Pathway to Japanese Literature

As New Year’s approached, White Cat’s father and mother thought they had to bathe White Cat and groom her fur coat. The reason was that White Cat was a white cat. “Father, there’s a soap advertisement here.” “How about using this?” “After all, White Cat is such a troublemaker—since she normally hates baths, she’s filthy as a sewer rat.”

“Let me see, let me see.” “I see. This one should be fine.” “Let’s go with this one,” Father agreed and gave the money.

This soap was called Lucks—a high-quality product even humans rarely used—so using it in a household like White Cat’s seemed almost wasteful. However, for White Cat’s sake, her father and mother endured the high cost. The mother who had bought the soap gave White Cat a bath. Since it didn’t take long for it to soak into every part of her body, White Cat couldn’t bear it and cried. However, after getting out of the bath and drying off, her fur became a pure white so dazzlingly beautiful it was nearly blinding.

Even though she was their own child, Father and Mother were so overwhelmed by her beauty that they nearly shed tears of joy.

However, next to White Cat lived a jet-black cat named Black Cat. She was White Cat's friend. Black Cat came to play at White Cat's place right after she had gotten out of the bath. Black Cat had also just gotten out of the bath and was making her fur gleam beautifully and radiantly.

The two of them—no, the two cats—dashed out of the house and went off to play in town. “You’re pure white and look so lovely, don’t you?” “That’s fabulous!” said Black Cat. “You’re jet-black and so chic,” said White Cat. The two cats disliked their natural fur colors and couldn’t help but covet others’. They were just like human children. However, the cosmetics shop in town was holding a big sale. The band was playing toot-toot boom-boom, and it looked quite entertaining. The two cats rushed over there.

At the cosmetics shop, they were promoting “Fur Color-Change” dye.

“Come on, anyone! We’ll do a trial color change for free!” “No charge during the promotional period!” “Come on, anyone!” “Anyone!”

White Cat and Black Cat felt their hearts start to pound. “How about it? “Should we have them dye us? It’s free.” “It’s free, you know.” As the two cats were fidgeting nervously while looking at each other’s faces, the cosmetics shop man promptly said, “Now then, I’ll dye it for you,” and dyed White Cat jet-black and Black Cat pure white.

The two of them were delighted. They were so happy and proud that they decided to rush home to show their fathers and mothers.

White Cat’s father and mother said to Black Cat, “White Cat!” Black Cat’s father and mother said “Black Cat!” to White Cat and ended up confusing the two. The two cats were startled and explained everything, but no matter how hard they tried, the fathers and mothers couldn’t comprehend it. The two cats grew so sad they began to cry.

Just then, a neighborhood dog happened to pass by and sniffed them out, so the fathers and mothers finally managed to figure out which was their own child. The two cats let out a sigh of relief.

White Cat’s Hospitalization

As we told you in the January issue, White Cat and Black Cat had their fur dyed, turning the white-furred White Cat black and the black-furred Black Cat white.

After that, one month passed. The color of the two cats' fur gradually faded until both turned mousy-gray. From a human perspective, mouse-gray might be considered a rather nice color, but in the cat world, it was regarded as the most disliked hue. Cats and mice were sworn enemies, after all. So White Cat's and Black Cat's fathers and mothers resolved to take them to the hospital to swiftly remove the dye from their fur. Yet White Cat and Black Cat flatly refused to consent to hospital visits. They had convinced themselves hospitals were terrifying places.

“Why don’t you want to go to the hospital? If you don’t get your fur cleaned quickly, you won’t be able to go to school,” the mothers remarked. “But we don’t want to go out during the day looking like this,” White Cat and Black Cat explained. They didn’t say a word about being scared of the hospital. Even with human children it’s much the same, but cat children have a habit of never voicing what truly worries them. Therefore, the fathers and mothers searched for a nighttime hospital. Fortunately, they found Toriyama Night Hospital. The director turned out to be Dr. Owl.

White Cat and Black Cat decided to go there. “The truth is, we really don’t want to go to the hospital!” they tearfully protested, but there was no helping it now. The two cats were admitted to the hospital. Dr. Owl examined the two cats. And then he applied medicine to fade their color. Three times a day.

After that, one week passed. The medicine was applied diligently, but the color still showed no sign of fading. It had faded a bit, but ended up completely patchy, and the two of them became increasingly unsightly.

White Cat and Black Cat cried. They said they wanted to go home already. The fathers and mothers also cried. Saying that their once adorable children had become so unsightly.

White Cat's fur finally returned to its original state. In the February issue, we told you how White Cat's fur refused to turn white, until finally both White Cat and Black Cat—along with their fathers and mothers—burst into tears. Since everyone burst into tears over this, even Dr. Owl racked his brains trying to figure out what to do, but no matter what, things would not proceed as he wished. However, being the hospital director that he was, Dr. Owl made a firm decision and announced to the fathers and mothers.

“Now, regarding your child’s fur—I have exhausted every method through much deliberation, but ordinary means will no longer suffice.” “There remains no alternative but surgery.” The fathers and mothers were so aghast their eyes seemed ready to spin from their sockets, yet resigned to necessity,

“Please perform that surgery,” they pleaded through tears. Dr. Owl promptly conducted the operation in a separate room. It took about fifteen minutes. “The surgery is complete,” announced Dr. Owl. When the fathers and mothers hurried into the operating room, they discovered White Cat and Black Cat completely shorn—every last hair scraped away with a razor.

How overjoyed the fathers and mothers must have been. Not so much as a drop of blood had been shed, after all. After that, Dr. Owl applied a generous amount of hair growth medicine to the two cats and wrapped them snugly in warm blankets to prevent them from catching cold. The two cats blinked their eyes while,

“It feels sort of cool, yet warm at the same time,” they said, which made everyone burst into laughter.

After that, over the course of about ten days, White Cat's fur had grown back perfectly pure white, and Black Cat's fur had grown back perfectly jet-black. The two cats thanked Dr. Owl and were discharged from the hospital.

The fathers and mothers were finally relieved, but indeed, fathers and mothers are such worrisome creatures.

They scratched Mr. Bell’s nose. White Cat and Black Cat’s fur had grown back properly just as before, so they were now able to go out to play again. However, in an instant, they once again caused an incident that made White Cat the talk of the town. Good grief.

On that very day, the weather was fine, and a warm sun was shining. White Cat and Black Cat grew bored of being at home and went out.

Then, they noticed that in the neighbor’s garden, a very pretty small house had been built.

“Oh my, there’s a house built in such a place! What in the world could it be?” said White Cat. “That’s the house belonging to the neighbor’s dog, Mr. Bell. He just had it built the other day,” said Black Cat—she must have heard this from her mother or someone, as she knew all sorts of things. White Cat said.

“That’s not true! Someone like Mr. Bell would never build such a beautiful house! He always has mud-covered feet, you know.” Then White Cat entered the small house without hesitation. Black Cat also reluctantly followed White Cat. Inside the house lay thickly spread fresh straw with a pleasant scent. With no wind entering, warmth enveloped them—and in that quietness, White Cat and Black Cat instinctively burrowed into the straw and fell asleep. Several hours passed.

“Hey, hey, White Cat, Black Cat, please wake up.” “This is my house,” came a voice, so the two cats woke up. The two cats, still lying down, looked outside and saw Mr. Bell standing there. Black Cat said to White Cat: “White Cat, this really is Mr. Bell’s house. Let’s hurry back,” said Black Cat, but White Cat did not move. Mr. Bell began to growl outside. White Cat reluctantly got up and suddenly scratched Mr. Bell’s nose. Blood began to flow from the tip of Mr. Bell’s nose.

White Cat and Black Cat ran home without looking back, but they could hardly swallow their evening meal. After all, they understood that they had done something bad. By that very evening, the fact that they had scratched Mr. Bell’s nose had spread throughout the entire town. The reason was that Mr. Bell had gone to the pharmacy and— —had bought a medicine called “ointment to apply when scratched by White Cat.”

“You must not go outside anymore,” said White Cat’s and Black Cat’s mothers. Things had taken a dire turn.

Now, White Cat and Black Cat were no longer allowed to go outside. Of course, they couldn’t go to school either. “Be good and stay at home, please. If you behave well today, we’ll let you go to school starting tomorrow. We’ll put some three o’clock snack chocolate in the cupboard,” said their mothers. And then, leaving the two cats in the room, their mothers went out shopping.

White Cat and Black Cat were mischievous children, but since they quite liked school, they thought they would truly behave well today. After all, they had already been absent from school for a week. At first, they sunbathed and read books, but as they gradually grew bored, White Cat put on her father's Western-style clothes that were hanging there. Black Cat wore her mother's kimono so long that it dragged on the floor and applied white face powder and rouge. White Cat drew a mustache with ink.

“It suits you very well,” said White Cat to Black Cat.

“It suits you very well,” said Black Cat to White Cat.

The two, fully convinced they had become adults, strutted about the room.

At that moment, from the front entrance, a voice called out, “Excuse me.”

White Cat and Black Cat went out to the front entrance together, acting for all the world like their father and mother. However, when the two saw the visitor's face,

Without even saying “Welcome,” they cried “Screech!” and fled back to their room. The reason was that it was their schoolteacher. And then, the two were so ashamed that they cried, tears streaming down. Even the three o'clock snack wouldn’t go down. Their mother had bought them a delicious dinner, but they couldn’t eat that either. Their mother said, “School starts tomorrow. Go to bed early,” but they didn’t sleep. What poor little things they were. And then, the two cried as they—

“School is just awful.” “We don’t want to go,” they said. But once tomorrow came, they had no choice but to go to school. Though they say it’s the rust from one’s own blade, it’s quite a bitter pill to swallow.

With dirty hands, “Since tonight is Mr. Duck’s birthday，change into your kimonos．And make sure to wash your face，hands，and feet cleanly，” said White Cat’s and Black Cat’s mothers． “Yes，” replied the two． They washed their faces，but since washing their hands and feet was a bother，they didn’t do it．

Then the two went to Mr. Duck’s place. A mountain of sumptuous dishes appeared. “Now, please don’t hold back and eat plenty,” said Mr. Duck. Black Cat and White Cat were overjoyed and tried to partake of the delicious feast, but given the celebratory occasion—with three-hundred-candlepower electric lights blazing brightly and the tablecloth pure white—how dirty their hands looked! While the other guests turned away, the two stealthily ate their fill. And when everyone was facing forward, they rubbed off the mud from their hands under the table. But it was already too late. The splendid feast wouldn’t go down.

Before long, Mr. Duck, the host, stood up and said. “Ladies and gentlemen, I am deeply grateful that you have all taken the trouble to come here tonight. However, since earlier, I have been watching, and Miss White Cat and Miss Black Cat have not eaten a single bite of the feast. Now, please do not hold back,” he said. Then, even the other guests joined in,

“Please, go ahead, help yourselves,” they said, piling the feast before the two. The two exchanged glances and looked about to cry. But there was nothing they could do. With faces bright red and hands covered in mud, they received the feast while every single guest watched.

Then one of the guests said, "My, how clean your hands are!" Then all the guests burst into laughter at once. Mr. Duck, true to his role as host, promptly said: "Oh, it’s nothing serious. If you wash with soap, they’ll come clean," and led the two to the washroom to have them wash their hands. When they returned, the guests said with a laugh, "My, how clean Miss White Cat and Miss Black Cat’s hands have become!"

“My, how clean Miss White Cat and Miss Black Cat’s hands have become!”

The two turned red in the face, but after that, they proudly ate a great deal of the feast.

They went to the pool.

It became extremely hot. After all, White Cat and Black Cat had fur growing even in summer, so when it came to that heat, it was utterly unbearable. The two were on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion. However, a pool had been built very nearby. White Cat discovered it and came. “Black Cat, you mustn’t tell anyone. If too many go, the pool will get crowded and we won’t be able to get in,” said White Cat. The two promptly set out.

When they had come partway, they met a dog leading eleven puppies. “Miss White Cat, Miss Black Cat, where are you off to?” “We’ll go there together with you.” “Oh, it’s so hot,” said Mr. Dog. “Mr. Dog, we’re going to watch the trains pass by.” “The puppies are in danger!” said White Cat. Then Mr. Dog hurriedly took the puppies and went off in that direction, so White Cat and Black Cat exchanged glances and rejoiced.

When they had gone a little further, this time they met a pig leading twenty piglets. Mr. Pig,

“Miss White Cat, Miss Black Cat—it’s hot, isn’t it? Let’s go somewhere cool together,” said Mr. Pig. Miss White Cat flustered,

“We’re about to go somewhere terribly hot ourselves, so we can’t join you,” said Miss White Cat.

After that, they encountered Mr. Chicken, Mr. Mouse, and others, but managed to cleverly talk their way out each time. And at last, they reached the pool.

Mr. Duck, the swimming instructor, along with five or six others, was swimming remarkably well in the pool, but aside from White Cat and Black Cat, no one else had come to swim. Since it was their first time swimming, they were too embarrassed to enter among all the teachers.

“It would’ve been better to bring everyone along, but you had to go and take matters into your own hands,” grumbled Black Cat. “But I thought it’d be a problem if it got crowded,” retorted White Cat. The two made sullen faces and exchanged glances, but whether it was their faces or their bodies, sweat poured from them like a waterfall. Because it was unbearably hot, while the teachers were resting upstairs, they hurriedly splashed and swam noisily in the water.

Then all the animals they had encountered earlier—Mr. Dog with the puppies, Mr. Pig with the piglets, Mr. Chicken, Mr. Mouse—came trooping along. White Cat and Black Cat must have been so terribly embarrassed. But since they showed everyone where to undress and helped the children into swimsuits, no one thought badly of the two.

Everyone swam until evening. And so they finally cooled down.

They went to the barber. September arrived when school was about to begin.

White Cat and Black Cat loved school so much that they could hardly wait for it to start, to the point where they couldn’t even sleep at night.

But finally, August 31st arrived. August 31st was the day before school started. White Cat and Black Cat had gathered everything—books, notebooks, pencils, clothes, shoes—all properly prepared. After they had prepared everything, they slumped down exhausted. The two lay down side by side on the bed and rested. And then, the two gazed intently at each other’s faces. Their faces had grown fur just like Eskimo dogs. White Cat said.

“When it comes to your face, it’s just like a bear cub’s—the fur’s all tangled and shaggy,” said White Cat. Black Cat, having been addressed this way, retorted angrily: “You’re the one who looks like a bear cub!” Since neither could see their own face, each remained convinced theirs was as smooth and beautiful as an egg with eyes and nose drawn on—which made matters worse. They were on the verge of scratching each other when Mother rushed in. “Enough fighting—off to the barber’s with you,” she declared, handing each two ten-sen coins.

The two set off for the barber’s. Even on the way, they did not exchange a single word. Because both of them were absolutely furious. When they arrived at the barber’s, the barber took one look at the two and guffawed at how wildly their fur had grown. The two were terribly ashamed, their faces on the verge of turning red, but putting on composed expressions, they climbed onto the chairs. The barber trimmed it extremely skillfully. The two gradually transformed into adorable little cats as if reborn. So, the two exchanged glances and started to grin, but remembering their earlier quarrel, they clenched their teeth. At that moment, while moving the scissors, the barber asked.

“Shall I give you both matching styles?” he asked. At that, the two suddenly shook their heads sideways and said, “No!” The barber’s scissors clattered downward at that moment, snipping off the two’s precious whiskers in one clean cut. White Cat and Black Cat burst into tears. The barber froze in panic.

And they searched for the cut-off whiskers, but unfortunately, since the electric fan had been running, the whiskers were blown away by the wind with no trace of where they'd landed. The whiskers ended up hopelessly tangled. Time flies, and White Cat and Black Cat's clipped-off whiskers had now grown back splendidly.

So it was decided that the two of them would go visit their aunt in the distant town for fun. Their aunt was a dressmaker, so whenever the two visited her once a year, she would give each of them a truly beautiful outfit.

The two had been looking forward to it since the previous day and set out as soon as day broke. Without even eating a meal.

They arrived at Aunt’s house at six in the morning, but even the shop’s door had not yet opened. The two had no choice but to lean against the shop’s entrance and wait. The milkman passed by. The newspaper delivery person passed by. The tofu shop owner passed by. Then, people going to government offices and companies passed by. Everyone looked at the two and said, “Oh dear, oh dear, stray cats.” White Cat and Black Cat had stubbornly stayed there for another two hours, but gradually their stomachs began to grow empty. Their throats were dry.

Another two hours passed, and even though it was almost noon, the shop door didn’t open.

The tofu shop owner who had come in the morning was walking over carrying noon tofu. And then, seeing the two, he said.

“Did you get lost? Where’s your home?” he asked. “We came to Aunt’s place, but we’re waiting for the shop to open,” the two said. The tofu shop owner, “Oh dear, poor things—‘Closed today due to being out’ is posted right there.”

The two saw that and were disappointed. At the same time, they collapsed exhausted onto the ground. Their stomachs were growling empty, their legs were wobbly, and then they got startled—all at once.

The Tofu Shop Owner was surprised. He wondered what he should do. “It can’t be helped.” “Come in here.” With that, the Tofu Shop Owner grabbed the two by the napes of their necks and placed them into an empty tofu container. Then, it was decided that he would take the two home, but since he went along selling tofu with his “Tofu! Tofu!” calls, the time it took was something else. Even so, they finally managed to arrive at their home’s gate around three in the afternoon.

“Oh my, you’ve ridden on such a dreadful thing!” said Mother and Aunt as they came rushing out from the house. Thereupon, Mother took out one yen and bought all the remaining tofu from the Tofu Shop Owner in lieu of thanks. Aunt had brought over some splendid Western-style clothes that very morning before the two could set out. Aunt promptly tried to dress them both, but what with White Cat and Black Cat having naturally pliant bones and wobbly legs besides, they became hopelessly tangled, making it utterly impossible to get the clothes on. Aunt and Mother clutched their sides laughing. Then they grew angry.

But since the two were unmanageable, they fed them their meal with a spoon and put them to bed. It was just like they had become babies. If you’re too hasty, this is what happens. They acted mischievously. White Cat and Black Cat, who had become all tangled up, slept soundly through the night and completely regained their energy. And then, putting on the Western-style clothes they had received from their aunt the dressmaker, they set off to show them off at their friend Mr. Duck’s place.

When Mr. Duck saw White Cat and Black Cat’s Western-style clothes, he immediately said to his mother: “Mother, buy me those Western-style clothes too.”

Mother thoroughly examined White Cat and Black Cat’s Western-style clothes from front to back and then—

“My, what well-made Western-style clothes! I’ll buy one for our Mr. Duck at the same place. Where did you buy them? And how much did they cost?” she asked. White Cat and Black Cat said.

“Aunt, we didn’t buy these Western-style clothes.” “Our Aunt made them for us.” “No matter how much money you offer, she won’t make them for other people.”

When Mr. Duck heard that, he burst into a messy, chaotic fit of tears.

White Cat and Black Cat said. “Mr. Duck is truly hopeless.” “Ah, what a racket!” And then, they briskly returned home. That’s rather mean-spirited of them, isn’t it?

However, Mr. Duck cried and cried and kept on crying. “I want those Western-style clothes.” “I want those Western-style clothes. I want those Western-style clothes,” he cried—and it was no wonder. After all, he was still just a child. Therefore, having no other choice, Mr. Duck’s mother went to White Cat and Black Cat’s house and spoke to their mother. “Please, could you ask that the same Western-style clothes be made for our Mr. Duck as well?” “I truly feel awful about this, but...”

White Cat and Black Cat’s mother replied. “Please, please don’t hold back at all.” “Since that house is a dressmaker’s shop, we would be delighted to make up any order for you.”

Mr. Duck’s mother was very pleased. And then she said, “I shall go and place the order immediately and take Mr. Duck with me,” and flew back home.

Hearing this, White Cat and Black Cat exchanged looks and were utterly disappointed. Later, the two were severely scolded by their mother. “You shouldn’t say such mean-spirited things.” Their faces turned bright red. However, fortunately, since their faces were completely covered in fur, no one could tell. They got tired from taking a bath.

A cold, cold winter arrived. Black Cat's and White Cat's fur had grown back fully thick and warm-looking. They had become truly, truly adorable. Therefore, White Cat’s mother wrote a letter to Mr. Duck’s mother.

“With winter now thoroughly upon us, I trust everyone dear to you remains in good health. “When winter comes, we birds and beasts grow our feathers and fur thick and full, becoming truly beautiful. “I’m certain—oh so certain—your A-Taro, Hi-Taro, and Ru-Taro must look equally splendid. “Our White Cat and Black Cat too have grown remarkably beautiful. “Therefore, I earnestly request that you bring A-Taro, Hi-Taro, and Ru-Taro with you this evening. “Let us enjoy this feast while sharing proud tales of our children. Yours sincerely,”

After sending this letter, Mother gave the two a bath. Collar grime, foot grime, hand grime—all such things were completely removed. Then she sprinkled white powder on White Cat. She sprinkled black powder on Black Cat. Because they had become so breathtakingly beautiful, Mother was utterly delighted.

Night came. Mr. Duck’s mother brought along her pride and joy—Mr. A-Taro, Mr. Hi-Taro, and Mr. Ru-Taro—all polished up.

“Quack, quack, quack, quack!” Mr. Duck and his children arrived noisily and energetically at White Cat’s house. “My, my, how splendid!” said White Cat’s mother, so surprised was she at how beautiful the Ducks looked. However, deep down she thought our White Cat and Black Cat were far prettier.

Mr. Duck and his children sat at the table. The feast was served.

However, White Cat and Black Cat did not come out for quite some time. "Excuse me for asking," inquired Mr. Duck's mother, "but what has become of White Cat and Black Cat?" "White Cat! Black Cat! Please come out at once!" "Quack! Quack! Quack! Quack!" Mr. Duck's children began clamoring noisily. White Cat's mother, what with preparing the feast and attending to greetings for Mr. Duck and his family, had nearly forgotten all about the very guests of honor—White Cat and Black Cat.

Mother searched the entire house. However, the two were nowhere to be found. So when she searched once more, they were wearing their nightclothes, had climbed into bed, and lay there snoring away, refusing to wake up no matter what.

“I’m terribly sorry, but they simply won’t wake up. After all, they had been in the bath for two hours today, so they must have gotten tired. They must have been quite pitiable,” White Cat’s mother explained.

However, just when it seemed things had quieted down, Mr. A-Taro, Mr. Hi-Taro, and Mr. Ru-Taro—still seated at the table—all dozed off, snoring away.

“I’m terribly sorry. After all, they had been in the bath for two hours today,” said Mr. Duck’s mother.

And so, that evening’s “Children’s Pride Party” was called off.