My neighbor on the outskirts of Tokyo is telling me without much enthusiasm about the latest addition to her extended family: "They've just got themselves a cute kitten; a lilac Persian," she says, referring to her daughter and son-in-law. "I suppose that means we can forget having grandchildren."
Tea Leaves
Japan's triumph of the cats
Some find them spooky, but society's love of the 'cute' and the 'clean' propel felines forward
The writer’s cat in cute mode: Somewhere between a cult and a fad, felines are now respected members of the Japanese family. (Photo by Stephen Mansfield)
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