Nekogahara: Stray Cat Samurai: Vol 01 (2016)

Nekogahara: Stray Cat Samurai: Vol 01 (2016)

Author + Illustrator: Hiroyuki Takei  |  Page Count: 180

"A cat carves his own path..."

Norachiyo, a one-eyed cat with a mean disposition, travels across Japan in search of something personal.

A bell fashioned around a cat's neck signifies that it has a master, that it's a "kept cat" and should be afforded all the privileges that such status brings. Norachiyo's bell is attached to his deadly katana, an indicator that he's a rōnin, a masterless samurai.

It's clearly influenced by Kazuo Koike, both in style and in how the societal aspect of the era plays a key role in the story's standing. If Ogami Ittō was to get his son a cat for company, it'd be Norachiyo.

The action is furious, bloody and violent, although it's sometimes difficult to make out what exactly is going on - but if you've ever witnessed an actual cat fight, then you'll see the parallels make a kind of sense.

It's structurally interesting, with each new chapter containing within it new information about Norachiyo's past, about what it is exactly that he seeks, etc. It's never enough to sate, just the right amount to tease. The reason for his being a stray with a bell is something I'd like to learn more about, and no doubt we will in time, but I don't think I'll be continuing with the series hereafter because at its current price it's just too much to ask of my already punished wallet.