family’s meals and activities, his younger brother’s comical scrapes, and the movements of a mysterious stranger around the house. His journal follows the change of the seasons from early spring to midwinter, with each entry featuring all kinds of delectable dishes and a wealth of Japanese culinary lore.

Playful, gentle and curiously addictive, Diary of a Cat offers intriguing glimpses into Japanese culture on every page, recipes to follow and characters to fall in love with – all through the eyes of an endearingly curious cat.

Translated from the Japanese by Yui Kajita