Join us for a talk by author and translator Nick Bradley, exploring his new translation of I Am a Cat by Natsume Sōseki.

Japanese literature in translation is currently enjoying a remarkable surge in the UK, with cat-themed books proving particularly popular. Step into any bookshop and you are likely to be greeted by more than a few curious cats gazing down from the shelves. This talk traces that trend back to its source, focusing on what could be considered the original Japanese ‘cat classic’: I Am a Cat by Natsume Sōseki.

First published at the turn of the 20th century, and one of Japan’s best known novels in translation, I Am a Cat is a satirical exploration of identity, society and the human condition, seen through the eyes of a sharp-witted and world-weary feline narrator.

In this talk, Bradley discusses the challenges and rewards of translating such a landmark of modern Japanese literature for readers of English today. He reflects on his approach to capturing its humour and depiction of society in the Meiji era (1868–1912), and on how the process has shaped his own understanding of the work.

Translated by Nick Bradley, the first volume of I Am a Cat was published by Vintage Classics in September 2025.

Learn more about cats in Japanese literature through the Library display ‘I Am a Cat’ at Japan House London, on until 31 May 2026.

Please note that filming and / or photography may take place at this event. Photos and footage of the event may then be used to promote Japan House London, helping more people to discover what we offer. If you have any concerns, please contact us online or contact a member of the team on site.

About the speaker

Nick Bradley

Nick Bradley is the author of two novels set in Japan, The Cat and The City (2020), set in Tokyo, and Four Seasons in Japan (2023), set in in rural Hiroshima prefecture. He wrote his PhD on the figure of the cat in Japanese literature. In 2024 he was chosen by The British Council and The National Centre for Writing as one of ten rising stars in UK writing. His work has so far been translated into twenty languages. He lived in Japan for many years where he worked as a translator, and currently teaches on the Creative Writing master’s programme at the University of Cambridge and also taught on the Creative Writing Prose Fiction MA at UEA.

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