The Zen of Cat: An A-Z of Japanese feline philosophy

An A-Z of Japanese concepts as reflected in cats, such as annei (peace and tranquillity), mottainai (regret over waste), and oubaitōri (never comparing oneself to others)

There's no doubt cats are a meaningful feature of Japanese life: from folklore to fashion, they've left a giant paw print on the culture. It's believed that felines first appeared in Japan with the arrival of Buddhism via China in around 552, when their main role was to stop vermin from damaging scriptures.

But what can we...