Slice-of-life manga focusing on human-animal companionship has found wide international popularity through heart-warming stories of second chances and quiet everyday moments. Japanese mangaka Umi Sakurai achieved widespread recognition through the series A Man and His Cat, which follows an older widower and an unwanted shelter cat who find comfort and healing in each other's presence.
Career & Background
Sakurai made her debut in 2014 with the manga series Kami to Yobareta Kyuuketsuki (The Vampire Called God). She later created A Man and His Cat (Ojisama to Neko), initially sharing the comic independently on social platforms Twitter and Pixiv starting in 2017. The webcomic gained rapid popularity among readers, leading publisher Square Enix to pick up the series for official serialization in Monthly Shōnen Gangan.
Following its commercial publication, the series earned critical recognition, including selection for the Next Break category at the 2020 Tsutaya Comic Awards. In 2021, the narrative was adapted into a 12-episode television drama series featuring puppet work to bring the protagonist cat to life, further expanding the readership across multiple media formats.
Writing Style & Themes
Sakurai's work relies on sensitive characterization and accessible slice-of-life storytelling, blending quiet humor with emotional depth. The central narrative of A Man and His Cat, Vol. 1 explores themes of grief, loneliness, and mutual redemption through the bond between an elderly gentleman and an unadopted cat named Fukumaru. This tender dynamic continues through subsequent installments, including A Man and His Cat, Vol. 2 and A Man & His Cat, Vol. 11, maintaining a focus on empathy and small daily joys.
In addition to the main manga volumes, Sakurai expanded the universe into illustrated picture books centered on Fukumaru, demonstrating a versatile visual style suited for diverse reader demographics while retaining core themes of care, trust, and gentle companionship.
Major Works
- A Man and His Cat — First released as a webcomic on Twitter and Pixiv in 2017 before serialization in Monthly Shōnen Gangan by Square Enix, this slice-of-life manga follows an elderly widower and a cat named Fukumaru. Catalog entries include A Man and His Cat, Vol. 1 and A Man and His Cat, Vol. 2.
- Kami to Yobareta Kyuuketsuki — Sakurai's debut manga series, also known as The Vampire Called God, published beginning in 2014.
