There Is Also a Cat Day Nyang... Various Cat Services in Japan [Nichiyoubi Culture]

From Cat-Friendly Homes to Marriage Agencies
Convenience Stores Also Showcase Various Cat Desserts

Editor's NoteOn a lazy Sunday for both body and mind, a reporter from the International Department brings you an interesting read related to Japanese culture.

In cat paradise Japan, they recently celebrated "Cat Day." The date was recommended by cat lovers because the number 2, read as "ni," appears three times, which sounds like the cat's meow "nyan nyan nyan." Japanese media also simultaneously reported related articles to mark Cat Day. They introduced various stories related to cats, and upon reading them, there were many fascinating things. This week, we introduce unique cat services born from Japan's extraordinary love for cats.

Cats are really cute.

From Cat Lover Matchmakers to Homes for Cat Owners

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) introduced homes designed for cat owners. Only people who keep cats can move in, and all the interiors are tailored for cats in Tokyo’s cat-exclusive apartment called "Nekora." It’s not just about installing cat towers and letting cats roam around; the design itself is different from the start. The most carefully considered part is the bathroom. Usually, it’s said that you should have one more litter box than the number of cats you keep, but securing space for that is not easy. Therefore, they secured space to accommodate up to five cat litter boxes, installed cat-only doors and ventilation fans to prevent odors from flowing into the living room. It’s a structure that satisfies both the owner and the cats.

Nekora, a cat house with doors installed in each room for cats to move around. (Photo by Nekora)

Additionally, they installed safe windows where cats can stare outside and zone out. However, residents have to prepare their own cat towers, with the explanation that "older cats cannot jump like younger cats." Currently, it is very popular, with over 700 people on the waiting list for vacancies.

Osaka’s "Palace Kitahorie" is also a cat-exclusive residence. Here, even if the owner is away, they can watch their cats in real-time via cameras, and with IoT devices installed throughout, they can remotely turn on air conditioners or heaters to create a comfortable environment for the cats. Above all, in this residence, even if cats cry or run around chasing toys, neighbors understand and do not consider it noise, making it very popular.

A cat of Nekora licking its paw. (Photo by Nekora Instagram)

Nikkei also introduced a matchmaking service exclusively for cat lovers. In fact, many people living with pets face unexpected challenges when it comes to marriage. If a spouse has allergies, dislikes cats, or has trauma from being scratched, it can be difficult to coordinate. To prevent such issues, a matchmaking service has started that only accepts members who currently keep cats or plan to keep cats after marriage. Offline matchmaking meetings are held at cat cafes.

Marketing Floods in Celebration of Cat Day

Japan has many idioms involving cats. When someone is so busy that they wish for help, they say, "I want to borrow even a cat’s paw." To celebrate Cat Day, convenience stores lent a "cat’s paw" and offered various cat-themed items for a limited time. Nikkei ran a headline saying, "Convenience Stores Borrow Cat’s Paw for Cat Day," which caught attention.

Seven-Eleven Japan introduced two desserts, including a strawberry cat parfait. One dessert resembles a brown cat, made by sprinkling soybean flour on rice cake with a sweet red bean paste flavor, and the other is a cat-shaped strawberry cream rice cake dessert. FamilyMart also ran a large-scale campaign, airing commercials with the phrase "Cats everywhere here and there" on in-store broadcasts and outdoor LED ads. Coffee cups and other items were also redesigned with cat motifs to create the right atmosphere.

Limited edition desserts released by FamilyMart to celebrate Cat Day. (Photo by FamilyMart website)

There was also an interesting collaboration. Have you ever seen a truck with a black cat character painted on it in Japan? That’s the delivery company Yamato Transport. They partnered with Yamato Transport and released a "Black Cat Choco Cake" featuring the cat mascot. Additionally, Lawson released cat-shaped jelly candies that captivated consumers.

Japan has been keeping domestic cats since the Yayoi period, from 300 BCE to 250 CE. Cats were especially popular among aristocrats. Now, in Japan’s super-aged society, elderly people who have difficulty moving prefer cats as pets because cats do not require walks.

Today, we explored Japan’s Cat Day. Anyway, cats are truly adorable. Have a pleasant weekend, meow!

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.