A Cat's-Eye View of Japan (2022)

Temporada 1

Episode 1 - Autumn Colors in Kyoto

February 11, 2022

Kyoto Prefecture offers amazing seasonal views. Visit different temples to enjoy autumn colors on a morning walk with a black cat and his beloved priest, see a rare calico cat, and watch an avid tree climber!


Episode 2 - Tsugaru, Where Life Begins

February 23, 2022 • 5 minutes

Mt. Iwaki in Aomori Prefecture overlooks an apple orchard where 5 kitties are born in spring. By summer, they've grown big and strong! Pay them a visit and attend the area's special summer festival!


Episode 3 - Tokyo: Lucky Cats

April 10, 2022 • 5 minutes

Tokyo is home to many lucky cats called Maneki-neko! Get your kitty fix at a public bath, a lantern shop and a classical theater. Then, meet them after hours in Shinjuku's Golden Gai bar district!


Episode 4 - Mt. Fuji: Countryside Cats

April 17, 2022 • 5 minutes

At the foot of the sacred Mt. Fuji, have breakfast with dairy farm kitties, fish with hungry kitties at a port, and dance at a unique summer festival held by a temple dedicated to cats.


Episode 5 - Okinawa/Kudaka: A Spiritual Paradise

April 24, 2022 • 5 minutes

A sacred island with an emerald sea and tropical trees is pure kitty heaven. Scale a wall with rare white kitties, and relax to the sounds of traditional Okinawan music with a black kitty.


Episode 6 - Noto: A Winter Wonderland

May 1, 2022 • 5 minutes

Snow piles up in winter along the Sea of Japan. Visit a morning seafood market, play in the snow, admire traditional lacquerware, and enjoy warm mochi rice cake with cute kitties.


Episode 7 - Sanuki: A Kitty's Favorite Udon

May 8, 2022 • 5 minutes

Visit the Sanuki region to try a local delicacy loved by cats. Watch a kitty's owner make traditional roof tiles, and stroll around a famous shrine with another kitty.


Episode 8 - Kamakura: An Ancient Seaside City

May 15, 2022 • 5 minutes

Visit the city known for its giant Buddha statue to watch a kitty play in the Meigetsu-in Temple garden, then have a nap with kittens on a priest's cushion at another temple along a train line.


Episode 9 - Shimanto River: A Clear Stream

May 22, 2022 • 5 minutes

Along Japan's famous, clear river, cute kitties are living their best lives. Join 1 kitty on a unique bridge leading to his canoe shop, and take in a lovely sunset with the other cuties.


Episode 10 - Karuizawa: A Cool Breeze on a Plateau

May 29, 2022 • 5 minutes

Visit Japan's popular summer getaway to join a church kitty on his morning stroll through the woods, watch a kitty help make souvenir candles, and play with another in a guest house garden.


Episode 11 - Kumano Kodo: Pilgrimage Trails

June 5, 2022 • 5 minutes

On a pilgrimage down sacred trails, follow a kitty through a majestic forest. Meet a hunting master at a 1,300-year-old temple, and wait patiently for homemade bread at a seaside café.


Episode 12 - Aizu: A Quaint Castle Town

June 12, 2022 • 5 minutes

Near Aizu's symbolic Tsuruga Castle, visit a kitty at an old post station, and feast with another at a quaint Aizu lacquerware shop. One more kitty awaits your offering at a 1,400-year-old temple.


Episode 13 - Kagoshima: Volcano Blessings

June 19, 2022 • 5 minutes

Active volcanos bless Kagoshima Prefecture with natural hot springs. Visit a boss cat near an "ashiyu" foot bath, help kitties guard a brewery, and relax with a bath house kitty.


Episode 14 - Chiba: Refreshing Sea Breeze and Sunlight

June 26, 2022 • 5 minutes

A black kitty sits at a picturesque spot near the beach. Two other kitties are busy greeting people at an old train station, but they always find time to play with the station staff.


Episode 15 - Nara: An Ancient Capital Awaits Spring

July 3, 2022 • 5 minutes

Head to the famous Todai-ji Temple before visiting a nun's kitty at the 1,300-year-old Chugu-ji Temple. Visit a Japanese washi paper factory and a plum tree grove for more kitty fun.


Episode 16 - Hakodate: A Hilly Port Town

July 10, 2022 • 5 minutes

Kitties enjoy a Western atmosphere in a port town that's prospered for centuries. Meanwhile, mommies are busy raising rambunctious kittens while another kitty gets spoiled by sea urchin fishers.


Episode 17 - Aichi: Lead by Beckoning Cats

July 24, 2022 • 5 minutes

A famous pottery town makes cat figurines, but there are real kitties too! Head to Nagoya to visit a coffee shop kitty, then to a mountain town to check out traditional dolls with another cat.


Episode 18 - Iwate: Traditional Country Living

July 31, 2022 • 5 minutes

Take in a view of "the Mt. Fuji of Iwate" with a farmer and her kitty, and visit an egg-loving mamma cat that's busy raising kittens in a repurposed traditional home.


Episode 19 - Nagasaki: Kitties in a City of Peace

August 7, 2022 • 5 minutes

Meet kitties in an alleyway in hilly Nagasaki, see a white kitty relax and hunt around Peace Park, and enjoy kitty heaven at Unzen Jigoku hot springs before noisy humans arrive.


Episode 20 - Nikko: Sleeping Kitty, Door Kitty

August 14, 2022 • 5 minutes

See the famous Sleeping Cat carving at Tosho-gu Shrine. A painter's kitty has a special talent! Watch a scaredy cat creep around at another lovely shrine.


Episode 21 - Yamagata: A Caring Producer

August 21, 2022 • 5 minutes

A unique trip around the country of Japan with photographer and filmmaker Iwago Mitsuaki, discovering the uncharted charms and customs of regions, all seen through the eyes of cats.


Episode 22 - Fukuoka: Small Remote Islands

August 28, 2022 • 5 minutes

On this unique trip around Japan, discover the lesser-known charms and customs of regions through the eyes of cats! Filmed by wildlife photographe,Iwago Mitsuaki.


Episode 23 - Tochigi: Kitty Guides

October 9, 2022 • 5 minutes

Visit kitties and their favorite spots. Relax in an old hot spring tied to a folk character, hide in a limestone cave formed by volcanic activity, and take in the natural surroundings on a plateau.


Episode 24 - Ibaraki: Sporty Kitties

October 16, 2022 • 5 minutes

Kitties in Ibaraki Prefecture know how to have fun. Admire incoming paragliders with one, meet another that's unfazed by swinging golf clubs, and play ball with a territorial kitty.


Temporada 2

Episode 1 - Shimane: Myths and Crafts of Izumo

February 5, 2023 • 5 minutes

Visit Izumo, Shimane, the setting of several Japanese myths, to meet a mischievous kitty living on a farm near Hii River. Then head to a pottery factory to see a blue-eyed cat hard at work.


Episode 2 - Shimane: Pure Water and Tradition

February 12, 2023 • 5 minutes

Follow a kitty around a World Heritage Site! At a 125-year-old sake brewery, a patrol kitty makes his rounds before relaxing in the adjacent garden next to a lovely fresh water pond.


Episode 3 - Seto Inland Sea: Two Cat Islands

February 19, 2023 • 5 minutes

Visit two cat islands in Japan's Seto Inland Sea. The kitties on Ao Island outnumber humans. Watch them catch fish on the rocks! Join more kitties on Ogi Island for some sun time on a roof.


Episode 4 - Niigata: Rice Town

April 30, 2023 • 5 minutes

What's it like living with cats in rice-producing Niigata? See kitty beds made of straw from beautiful green rice paddies, and enjoy snacks with another kitty at a candy shop.


Episode 5 - Hokkaido: Spring in Furano

May 7, 2023 • 5 minutes

Enjoy the coming of spring in northern Hokkaido Prefecture with happy kitties. Visit an art gallery occupied by 11 cats, and do some evening yoga with a kitty at a lodge.


Episode 6 - Hiroshima: A Scoop of Happiness

May 14, 2023 • 5 minutes

Stroll around a World Heritage Site with an island kitty. Then, get your favorite saying written on a lucky rice scoop before playing with kitties in the historical town of Takehara.


Episode 7 - Osaka: Fighting Kitties

May 21, 2023 • 5 minutes

Kitties are always fighting in an otherwise quiet ally in downtown Osaka. You can even spar a brave kitty at a local boxing gym!


Episode 8 - Yamaguchi: Mother & Child

May 28, 2023 • 5 minutes

Kitties work year-round to keep tiger pufferfish from being snatched up by hungry herons! Myojin Pond is a famous place to see kitties—we dare you not to laugh at the kitty napping inside the shrine!


Episode 9 - Kanagawa: Hospitality in Hakone

June 4, 2023 • 5 minutes

Enjoy a warm kitty-welcome at the famous hot spring area! After visiting a popular cat duo at a ropeway station, stop by at a restaurant run by a kitty and its owner where you can also bathe.


Episode 10 - Ehime: Nature's Blessings

June 11, 2023 • 5 minutes

Kitties love hanging out by the seaside in Ehime Prefecture's pleasant, warm climate. See a kitty making rounds at an orange farm before finding some beautiful autumn foliage with the help of a kitty-guide.


Episode 11 - Miyagi: Guardian Kitties

June 18, 2023 • 5 minutes

Kitty finds an intruder at a contemporary art museum—will we have a winner? Join another kitty at a traditional crafts workshop lovingly watching its owner's craftsmanship.


Episode 12 - Toyama: Thriving Kitties

June 25, 2023 • 5 minutes

Kitties thrive at this town! Enjoy cruising on a boat with a vice-captain kitty, and join a sake shop kitty who loves to go on walks. Wooden cat sculptures are spread across town—can you spot them?


Episode 13 - Tokyo: Tama for Healing

July 2, 2023 • 5 minutes

Discover the nature-rich side of Tokyo. Kitties' favorite spots include: a small shrine in a forest, a box bed at a horseback riding club, and the top of their owners' beloved cars!


Episode 14 - Okinawa: Taketomi Island Adventures

July 9, 2023 • 5 minutes

Visit the southern island paradise, Taketomi Island, where kitties enjoy climbing great heights! How will they get home once the tide comes in?!


Episode 15 - Kanagawa: Miura Sea Breeze

July 16, 2023 • 5 minutes

One kitty waits near a fisherman for a treat while another helps radish farmers keep pests out of their fields. Get top-notch kitty customer service at a pet fish shop!


Episode 16 - Ise-Shima: Cats and Pearls

July 23, 2023 • 5 minutes

Patrol a pearl farm with a kitty named Pisuke, then meet a pearl shop cat that's got a special talent! Seeing happy kitties enjoy fresh seafood will warm your heart!


Episode 17 - Kobe: To Love and Be Loved

July 30, 2023 • 5 minutes

In the Western-influenced port town of Kobe, a kitty seeks attention while its owner makes shoes at a custom shop. You'll meet a popular shopping district kitty that has its own designer T-shirt!


Episode 18 - Tokyo: Kagurazaka - A Traditional Performing Arts Town

August 6, 2023 • 5 minutes

In Tokyo's romantic Kagurazaka district, watch Noh rehearsals with a kitty named Torakichi. Then, follow an alley cat to a popular coffee shop before enjoying geisha shamisen performances after dark.


Episode 19 - Kyoto: Enjoying a Hot Summer

August 13, 2023 • 5 minutes

On a hot summer's day, a kitty leads us to traditional food near a local shrine. Get cool in a maiko's home with another kitty before enjoying sparklers at night.


Episode 20 - Kumamoto: Happy Living in Amakusa

August 20, 2023 • 5 minutes

Amakusa is home to many islands of all sizes. See a kitty get fed fish on an island of 230 cats. Then, visit Sakitsu Church—a UNESCO and kitty site—before heading to a local sushi shop.


Episode 21 - Saitama: Kitty Hospitality in Kawagoe

August 27, 2023 • 5 minutes

On a historical street in Kawagoe, join a kitty for breakfast in front of a ramen restaurant. Also see hospitable kitties hard at work greeting tourists at local shops!


Episode 22 - Kochi: Kitties & Dried Bonito in Tosashimizu

September 3, 2023 • 5 minutes

See a kitty hard at work guarding a local specialty, dried bonito! Visit a restaurant that uses the ingredient in its curries, then head to the coast with kitty BFFs.


Episode 23 - Hokkaido: Kushiro Kitty Guides

September 10, 2023 • 5 minutes

Our first kitty-guided tour is of the scenic Lake Kussharo. Another kitty guides us around sacred spots within a village of the indigenous Ainu people.


Temporada 3

Episode 1 - Shiga: Lake Biwa and Tanuki Raccoon Dogs

May 12, 2024 • 5 minutes

We visit Japan's largest and oldest lake, Lake Biwa. A cat leads us to an overlook with a great view of the lake. We meet another cat hiding among the multitude of wares at a Shigaraki ceramics shop.


Episode 2 - Yamanashi: Aiming for the Peak

May 19, 2024 • 5 minutes

We take in Japan's tallest mountain, Mt. Fuji, and meet some cats on the way. A cat named Bond carries out top-secret missions at a peach orchard. Another cat patrols its home—a 100-year-old winery.


Episode 3 - Tokushima: A Breath of Ocean Air

May 26, 2024 • 5 minutes

Tokushima has long been famed for its indigo. We visit an indigo-dyeing workshop and meet their mascot, Natsu. Next, we make a wish at a shrine that's popular with cats and cat lovers alike.


Episode 4 - Beppu: A Steam-Filled Onsen Resort

June 2, 2024 • 5 minutes

We meet a cat who fearlessly patrols crocodile enclosures heated by onsen steam. At a shopping arcade, we encounter early rising cats and a tengu statue. We even meet cats who enjoy billiards!


Episode 5 - Nara's Todaiji Temple: Deer and Cats

June 9, 2024 • 5 minutes

Todaiji Temple is a World Heritage Site. We encounter cats—and also deer—who live at the temple. One cat keeps an eye on his owner's pickle shop. Another cat enjoys listening to flute music.


Episode 6 - Okayama: A View of the Seto Inland Sea

July 7, 2024 • 5 minutes

Cats show off their climbing skills at a spot overlooking the sea. On the island of Mushima, we meet a cat who takes us to a field of daffodils. The cats tease Iwago by hiding among the flowers.


Episode 7 - Toyama: The Fruits of a Fall Harvest

July 14, 2024 • 5 minutes

A cat patrols the rice fields, but there's always time for a midday nap. At a vineyard, we get a tour from a cat named Pinot Noir! He's popular with visitors but always plays it cool.


Episode 8 - Chichibu: The Great Outdoors with Cats

July 21, 2024 • 5 minutes

Chichibu is a mountainous region with lots of natural beauty. Cats keep watch over a field of red spider lilies and even guide visitors through the mountains! We also meet a cat who lives at a shrine.


Episode 9 - Kagoshima: A Turtle, Tea Fields, and Cats

July 28, 2024 • 5 minutes

A local cat guides us to a fairy tale palace—or rather, a shrine that looks like the palace! Together with Iwago, we visit scenic spots, including a tea farm that's patrolled by an early-rising cat.


Episode 10 - Miyazaki: Flowers, Archery, and a Festival

August 4, 2024 • 5 minutes

A cat takes a nap among the fragrant flowers at a farm that grows sweet pea flowers. Another cat takes a nap at an archery range! We meet more local cats as residents celebrate a unique tradition.


Episode 11 - Mie: Comfy Cats Sitting in Laps

September 15, 2024 • 5 minutes

Mama cat Koyuki lives at a pottery workshop and is raising two playful kittens. Taisho, who lives at a fruit shop, keeps an eye on the shopping arcade. Both cats love resting on their owner's laps!


Episode 12 - Iwate: Land of History and Horses

September 21, 2024 • 5 minutes

Chibita is a friendly cat who lives at a souvenir shop near Chusonji Temple, a World Heritage Site. Popo lives at a horseback riding club with 20 horses! At a rose garden, we meet handsome Kikujiro.


Episode 13 - Kagawa: A Cat Island Paradise

September 28, 2024 • 5 minutes

Sanagijima Island is home to lots of free-roaming cats. Kuji rests on some cool shrine steps. Other cats hang out close to the sea, carefully making their way along a seawall. What are they doing?


Episode 14 - Tsugaru: A Playful Autumn

October 5, 2024 • 5 minutes

Ricky was born in an apple orchard. It's a perfect playground for mischievous kittens! Peh spends the autumn in golden rice fields, hiding and hunting grasshoppers. Watch out for his pounce!


Episode 15 - Fukui: Tojinbo Cliffs and Lacquerware

October 12, 2024 • 5 minutes

Kuro fearlessly patrols the rugged and rocky Tojinbo Cliffs and the nearby shopping street. Quu lives at a lacquerware workshop. She makes her owner's legs fall asleep when she sits on his lap!


Episode 16 - Hakodate: The Bounties of a Seaside City

November 3, 2024 • 5 minutes

The seaside town of Hakodate has long flourished as a port. One savvy cat waits by a fisherman, hoping he'll share his catch! We meet more local cats at a fish market and a historic graveyard.


Episode 17 - Karuizawa: A Relaxing Summer Retreat

November 10, 2024 • 5 minutes

Karuizawa is cool even in summer, making it a popular resort town. We meet local cats at a fashionable home goods shop and a restaurant in a remodeled folk home. They're sure to bring in customers!


Episode 18 - Yamagata: A Glimpse of Japanese Beauty

November 17, 2024 • 5 minutes

We visit a cat at a serene temple garden with a 500-year history. Then, we encounter cats with artisan owners, including a knitting expert and a man who hand carves shogi (Japanese chess) pieces.


Episode 19 - Aichi: A Cat Temple and Ceramics

November 24, 2024 • 5 minutes

At a temple once believed to have been home to a dragon, we meet 20 playful cats. They show off their favorite spots and play together. Next, we visit Tokoname and meet a real-life beckoning cat!


Episode 20 - Ibaraki: Cats in a Surfer's Paradise

December 1, 2024 • 5 minutes

A cat hangs out with her owners, a family of surfers who run a beach café. This cool cat gets along with her family's dog, too! Next, we meet a shy cat at a surfboard and skateboard shop.


Temporada 4

Episode 1 - Tottori: Quiet Mountain Villages

June 22, 2025 • 5 minutes

We meet cats whose owner grows plants used to make cloth in a traditional way. Another cat, Lock, lives at a temple. He takes part in sutra reading and is practically the chief priest's assistant!


Episode 2 - Saga: Floating Torii Gates and Imari Ware

June 29, 2025 • 5 minutes

Cats live near three torii gates in the sea. The beach changes at low tide. We also meet a cat who lives in a pottery production area. She's allowed in all the shops and even inspects the merchandise.


Episode 3 - Hokkaido: Furano's Play Areas

July 6, 2025 • 5 minutes

Furano is full of vast wheat fields. For a local farmer's cat, it's the perfect place to hunt or go for a run. We meet two cats who live at an inn and love to play on the exposed hot water pipes.


Episode 4 - Gifu: A Castle and a Post Town

July 13, 2025 • 5 minutes

A cat patrols Ogaki Castle and has a special place where he cools off on hot days. In Magome-juku, a 400-year-old post town, two cats live at a souvenir store. We capture an unexpected interaction!


Episode 5 - Kumamoto: Food and Exercise on Yushima

July 20, 2025 • 5 minutes

Yushima is a cat island only four kilometers around. Hungry cats gather at the port for fresh fish, including a talkative kitten. A cat lives at the local school and watches over the eight students.