I had loading issues so I feel bad not able to give a proper review. I when I was able to download it everything was out of sync

The Cat Proposed is a beautiful story with charming characters and the whimsical world of ayakashi. It's also an emotionally intricate story, that touches on the importance of finding joy and meaning in life, and in the idea of working to live, instead of living to work; but it also discusses suicidal ideation and losing the will to live.
In spite of these darker themes, the narrative consistently pulls our attention to the bright side and to the characters' feelings and relationships. I really enjoyed this one!

I am not an avid BL reader or collector, so I'm not as familiar with the tropes and common story-telling. I do, however, like reading diversely. I want to read more LGBT stories. The Cat Proposed is a pretty charming story despite its dark overtones, as it discusses feelings of hopelessness and suicide. The characters are memorable, relatable, and enjoyable to read about. While I can't say that it was necessarily my cup of tea, I think people who really identify with their cats, might get a kick out of it. It's certainly quirky but remains a sweet read.

This is a sweet love story, both insta-love vibes and slow burn romance at the same time. Souta is an overworked salaryman, stressed out and depressed to the point he seriously considers suicide. He is walking home one from the train station one evening and ends up going to see a kodan, a traditional type of storyteller. The storyteller, Kihachi, turns out to be a bakeneko, a cat yokai. Because Souta has seen Kihachi's true form, they must either form a contract, or Souta must die- he's seen too much. The two are drawn to each other, and start a tentative relationship. We get to visit the Bakeneko world, we get to know the characters better and see their relationship develop, and get plenty of angst, feels, and light-hearted moments. I appreciated that when things got steamy, boundaries were respected, and there was no coercion or forcing. The art was lovely, and had a good magical, otherworldly feel to it. An enjoyable read!

#TheCatProposed #NetGalley

I have mixed feelings about this one. On the one hand, it's emotionally and psychologically complex. Our protagonist is worn down, exhausted, depressed. The grind of office work that is largely meaningless and useless yet still high pressure and high expectation has him physically ill and nearly suicidal. That exhaustion allows him to see through the veil to the reality of spirit beings. That actually makes a kind of sense. And I like that it's about building real emotional connections rather than just physical attraction. At the same time, I'm not a fan of marriage of necessity as a plot element. This one is fairly introspective, and spends more time reflecting on the difference between success and fulfillment than actually developing the physical threat to the characters.

The Cat Proposed is a rather peculiar yet intriguing story about a half-human-half-cat man and a young office worker. Going into this, I honestly had no idea what would happen, and I'm glad to say that this manga was very refreshing to read. Although there weren't many characters, the story certainly didn't feel incomplete. In fact, I think it made the story seem cozier in a way. The art is also incredibly beautiful and detailed. However, I only wish we got to learn more about the other different kinds of spirits, I think it would have really added to the magic of the book. Nevertheless, The Cat Proposed is a magical story about love, storytelling, and cats!

This is a very nice manga with a good sense of humour that had way more of a slow-burn to the relationship than I expected. I couldn't really connect to the characters, but I still think it's an interesting story and I would definitely recommend checking it out.

I absolutely love this manga!! It was so cute and the premise was very intriguing. I love mythologies and the legend of bakeneko is fascinating. I was super excited to read a manga with this theme!!

Kihachi and Shouta were so damn adorable together. Though they are completely different, their chemistry is undeniable. I could sometimes really connect to Shouta, the exhaustion and how being alive doesn't mean you're really living. I feel that the author did a good job conveying these feelings.

The art is so beautiful and I really like how well paced it is. I'd highly recommend this if you want something short, cute and heartwarming. I would love to see more books set in this world, especially more of the bakeneko community!

CW: mentions of suicide

*ARC provided by the publisher by Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review

Cat demon, fox demon, give me all of the romances with a character that has ears. That’s the main reason I picked up The Cat Proposed for review. And of course, the gorgeous cover art. The Cat Proposed is a BL one-shot published in English by TOKYOPOP written and illustrated by mangaka Dento Hayane. The one-shot is translated into English by Katie Kimura, proofread by Caroline Wong, and had translation QC by Akiko Furuta. It also features touch-up art and lettering by Vibrraant Publishing Studio.

The Cat Proposed focuses on Matoi Souta. Souta is an overworked office worker tired of his life and very close to ending it—whether himself or inadvertently because he’s had to work 18-days straight. But it all changes when one day on his way home from a long day of work and hitting his lowest point, he decides to watch a traditional Japanese play. He walks into the mysterious establishment and is swept away by a Kōdan storyteller named Kihachi who recounts a battle. But when that action story turns into a horror one, the storyteller reveals his true form: a bakeneko, a shapeshifting cat yokai from Japanese Folklore.

But like most things meant to be kept a secret from the human world, Souta discovering the storyteller’s true identity leaves him with two options: die to keep the bakeneko world a secret or become Kihachi’s mate. Now, I know what you’re thinking, romance through circumstances that force it isn’t always the best and there are moments where Kihachi makes slightly uncomfortable moves on Souta. That said, The Cat Proposed ends up being able to move past the problematic elements associated with the type of story it is telling because it takes a moment to show Kihachi listening to Souta and backing off, responding to his boundaries.

That said, the breakneck pace that their relationship develops doesn’t allow you to truly understand why Kihachi fell in love with Souta, it’s no more than a feeling of knowing that they’re compatible. That said, while we know Souta’s reasoning, it’s rooted in his depression and how Kihachi pulled him from it – a trauma bond if you will. But thankfully, in the last chapters of the one-shot, Hayane makes it clear to map out the couple’s relationship. Hayane does this by having them discuss their future while confronting what has been keeping them apart.

While The Cat Proposed is a good story, it’s Hayane’s art that makes this a great one-shot. The attention to detail for both the human character, the animals, and the bakeneko who lie between them is beautifully done. It’s whimsical and it’s gorgeous with cherry blossoms denoting the supernatural moments. Additionally, Kihachi’s form as a full cat yokai, a human with cat ears, and just a man are all recognizable as him. Finally, the cherry on top of Hayane’s illustrations is the adorable representation of the couple as cats.

Overall, The Cat Proposed is a good read, but a truly beautiful book to look at. From the wholesome moments to the steamy, the human world and the supernatural bakeneko one, Hayane’s art is gorgeous. That alone makes it a solid addition to your yaoi shelf.

This has to be one of my new favorite BL mangas for the year if not the one to beat. It's just, wow.

The Cat Proposed is so simple in its storytelling and yet, the emotions that were able to be conveyed through the characters felt so real and powerful. From love and caring to that hurt of angst and fear, Hayane has a way of layering these details, that once fully realized, have such a ground altering effect on the reader. It's both breathtaking and painful and I would hope to reread this time and time again with the same effect.

And although the story follows the events happening to Matoi Souta, to me it's Kihachi, the bakeneko, that really steals the show and pushes the story along. His backstory alone sent my emotions spiraling. There was just a special kind of craft given to this character that I felt come through in the way he spoke both internally and outwardly that really had me stopping to absorb an emotion or idea that'd been expressed. And I can thank K.Kimura for their wonderful translation of Hayane's intent there.

Additionally, the relationship portrayed in this manga was so ideal and healthy. Like these two characters truly expressed concern and respected boundaries when need be. Serious otp status in the end.

So if you're up for the fluff and a little bit of angst before the happy conclusion, then read this!

I have received an ARC of this book by NetGalley and LOVE x LOVE and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review. The Pub date of the book is 23.02.2021.
For me this story was a breath of fresh air. It contains important themes even in the midst of fantasy and at the same time makes us smile and enjoy the cuteness. The characters are adorable and even though they have a very recent relationship, it shows us that there are bonds that take almost nothing to be done. Important bonds.
The design is extremely cute and sharp - I loved it. It was a quick read, but it was worth it because it was wonderful.

Soft, fluffy, and cute manga! Loved it! Perfect paced, sugary that will give you a toothache!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the e-arc of The Cat Proposed in exchange for my honest review.

cw: mentions of depression and suicide

this is cute!! cute cute!! i have been recently in the mood for some really lighthearted, fluffy romance manga and this perfectly hits the mark. it's quite a simple story that isn't overly complex but not super flat either. their relationship was a bit rushed in my opinion but it's not totally implausible and i'm not mad at it. i liked the dynamic between the two main characters, and i liked the way the author dealt with souta's struggles with exhaustion and depression. i think it added a lot of depth to the story and the characters and while i think those struggles could have been developed a bit more, i think it still worked well with the lighthearted nature of this story. the art style is really gorgeous; i loved the whimsical incorpations of flora and fauna into the frames. overall, this is the kind of story that you don't really have to think too hard about which is wonderful because lately, my braincells have been leaving me one by one. just let me use my heart from time to time.

Who gave this manga permission to break my heart and make me feel all the feelings? How dared it!? I loved it a lot! Souta was in such a fragile situation, overworked, with no will to keep on living because maybe jumping in front of a train would solve all his problems. But then he stops to listen to a storyteller tell an old story of Japanese folklore and he gets overwhelmed with a light sensation that makes him feel like he might be okay. The storyteller is Kihachi, a bakeneko, a cat folklore figure and he wants Souta to be his mate.

The story is both fun and heartbreaking. Souta is not in the best of places mentally and Kihachi has his issues, too. They will bring change and love into each other's lives and maybe that way they will help each other make life more bearable.

I love Japanese folklore, it's really interesting and I wish I knew Japanese so I could listen to storytellers during summer tell this amazing stories. Maybe one day!

This is a charming story of a young salaryman reaching the end of his tether through over work when he visits a theatre on impulse on his way home one day. He’s utterly captivated by the story and the storyteller, but thinks he’s going insane when for a second he sees the man has cat ears.

It turns out that the man is a bakeneko, a shapeshifting cat, who must either claim the young man as his mate or they will be punished by his people for revealing the secret of the bakeneko.
The rest of the story is about their growing attachment to each other, which is sweet but frustrating due to the number of miscommunications they have.

The illustrations are fun and dynamic, which fits the story really well. I wish there was bit more to this story to give more background to the bakeneko but all things considered, I really enjoyed this quirkly BL title.

I am not going to accurately rate this manga in the sense I did not finish it. This is because the art was so realistically drawn especially when it comes to the cat character that I couldn't finish it because of deathly fear. That is my personal problem and not the fault of the author or publisher. Otherwise, I would definitely recommend it to all of my cat lover friends and family. I hope all who enjoy boys love and cats get this story.

The Cat Proposed by Dento Hanye is a riveting story about two people who are specifically different but finding themselves fill in each other's void with a blossoming love that hardly anyone could achieve but them. It's a sweet kind of love that tethers to a linked fate in which you will undoubtedly cherish their relationship on and on.

All's started when Matoi Souta, a deprived workaholic, who's always consumed by suicidal thoughts, begin to think that there's no valid reason for him to live again. These thoughts slowly eating him from the inside by embedding the nauseating line on his mind that everything will be at ease if he were to end his life. Get run yourself by a train then poof - you're in afterlife, easy right? Fortunately, the fate leads him to walk away from the brink of death to the Kodan Storytelling. Little did he know, his plight all this time slowly unravels when he comes across the storyteller, a Bakaneko to be exact, a shapeshifting cat whom people believe it's a myth but actually he's living among us for real.

Bakaneko is a Japanese Folklore that I've never heard so it's such a blessing to be able to read this. In this story, we're introduced that Bakaneko has its own community with a few adamant rules. To whoever breaks the rule shall face a death sentence. One of the renowned rules is that they must never allow humans to know about them. From here on, Hayane successfully created a conflict between Souta, a human and Kihachi, a Bakaneko. Considering both of them are practically different, they begin to harbour doubts that this relationship won't make it. However, the plot is coordinated nicely. Suffice to say, readers would be absolutely enticed by a pure love ignited between Souta and Kihachi.

Character-wise, every character Hayane has coined is absolutely mesmerising as all of them are likeable. Souta's characteristic is soft and gullible, perhaps it stems from the struggles he has with his life. On the other hand, Kihachi is a strong and optimistic one but who knows on the inside that he's struggling too. Through the course of the story, their character arcs are getting better and very well-developed.

Hayane's spellbinding recreation of this folklore brings about the meaning of life, the beauty of redemption and the definition of a true love. I recommend this manga to those who seek out for these values.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the e-arc of The Cat Proposed in exchange for my honest review.

This review can be found on my blog: Tirabookreviews
Link:
https://tirabookreviews.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-cat-proposed-by-dento-hanye.html

This book had such a sincere and fun story. The artwork was great, the world building mythopoeic. I really enjoyed it, and really appreciated its touch on mental health.

I don't know how to start reviewing this manga without geeking over it. The Cat Proposed is the first Yaoi manga I read and as far as I remember, it would be my first ever manga and oh boy, can I please get more content for these two adorable characters??? I wouldn't hesitate even in the slightest to buy the next installment <3<3

To give a brief overview of this manga, Souta is an overworked salary man who barely has any time to sleep. One day while returning from the office, he decides to watch a traditional Japanese play and during the kodan storytelling, somehow he sees that the person narrating the play (Kihachi) has cat ears. The person confronts Souta and his identity - being a bakeneko - gets revealed and out of nowhere the bakeneko says that him and Souta will have to be mates.

This whole manga was neither too shot nor too long. Although I would say that it seemed like a really short story considering how fast I read it. Souta and Kihachi were one of a kind, developed and mature characters. Souta appears to be that small, timid character who gives in to pressure whenever such situation arises. Through Kihachi directly and indirectly he realizes that he doesn't have to overwork himself, he can decide for himself. Kihachi on the outside appears to be strict and direct but he is really kind and caring and has his own fears to face. Their chemistry was really good and they were always willing to look out for each other.

The most beautiful and lovely thing about this book, apart from the artwork, is how so many things were discussed in this book. Overwork, suicidal thoughts, fear of losing a loved one etc. were few of the themes that this book covered. Most importantly, there was a presence of proper communication between the characters that was pretty amazing. To talk about the portrayal of suicide, the author handled the topic very well. This theme itself can be considered to be central to this manga considering how certain experiences of it is discussed here and there. But at the same time the manga itself isn't dark, it still very well gives off the vibes of a cute, fluffy romance which makes the readers urge for more content. All in all, I totally recommend it!!

**Trigger Warnings: Suicidal ideation, mention of suicidal attempt and workplace harassment.

ARC was given by NetGalley and LOVE x LOVE in exchange for an honest review.

This review is being published before the release date (February 23rd, 2021)


Content/Trigger Warnings: Suicidal ideation and mentions of attempted suicide


“That day… I took a story by the hand.”

It’s very easy for me to fall in love with a manga and The Cat Proposed is no exception! I fell head over heels in love with the manga. Despite the dark themes of this book, I really enjoyed my time reading it. I really wish we would see more of this book or see it turned into a series. I’ve always loved the lore and mythology of the bakeneko of Japanese culture and knowing this manga exists, ugh, it filled my heart with so much warmth and excitement.

“We may be completely different, but I still want you.”

Our story follows Souta Matoi, a company worker, who’s contemplating suicide because nothing has changed, his life seems to be stuck in a terrible loop. Living the same routine day in and day out, overworked by his company, a deep exhaustion has set into his bones and he desperately wants to make a change. Then one fateful night Souta decides to change the routine by going to a kōdan storytelling. And that’s when his whole world begins to change. Starting with meeting Kihachi, the kōdan storyteller.

I really loved the way the author portrayed Souta and Kihachi. Though they seem like absolute polar opposites of one another, the chemistry between them is perfection. Souta is very timid and bashful, has a hard time expressing how they feel, declaring what they want. Whereas Kihachi is the opposite. Not only is Kahachi a bakeneko, but he’s very upfront about what he wants and direct with how things will work between one another. Also, they’re both sensitive beings who care very deeply for others. They’re both the type of people who puts everyone before their needs. And they just balance each other out so well. There’s some really hilarious side characters we get to meet as well. Yamabuki is absolutely hilarious and I enjoyed the little pokes of fun he has with Kihachi. Also, he’s a lover of stories like Kihachi is and somehow, between all their banter, you can tell they’re long-time friends!

“The light in the darkness is twinkling beautifully.”

If you haven’t guessed already, this manga involves Japanese mythology and folklore. Bakeneko appear a lot throughout Japanese history and culture. From works of literature and landmarks all the way to famous legends, bakeneko have played a role in Japan’s mythology and folklore. Most commonly found within the Endo period, but don’t quote me on that since there’s a chance they appeared during the Kamakura period with the nekomata, since they’re so similar. But I really loved how the author took that mythology and knowledge to weave their own tale. I think the author did a fantastic job of bringing to life the world of bakeneko and finding a way to encourage the reader to learn more about this mythology.

While I know it’s a dark turn of things, I want to take a moment to pause and appreciate the way the author wrote about suicide in this book. I think the author did really well at talking about what it means to be suicidal, to have suicidal thoughts, and to feel such a bone deep exhaustion that’s almost suffocating. And on top of that, I love how the author made sure to show how one person can save us from and how important little acts of kindness, endearment can truly make a difference. I thought it was beautifully and respectfully written.

Overall, I just really loved this manga. I truly wish the author would consider turning this into a series because I have no doubt that I would purchase the whole series for my manga collection. I loved it so, so much! I adored the characters, I really wanted to see more of the bakeneko community and their world. There’s so much untapped potential with this one book and honestly, I want more. I’m excited to see what this author will do next and I’m so glad I got to read an arc of this manga early.


The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.