Messenger Cat Café

I am unsure what genre you would call this and others of its ilk. They are Japanese, include the afterlife and communication with the afterlife, are often set in a cafe (or other meeting places like bookshops and libraries), are quaint and charming and sometimes feature cats. One I recently read which has been popular is Before the coffee gets cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi and I was struck by similarities with Shimeno’s work. They might be called magic realism or, more generally, cosy fiction.

Messenger Cat Cafe is a short read, told from a cat’s perspective and divided into five episodes. Fuuta, a much loved deceased cat, wants to come back for one last meeting with his owner. He applies for a job as a messenger cat and is given five tasks to complete, enabling people to reconnect across the life-death divide. There is much humour and goodwill shining through the episodes, though not all end “happily ever after” for everyone. Fuuta’s own character develops as he encounters a range of people and learns more about love, loss and human experiences.

A heart warming read, Messenger Cat Cafe could appeal to those who like a bit of whimsy, cats (especially tabbys) and comforting reads with emotional resonance. I enjoyed reading out of my usual genres, the length was a relief after some of the recent award winning “wedges” about, and the Japanese setting added to the charming aura. I am going to explore more. They just might be perfect winter night reads.