Each year, Japan celebrates National Cat Day on February 22. This date in Japanese is “Ni Ni Ni”, which resembles the words “Nyan Nyan Nyan”, the Japanese words for “Meow Meow Meow”. Japan Society is excited to bring this celebration to New York for a purr-fectly delightful afternoon filled with paw-some events.
The afternoon kicks off at 2 PM with noted lecturer, author and translator Zack Davisson for a talk on cats in Japanese myth and folklore. Davisson literally wrote the book on the subject, Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan, and Japan Society will bring him to New York City to speak about purr-anormal felines.
Following this talk, all attendees are invited to join us for an extended reception and marketplace from 3 to 6 PM featuring…
- A Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan book signing
- Presales of upcoming Japanese cat books
- Cat-themed beer, wine, and snacks for purchase
- A market featuring local NYC artists and organizations with cat-focused creations
- A cat ear headband for all attendees
Please note, this event is for cat-loving humans, and while cat apparel and cosplay is encouraged, please leave your actual felines at home.
About Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan
All cats are magical, but the cats of Japan have their own secrets. If they live long enough, their tails split, they stand on their hind legs and they can start to dance. Bakeneko, nekomata, kasha and even the ubiquitous “lucky cat” called the maneki neko are all kaibyo, or supernatural cats. Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan is an in-depth exploration of Japan’s sometimes charming, sometimes scary feline monsters and ghosts. Zack Davisson illuminates this vast realm of supernatural cats with historical and modern cultural context and lush illustrations including dozens of ukiyo-e prints and drawings.
About Zack Davisson
Zack Davisson is an award-winning translator, writer and folklorist. He is the author of Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan, The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Yokai, Yurei: The Japanese Ghost, The Art of Star Wars Visions and Manga: A Visual Guide. He has translated globally-renowned manga such as Go Nagai’s Devilman and Cutie Honey, Leiji Matsumoto’s Captain Harlock and Space Battleship Yamato and Satoshi Kon’s Opus. He has translated Shigeru Mizuki’s work such as Kitaro and Showa: A History of Japan, and he’s currently translating Gou Tanabe’s Call of Cthulhu and Cat + Gamer. Davisson has lectured at schools such as Duke University, UCLA, Hunter College, Annapolis Naval Academy, and Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia. He has contributed to exhibitions at the Museum of International Folkart, Wereldmuseum Rotterdam, Världskulturmuseerna Stockholm and the Art Gallery of New South Wales. He lives in Seattle, WA with his wife Miyuki, dog Mochi and cat Shere Khan.
About Japanese Cat Book Presales
Feline excited? Information is coming soon!
Marketplace Participants
Meow-velous marketplace vendors are coming soon!
Japan Society programs are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional support for cultural programs is provided by an anonymous donor and the Sandy Heck Lecture Fund.
- Saturday, February 22, 2025
- 2:00 pm
- In-Person Event
- Reserved Tickets
- $25 Nonmembers
- $20 Members
- $23 Seniors/Students
- $23 Person with Disability