Drawing on centuries of legends, woodblock prints, ghost stories, and theatrical traditions, Zack Davisson’s Kaibyo uncovers the many forms that Japan’s enchanted felines take, from shapeshifting tricksters to loyal guardians and vengeful spirits. Beautifully illustrated and meticulously researched, the book celebrates both the eerie and the endearing sides of Japan’s legendary cats, showing how the mysterious felines became enduring symbols of luck, protection, and uncanny power in Japanese life through vivid storytelling and rich cultural context. Whether you’re a lover of folklore, a fan of Japanese art, or simply enchanted by the strange charisma of cats, Kaibyo offers a spellbinding journey into a world where the line between the natural and supernatural is always shifting.

Praise for Kaibyo:

“In Japan, cats are magic, dangerous, and mysterious, and have earned their place in the realm of yokai. They’ve inspired Japanese artists and writers for thousands of years. Zack’s book will tell you why.” – Takashi Murakami, artist and creator of The Superflat Movement.

“[An] extremely diverting and stunningly produced celebration of the phantom feline in its myriad of manifestations—some alluring, others humorous and many outright terrifying.” — Scot D. Ryersson and Michael Orlando Yaccarino, co-authors of Infinite Variety: The Life and Legend of the Marchesa Casati

Find Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan at Amazon.