The Cat Who Saved Books

The Cat Who Saved Books grounds its protagonist’s journey in the Japanese social phenomenon of hikikomori, a term describing individuals who experience acute social withdrawal. Rintaro Natsuki’s character arc begins from this state of isolation, as he identifies himself as “just a high school boy, a hikikomori” (15), who stops attending school after his grandfather’s death.

This reflects the real-world conditions of many in Japan; in the novel’s translator’s note, Louise Heal Kawai notes, “In 2019 the Japanese government estimated [the] number [of hikikomori] at over one million” (194). These individuals, often young men, retreat from society for extended periods. Their withdrawal is frequently triggered by personal trauma or intense social and academic pressures. Rintaro’s withdrawal is a direct response to his grief and loneliness, which leave him feeling detached and unable to engage with the world.

The novel uses this cultural context to frame Rintaro’s fantastical adventures as a form of therapy and reintegration. The talking cat, Tiger, and the magical labyrinths are catalysts that force Rintaro out of his self-imposed confinement. By compelling him to save books, the quests require him to interact with others, articulate his values, and take decisive action, skills that he had abandoned in his withdrawal.