From Hello Kitty to Maneki Neko--Japan is the epicentre of global cat culture! Whether lurking in corners or taking center stage, cats are a ubiquitous presence in Japanese art. Depending on the situation, they may invite good fortune, prompt the viewer to meditate on a tale or provide evidence of an unseen world of magic and supernatural happenings. In 200 charming woodblock prints, paintings, screens and figurines spanning three centuries, Japanese art expert Rhiannon Paget celebrates the rich symbolism and surprising stories surrounding the feline image in Japan. Her book contains essays on the following fascinating topics: Domestic Companion or Household God? Artists represent the great affection and sense of pride which bonds cat owners to their pets The Feline Muse: The feline figure as an ideal subject for artists to explore in fluid lines and organic forms, their glossy fur and markings lending themselves to the interplay of textures and materials Lucky Cats: Cats as auspicious creatures in Japanese culture, symbolizing health, longevity and prosperity Mischief and Mayhem: Japan's rich mythology and visual record of cats as witches and feline monsters Philosophers' Cats, Teachers' Pets and Moggies with Messages: The feline image deployed to illustrate historical, philosophical and religious ideas, and as conveyors of folk wisdom Plus much more! This delightful book will appeal to anyone interested in Japanese art and Japanese culture. Plus of course to every cat lover! List of institutions whose works appear in this book: Museums Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art Art Institute of Chicago Chazen Museum of Art Cleveland Museum of Art Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco Harvard Art Museums Honolulu Museum of Art Kumamoto Prefectural Art Museum Los Angeles County Museum of Art Mingei International Museum Minneapolis Institute of Art Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Museum Rietberg, Zurich National Diet Library, Tokyo Nature and Science Museum, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Nittaso History Museum Rhode Island School of Design Museum (RISD Museum) Rijksmuseum Saint Louis Art Museum Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago The Asakura Museum of Sculpture The British Museum The Israel Museum, Jerusalem The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art The Metropolitan Museum of Art The National Museum of Ethnology, Leiden The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo The Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum, Waseda University Tokyo National Museum Tokyo National Museum Yamatane Museum of Art Libraries Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University Library of Congress, Washington D.C. Smithsonian Libraries Tokyo Metropolitan Library Waseda University Library.