Chacha, the resident cat of Tsurugi Shrine, which has historical ties to Oda Nobunaga, poses in front of the sacred horse statue bearing the Oda family crest. Echizen Town, Fukui Prefecture. (©Sankei by Shuji Ozaki)
Every year, February 22 is Cat Day in Japan, because "2-2-2" (ni-ni-ni) sounds like "nyan-nyan-nyan" — the Japanese onomatopoeia for a cat's meow. This year, it coincided with the closing ceremony of the 2026 Milan–Cortina Olympics, where Japan enjoyed an exciting medal run.
During the Games, I felt an unusual restlessness back in Tokyo. Although I am known as a cat-loving photographer, I had spent years covering the world's biggest sporting events — four Olympics in all: Sydney, Athens, Turin, and Beijing, spanning both Summer and Winter Games. Since retiring in 2025 and stepping away from the front lines, I've been settling into days that feel almost too peaceful.
For 37 years of my life, February meant racing from place to place, covering events like professional baseball spring training. Spending the season quietly in Tokyo has left me a bit restless. So instead of chasing athletes, I'm sharing some of my favorite photos of Japan's feline friends.
Horses and Cats
Ahead of the Year of the Horse, I planned a feature called "Horses and Cats" and visited the Breeders' Stallion Station in Hidaka, Hokkaido. There, the resident cats kindly indulged me with some playful poses.
The trio — Sara the calico, Sol the black-and-white, and Pucchi the brown tabby — are unofficial staff members, tasked with keeping rodents in check around the stables. Ryuhei Murao, the farm's chief, encouraged me: "Go ahead, get some good shots."
When Sol suddenly sprinted off at a distant call, Pucchi gave chase while Sara watched on with cool detachment. Their dash, like a stretch-run duel at a racetrack, was a thrill to observe.
Chacha the Shrine Cat
Another set of photos comes from Tsurugi Shrine in Fukui Prefecture. Here is Chacha, the shrine's resident ginger tabby, striking a pose beside a statue of a sacred horse. When I called from the shrine office, he responded loudly and played along with the shoot.
The shrine is famous for its ties to the Oda clan of Oda Nobunaga, and the horse statue bears his family crest. But Chacha seemed to say, "Who cares about that? Why are you taking this so seriously?" as I tried to capture him on camera.
"I want a shot of you with the sacred horse!" I coaxed, clicking away.
Year of the Cat
While photographing zodiac animals alongside cats, an old tale came to mind: cats were originally meant to be part of the Chinese zodiac, but the rat tricked them, causing them to miss their chance. Ever since, cats have been chasing rats.
But to me, that's exactly why cat lovers get to enjoy each year as a "Year of the Cat," instead of just once every 12 years.
Next year is the Year of the Sheep. It might make the demons laugh, but I'm planning a collaboration shoot between cats and a 100-percent-wool brigade. Yes — no matter what anyone says, 2027 will be a "Year of the Cat," too.
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: Shuji Ozaki, The Sankei Shimbun
