Published: 2021
Series: Cat Massage Therapy
Author: Haru Hisakawa
Translator: Ahn Kiet Ngo
Illustrator: Haru Hisakawa
Genres: Manga, Graphic Novels, Comics, Fiction, Fantasy, Humor, Slice Of Life, Cozy
Audience (Grade Levels): Middle School, Grades 4-8
Number of Stars: 4-star
Goodreads Link: Cat Massage Therapy Vol. 1
Triggers: N/A (Rated appropriate for all ages, contains light workplace stress)
Review By: Molly Clark
Publisher’s Summary:
A full-color manga about purrfectly professional massage therapists: fluffy cats who knead your troubles away.
Nekoyama, worn out after another long day at the office, stops at a therapeutic massage parlor—only to discover that it’s run by a cat! Not only that, but the cat actually does the massaging?! As the professional “meowsseur” digs soft toe beans into Nekoyama’s aching muscles, his heart warms and his worries melt away. This is only the beginning, as he and other world-weary workers are about to meet the other feline professionals who have mastered pawfully cute techniques to reduce human stress.
Review:
My elementary students have been clamoring for more manga so I did some research and this series was one of a few that were rated appropriate for all ages. I struggled with the manga format initially, but eventually got the hang of it. The illustrations are adorable and will appeal to most students. The story itself was cute to me, as an adult who can relate to a stressful work life and the relaxing nature of a good massage, but I question how well my students will connect to it. The humans in the story all have the same light shaded skin, which may only be because the focus on the story is the cats, but there is zero diversity in this book aside from the different colored cats. I wish the story was more kid friendly, but the illustrations will ensure that this book never spends too much time on the shelf.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- Social-Emotional Learning (Stress Management & De-escalation): While the human narrative focuses on world-weary office workers, the core concept centers on identifying stress and discovering therapeutic methods to unwind. Educators can use this lighthearted framing to discuss real-world stress reduction strategies, mental health breaks, and the calming influence of therapy animals with middle-grade students.
- Visual Arts / Media Literacy (Manga Structural Layout): Given that the format initially requires adjusting to unique panel structures and right-to-left reading flow, this book serves as a practical introductory teaching tool. Art and ELA teachers can utilize it to analyze sequential art storytelling, full-color manga design, and how text and visual cues work together to create tone.
Readalikes:
- Chi’s Sweet Home by Konami Kanata
- Plum Crazy: Tales of a Tiger-Striped Cat by Natsumi Hoshino
- Sue & Tai-chan by Konami Kanata
