A Man & His Cat Volume 10 Review
When Teruaki Kuju was a little boy, he showed great musical promise and started to learn the piano. Sadly, his parents couldn’t afford to pay for his lessons – but he became friends with Hoshinari, Mr. Kanda’s son, in the hope that the concert pianist would take him on as a pupil. Mr. Kanda, kindly man that he is, coached him – but Teruaki grew up feeling that he was always at a disadvantage, not to mention harbouring crippling feelings of guilt because of the way he used Hoshinari to get close to his father.
So how is it that Teruaki and Kanda are now speeding (with the manager of the cat rescue centre) to investigate rumours that a cat has been spotted in an empty house? A distressing sight meets their eyes when they gain access: the place is choked with bags of mouldering refuse and the smell is enough to put anyone off venturing any further. But, determined not to give up, Kanda and Teruaki slowly make their way through the heaps of detritus and put out food to lure the cat. And then they hear a little voice, “Meow”… as a thin and bedraggled little Siamese cat appears and approaches the dish of cat food…
Later, Mr. Kanda drops Teruaki (with the rescued cat in the cat carrier) off at his house, leaving the young man to introduce himself to the others, who just happen to be professional pianists Geoffroy Lambert and Kanade Hibino. Warmly welcomed by Soraka as ‘Dad’s student’, the other two insist that Teruaki play for them – which makes him as nervous as the rescued Siamese cat. Memories of past failures, as well as his troubled relationship with Hoshinari, return to torment him; will he be able to perform with so much emotional baggage hindering him from expressing himself through his music?
But how does Fukumaru react when yet another new cat is introduced into his home? He’s already had to get used to Geoffroy’s kittens and his sister Marin – and now there’s a fierce, hissy little stranger as well! Fukumaru reacts as most cats would; he eats the newcomer’s food to show who’s boss. This rash act leads to a spectacular display of throwing up and poor Mr. Kanda rushes Fukumaru off to the vet’s. How can the pianist keep his own cat content and unstressed with so much feline drama taking place?
Retired concert pianist Fuyuki Kanda has a kindly heart and finds it difficult to say ‘no’ – and now his house has become a haven for pianists and their cats! Add in his bug-collecting scientist daughter and rebellious son and life has never been so lively. Possibly too lively for exotic short hair Fukumaru, who begins to show signs of stress.
Umi Sakurai’s deservedly popular story of cats and their musicians (or should that be vice versa?) reaches double figures with this tenth welcome addition to the English edition from Square Enix Manga. The story is taking us to some emotional places again, especially with the rescue of poor abandoned Siam and Teruaki’s struggles with himself counterpointed one against the other. And whenever things seem to be getting too stressful in the story, Umi Sakurai lightens the tone with some 4-koma strips (usually featuring Fukumaru and Mr. Kanda, although my favourite features Geoffroy’s kittens climbing the curtains). We also get a colour page at the end featuring her signature chibi versions of the main characters; there’s also a sneak preview of Volume 11. The author’s illustrated one-page afterword is mostly about the hardcover picture book Fukumaru & the Spaceship of Happiness (coming from Square Enix Manga in July 2024) and as it’s aimed at younger readers, it uses the chibi versions of the characters too.
Square Enix Manga treat us, as usual, to a very handsome volume (with attractive colour pages at front and rear) and a fluent translation from Taylor Engel, well lettered by Lys Blakeslee (inner cat voices as well as humans and much meowing!). Volume 11 is due out in early June, so not too long to wait to find out what becomes of Siam and whether Teruaki and embittered Hoshinari will ever be able to bury the hatchet.
Our review copy from Square Enix Manga was supplied by Turnaround Comics (Turnaround Publisher Services).
