If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura
3.5 Stars
My Review
If Cats Disappeared from the World is a quiet, profound meditation on grief, self-reflection, and the way our perspective shifts when we confront our own mortality. The story follows a lonely mail carrier who learns he is going to die, only to be offered a strange bargain by the devil: for each additional day of life, he must agree to erase one thing from the world. At first, he accepts the deal almost passively, giving up small conveniences with unsettling ease—choices that reveal how detached he has become from his own life. But as the days pass, the items become more meaningful, forcing both the narrator and the reader to consider a haunting question: What would we be willing to sacrifice to survive? Music? A beloved pet? Small pleasures like chocolate? Pieces of ourselves we never realized mattered?
The devil himself is one of the novel’s most intriguing elements—appearing in loud Hawaiian shirts and a laid-back, oddly familiar demeanor. His appearance feels symbolic, almost like an exaggerated version of the narrator’s own hidden qualities, the carefree alter ego we suppress in adulthood. This portrayal blurs the line between the external devil and the internal one, suggesting that the true negotiations we face are often with ourselves.
As the narrator inches closer to death, memories of his mother and her painful decline resurface, reshaping his understanding of love and regret. I especially enjoyed the side characters, like his ex-girlfriend and his movie-obsessed friend—each offering glimpses into who he once was and the connections he let slip away. Their presence brings warmth, humor, and nostalgia to a story otherwise steeped in loss.
The emotional turning point comes when the devil announces the next item to disappear: his cat, Cabbage. In that moment, the narrator realizes that some things are too precious to sacrifice, even for the promise of more time. The decision marks a shift from survival at any cost to acceptance rooted in love.
The ending is bittersweet—filled with quiet hope and unresolved sorrow. I found myself wishing that he was able to reconnect with his father before his final moments, to bridge that emotional distance as he did with so many memories throughout the novel. Yet the book leaves us with a gentle reminder: sometimes acceptance, not avoidance, is what gives our remaining time meaning.
“It’s the future you’ll never get to see that you really regret missing most of all when you die.”
Genki Kawamura
Other Books by the Author
Some of Genki Kawamura’s other acclaimed works include Million Dollar Man, April, Come She Will, and many more.
Literary Pairing
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi and If Cats Disappeared from the World share the same gentle magical-realism vibe—stories where small supernatural twists open the door to big emotional truths about love, regret, and what truly matters.
Shelf To Table
Castella Cake: A traditional Japanese sponge cake known for its soft, moist texture and delicate sweetness. Made with just eggs, sugar, flour, and honey, it’s baked slowly to achieve a fine, bouncy crumb and a beautifully caramelized top. Light, airy, and subtly sweet, Castella is often enjoyed as a simple yet elegant treat with tea or coffee.
“You only realize what the really important things are once you’ve lost them.”
Genki Kawamura