2025/09 I Am a Cat (buddy read)

[Mathew]

I've been sitting on a copy of this for ages. I could start it any time. Msg is buddy read interested!

[Akylina]

I have an arc for the new translation that's coming out, so I'd be down for a buddy read :) I probably won't be able to start it until later this month, though.

[Mathew]

I am under no time constraint what-so-ever, I'm also curious about the new translation of which you speak. I'm an active and avid reader so let me know :)

[Jack]

I have a copy of I Am a Cat translated by Aiko Ito and illustrated, I think, by Graeme Wilson. I have read a manga version Soseki Natsume's I Am A Cat: The Manga Edition (fun) but the novel is from my tbrs from our annual Cat Reads week but still unread.

I would be happy to join in when you all start a buddy read.
-j

[Jack]

I think the new translation is by Nick Bradley. It gets released in September. Is that correct?

[Akylina]

Yes, the new translation is by Nick Bradley and it's coming out in early September. I'd love to see how it compares to older translations with everyone who joins (I'm also wondering, was there really a need for a new translation and if so, why now?)

[Mathew]

I'm kind of the opinion that the more the merrier. it's one of the best and most exciting aspects of reading in translation. many times, there might not be a best, but rather a best teanslation for you, which is such a cool option that the original, being definitive, just doesn't have. One of the ways I kept myself sane during covid was by reading and translating Haiku with my wife and then comparing that with translations of the same poem that had been done over the last 200 ish years. Some were reeeeallly different, but I took pleasure in disecting the logic that they must have used to come with their creative interpretation.
I need to check and see who did my CAT translation.

[Akylina]

That's true and a very interesting perspective. Especially from a language like Japanese, translation can be so different. I was thinking of it more like, there are still so many untranslated Japanese books out there, so I was wondering if there's a specific reason in the timing of this re-translation. In any case, it will be a very interesting read!

[Mathew]

Akylina wrote: "That's true and a very interesting perspective. Especially from a language like Japanese, translation can be so different. I was thinking of it more like, there are still so many untranslated Japan..."

A very good point. We tend to think of new as better, and I suspect that the fact that Soseki's fame and ability to still sell has something to do with it.
But personally I would hope that it comes from insight, inspiration, and the joy of working with the text.

[Akylina]

Hello! When would you like to start our read-along? :)

[Jack]

I could start at the end of this week for a group read

[Mathew]

I could also easily start at the end of the week. I'm usually reading a bunch of books at once so that I can match books to my energy and emotional commitment level, so adding one more is no trouble whatsoever.
To put a frame on things, shall we say start the week of the 7th?
Exciting!
I've put this off for years and now I feel a bit giddy to be honest. Any other first time readers?

[Akylina]

Excellent! The week of the 7th sounds great. I'm also reading it fully for the first time, I've only read excerpts before.

[Jack]

I am on for week of the seventh.
I have only read the Tuttle published manga Soseki Natsume's I Am A Cat: The Manga Edition which I enjoyed. I am looking forward the reading the novel with you all.

[Mathew]

Fantastic! Go us! See y'all on the other side of the weekend :)

[Kim]

I would like to join this buddy read. I have the Tuttle Three-Volumes-in-One translated by Aiko Ito and Graeme Wilson. I have not read this before.

[Jack]

Kim wrote: "I would like to join this buddy read. I have the Tuttle Three-Volumes-in-One translated by Aiko Ito and Graeme Wilson. I have not read this before."

You are most welcome to join.

[Mathew]

Welcome to the club Kim! We're happy to have you aboard!

I have the same translation :)

[Charlotte]

I would also like to join the readalong if there’s room :)

[Mathew]

You bet!

[Charlotte]

are we reading the whole book this week or a set amount?

[Jack]

Charlotte wrote: "are we reading the whole book this week or a set amount?"

You can read at your preferred pace. I will complete it within a two week period since I am always going off on tangents. Save writing about any spoilers for a maybe a week and then use spoiler tags like this:
(view spoiler)[ sample text (hide spoiler)]

[Charlotte]

kk :)

[Mathew]

Please go at your own pace! It's nice to know that there is lots of support to finish! I'm going to save some favorite bits with page numbers for later comparison with the newer translation, but I'll hold off on that too.
It's a stormy Monday morning, so good reading weather! I'm off!

[Mathew]

Chapter 1: Fun symbolism with Rickshaw Blackie

(view spoiler)[ I enjoyed the introduction of Rickshaw Blackie and loved that he was presented as sleeping on a pile of wilted chrysanthemums, which are the symbolic flower of the imperial family, so I was doubly pleased when our Cat refers to him as "Emperor", and an emperor he may indeed be, but maybe a wilted one. I suspect possible character insight or foreshadowing. (hide spoiler)]

Just thought I'd share.

[Akylina]

My version is only the first volume (out of three, reportedly), so I might have to seek out the older version to complete the story.

I'll come back later with more thoughts (I don't think I'm going to finish it this week for sure, I have a very packed schedule), but I found this review that talks a little about the two versions and I think it'll be interesting to look at it after we all finish :)

https://tonysreadinglist.wordpress.co...

[Mathew]

Akylina wrote: "My version is only the first volume (out of three, reportedly), so I might have to seek out the older version to complete the story.

I'll come back later with more thoughts (I don't think I'm goi..."

I'll look forward to the article. It looks like a good find!

[Mathew]

Part 1. Let us consider the Badger.
(view spoiler)[ At several instances there are references to either Mr. Sneeze looking like a "mountain badger" or a discussion of badgers on a post card and references to some old badger stories and terracotta statues

The animal in question is known as a Tanuki, more commonly translated now as a "racoon-dog" which holds a wonderful place in Japanese folklore as whimsical tricksters capable of shapeshifting magic and illusion, which usually employed to have a good time at the expense of another person's pocket book.

I've been told that the terracotta statues, which are still everywhere (I love these guys and have a few myself) and are found especially in front of bars and Izakaya, which means you can't drink on credit there, cash only, since tanuki are known to paint the town red, only for the patron's to find their cash boxes filled with crisp autumn leaves the next morning.
(hide spoiler)]

[Jack]

2 chapters into the reading.

[Alison]

I didn’t know a new translation was coming! I don’t think Nick Bradley has translated Japanese fiction before. He’s best known for the novel Four Seasons in Japan, right?

[Alison]

Errr… Or maybe better know, notably, for The Cat in the City?

[Mathew]

He's a new face to me as well. I'm finding the version we're all mostly doing to be every enjoyable, but a bit dated and culturally dumbed down, so I'm really interested to see what a new translation would yield.

[Akylina]

I'm 50% into the new translation (yes, Alison, that's the same Nick Bradley, I was also surprised to see his name as the translator!), and I have to say some translation choices are certainly... choices 😂 I haven't seen the original translation yet to compare, but for example, the cat Mr. Kuro, who appears early on in the book, speaks in a sort of idiomatic way that's hard for me to follow. I do understand why Bradley chose to translate it like this, but for an unfamiliar with this type of speaking person like me it is a bit of a struggle.

[Jack]

I wonder what Bradley is doing for localization of accents.
Are you reading an ARC for the new translation?

[Mathew]

Hmmm, just with that one name, I'm assuming that the translations have their own rather distinct flavor. I'm also assuming that Mr. Kuro is the same cat as Rickshaw Blackie. At the very least we might have two very distinct works to enjoy.

[Jack]

I switched from the ebook to a printed copy that has all three volumes. I am only half way through volume one. I am trying to read some each day after chores are done. I also have a volume of Soseki’s collected haiku that I am reading bits of.

[Mathew]

I'm just passing the half-way mark, I have a few notes, but overall I've been greatly enjoying myself. I think I will slow my pace a bit. I'm a book magpie and I've recently found a few shiny things. I hope everyone is enjoying!

[Akylina]

@Jack Yes, I have an ARC for the new translation, which only covers the first part of the novel.

I finished it a few minutes ago and I have a lot of thoughts, but I will come back later with more details. Overall, I did enjoy it, but not as much as I thought I would have. Apart from certain accents, Bradley also opted to leave certain Japanese words in, following them up with their English counterpart (e.g. tansu chest of drawers, fude writing brush) which became a little annoying after a while, and I actually didn't see the point in that. It didn't just happen once when the word was first introduced, but every time the word appeared.

And to give you a little taste of what Mr. Kuro the rickshaw man's cat sounds like: ‘Wassat yer say? A cat?! No blimmin’ way! Wheredjyer live, then?’

[Alison]

Oh geez!

I couldn’t tell if Bradley’s translation was the Penguin Vintage Classics or an indie pub called “Vintage”.

[Jack]

Akylina wrote: "@Jack Yes, I have an ARC for the new translation, which only covers the first part of the novel.

I finished it a few minutes ago and I have a lot of thoughts, but I will come back later with more ..."

Thanks Akylina, your description answered a lot of my questions about Bradley's translation. I appreciate your insights on this and other books you comment on. -J