My next manga in progress is Umi Sakurai’s A Man and His Cat, and I have not stopped smiling since I started it. From the adorably peculiar Fukumaru to the kind and troubled Mr Kanda, the short episodes within this manga are so funny and sweet, I genuinely couldn’t stop smiling over how sappy it was (and how pathetic these two are).

A kitten languishes in a pet shop, unwanted and unloved. Even as his price drops with each passing day, no one spares him a glance unless it’s to call him names. Having practically given up on life, the kitty himself is most shocked of all when an older gentleman comes into the store and wants to take him home! Will the man and the cat find what they’re looking for…in each other?

The first five graphic novels bring a lot of adventure, revelations, interactions, and characters with intriguing backgrounds, histories, and kernels of truth that will be revealed in time. It is so funny reading about how people perceive Mr Kanda, especially his coworkers, and seeing how he, in turn, reacts to having Fukumaru in his life. There are so many things I can see happening for these two, and many more opportunities for laughs and maybe even a few tears from time to time.

One thing I will say is that the chapters in A Man and His Cat differ from those in Cat Gamer in their length and overarching storyline chronology. I like this difference as it shows the flexibility and creativity of the artists, but it does make A Man and His Cat a little less immersive, given the short chapters. Some of the scenes only cover one page, and while I love a lot of the ideas and interactions, I wish there were more spreads for each idea. With these short strips, the chronology feels a little disjointed. It is still an enjoyable manga, but a little less structured and more episodic in nature.

Nevertheless, A Man and His Cat has been a lovely addition to my summer reading and a manga I know I will be seeing more of in 2026. I have requested the next five volumes, and should be looking at a heavy haul come early January. Sorry that this post is quite short, but there isn’t a lot to say about things like narrative voice, setting, structure, and so on in a graphic novel series. It is all wonderful, and I can see the wider picture for later volumes. Other than that, there isn’t much to add except that this is a perfect light addition to everyone’s reading. I hope you give it a chance when you can!