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Group 1: Perspective/ bigger lens, Writing process 

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Group 1: Perspective/ bigger lens, Writing process 

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p.113 paragraphs 1~6 ("Cats weren't the only culture..." --> "It's our job to accommodate them.")

Looking at cats through religion

She connects the cats and Buddhism as the only sacred things left

Jumps back to back from cats to legends

From other cultures cats were seen as a sign of rebellion

Jumps from explains legends to talking about what she believes in

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p.113 last paragraph --> top of p.114 ("I have always sensed in Japan an odd sort of ambivalence..." --> "...to animals, we would be returned.")

Hayao Miyazaki's movies describe post-human world where relationship between animals and humans is unstable

Aoshima island - only 5 humans on island of cats

But cats need humans, they are not exactly wild

Aoshima is inversion of modern food chain (too few humans, too few prey, too many predators - cats)

Are cats the dominant species on that island, or humans?

Are humans privileged to be the caretakers of the cats?

The age of humans was growing late. From animals we had taken -- to animals we would return.

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Group 3 p.114 ("After Gotokuji..." --> end of page).

Analysis: her research shows that after her experience at Gotokuji, the maneki-neko (cat statue) turns from an artifact into a cultural symbol that serves cultural tradition and fosters beliefs -> the meneki-neko is now all over stores and throughout the city. (describing neighborhoods in and around Sendai and Nara)

cats-> her research kind of points toward a kind of cultural assimilation involving cats ( as a symbol )integrating into society

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Group 4: Research/ Writing Process, Implications

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Group 4: Research/ Writing Process, Implications

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p.115, first section

Research/ Writing process

went to the coffee house with Mihoko to discuss the lack of cats

Implication:

lack of cultural respect from the government: the government thinks they are no different than pests if their population reaches a certain number

Cats and other animals are also intellectual, and they domesticate themselves; they choose to live among humans

There should be no government regulations (euthanasia) on the animals

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Level 1 + 2: The significance of cats in Japanese culture.

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Level 1 + 2: The significance of cats in Japanese culture.

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Looking to the future --> bigger implication (hypothetical scenario)

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Looking to the future --> bigger implication (hypothetical scenario)

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p.115, last big section

-young people are leaving small towns

-In Nagoro --> life-size dolls in gardens, houses, schools!

-Japan's aged society --> 29.1% over 65 and in 2040, 35% --> Japan's declining population

-what will happen to the cats if one day there are no humans? Cats make their own decisions and choices.