Documenting The Lives Of Tokyo’s Stray Cats: 41 New Photos From Masayuki Oki

Reflecting on the lessons he’s learned from observing cats, Oki shared with Bored Panda, "Before starting cat photography, I didn't know that cats go all out to charm their way into getting food. When I saw this behavior, even the proudest cats would act affectionately to achieve their goal. At that time, I was a corporate employee and not a very affable person. My work wasn't going well, so I tried to apply the friendliness I learned from cats to improve it. Although it was too late to see any improvement, I learned it was an important lesson for me."

When it comes to capturing the perfect shot, Oki is no stranger to dedication. He detailed his process during trips to Japan’s famed "cat islands," explaining, "When I want to do a lot of shooting, I take a five-day trip to one of Japan’s cat islands. During these trips, I photograph relentlessly from sunrise to sunset. For instance, in mid-July, I visited a cat island in Kagawa Prefecture. I photographed from 5:00 AM to 8:30 AM, had breakfast, then photographed from around 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, had lunch, and continued photographing cats from around 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM. The photos I take are edited in Photoshop Lightroom on the same day."

Oki also delves into the philosophical side of photographing cats, likening them to teachers in his craft. "Sometimes I feel as if the cats are telling me to capture the moment, making them my photography teachers. Personally, I also love the photos by Henri Cartier-Bresson. I try to express my own personality by holding the camera and observing the cat's behavior (eye movements and reactions). Once you know the quirks, you can predict the future and find the best shooting position."

What makes photographing cats truly special, according to Oki, is the depth and complexity they bring to each image. He explained to us, "Cats are cute on the outside and adorable on the inside, where their fragile emotions are easily expressed in their attitudes. I realized that the relationships between cats and people are as complex as with humans and that each cat has its own identity. I like to express this in my photographs, where the moments and expressions reveal the individuality of each cat without overlooking them."

For Oki, the ultimate dream as a photographer is rooted in spreading happiness through his work. "I've been photographing cats for 10 years now. I've always hoped that my cat photos would bring happiness to people around the world, and I approach my photography with that belief. It might sound laughable, but my feelings about this haven’t changed. So, if I could hold a photo exhibition somewhere in the world and publish a photo book that brings happiness to someone, that would be great. I believe my dreams are gradually taking shape. Also, I hope to be able to photograph cats somewhere in the world."