He lived during the Meiji era (1868-1912). He was a teacher of English literature in Tokyo. He spent three years in England, spoke English very well and had a good knowledge of British literature. Natsume Sōseki (1867-1916) is a Japanese writer. And these things are of great interest for us, cats. One can suddenly witness all kinds of strange, bizarre and unbelievable things. But when they’re in trouble, all this triteness ferments and lifts itself by some sort of mysterious feature. They play a trite and uninteresting show. The study of human nature cannot progress if one doesn’t choose moments where men are in trouble. Mais quand ils ont des ennuis, toute cette banalité fermente et se soulève par la grâce de quelque fonction mystérieuse, et on voit alors se produire soudainement un peu partout des événements étranges, bizarres, insolites, inimaginables, en un mot des choses qui sont d’un grand intérêt pour nous, les chats. A l’ordinaire, les hommes sont justes des hommes : ils présentent un spectacle banal et sans intérêt. L’étude des humains ne peut progresser si on ne choisit pas un moment où ils ont des ennuis.

I translated the quotes from the French and let the original French for readers who can read it and enjoy the professional translation from the Japanese. It may be different from the one in English translation. Translated by Jean Cholley.ĭisclaimer: I read I Am a Cat in French and will use the French transcription of Japanese names. I Am a Cat by Natsume Sōseki (1905) French title: Je suis un chat.

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