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A lyrical celebration of cats through the timeless beauty of Japanese haiku and brush art.
This beautifully illustrated volume presents 82 cat-themed haiku by Japan's most celebrated poets—including Basho, Issa, Shiki, Buson, Soseki and many others.
Beautifully compiled and illustrated by award-winning artst Manda, and translated by bestselling author William Scott Wilson, this collection pairs classic verse with evocative artwork.
Free audio recordings of each haiku in both English and Japanese are available online.
The passing year!
The cat hunches down
on my lap.
—NATSUME SOSEKI
A night of frost;
opening the window to the cries
of an abandoned cat.
—ISSA
This charming edition makes a perfect gift for poetry lovers, cat enthusiasts and anyone captivated by the austere beauty of haiku.
This beautifully illustrated volume presents 82 cat-themed haiku by Japan's most celebrated poets—including Basho, Issa, Shiki, Buson, Soseki and many others.
Beautifully compiled and illustrated by award-winning artst Manda, and translated by bestselling author William Scott Wilson, this collection pairs classic verse with evocative artwork.
Free audio recordings of each haiku in both English and Japanese are available online.
The passing year!
The cat hunches down
on my lap.
—NATSUME SOSEKI
A night of frost;
opening the window to the cries
of an abandoned cat.
—ISSA
This charming edition makes a perfect gift for poetry lovers, cat enthusiasts and anyone captivated by the austere beauty of haiku.
Price: $16.99
Pages: 96
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
Imprint: Tuttle Publishing
Publication Date:
07 April 2026
Trim Size: 8.50 X 6.00 in
ISBN: 9781462926145
Format: eBook
William Scott Wilson has published over twenty books including The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi and The Life and Zen Haiku Poetry of Santoka Taneda. His translation of the Hagakure, an 18th century treatise on samurai philosophy, was featured in the film Ghost Dog by the director Jim Jarmusch. Wilson was awarded a Commendation from the Foreign Ministry of Japan, and inducted into the Order of the Rising Sun by the Japanese emperor. He is also the author of A Beginner's Guide to Japanese Haiku and The Illustrated Book of Japanese Haiku (also in collaboration with Manda).
Thirty years ago, Manda felt the need to free herself from academic art and decided to travel to Japan. Frequent stays there gave her the opportunity to adopt new practices. She learned from Japanese masters the "art of the line" as well as the mysteries of haiga, compositions where painted elements and poetry emerge from the same brush, forming a single entity. She has published many books, notably the works of Basho and Santoka. Her art appears in The Illustrated Book of Japanese Haiku, a collaboration with William Scott Wilson.
Thirty years ago, Manda felt the need to free herself from academic art and decided to travel to Japan. Frequent stays there gave her the opportunity to adopt new practices. She learned from Japanese masters the "art of the line" as well as the mysteries of haiga, compositions where painted elements and poetry emerge from the same brush, forming a single entity. She has published many books, notably the works of Basho and Santoka. Her art appears in The Illustrated Book of Japanese Haiku, a collaboration with William Scott Wilson.