Rudorufu to Ippaiattena

Rudolf is a little black cat that belongs to a girl who lives in a small town. One fateful day, when Rudolf swipes some fish from a fishmonger, a man spots him in the act and gives chase. Rudolf manages to hide in the trailer of a truck on its way to Tokyo. He arrives in the big city and meets a huge male tabby cat who turns out to be the local “boss.” Everywhere the “boss” goes, he gets called something different. The boss tells Rudolf that when it comes to names, he’s “got a lot” (ippai attena)—and Rudolf mistakenly assumes that his name is “Ippai Attena.”

    Although Rudolf wants to find his way home, he has no idea what the name of his hometown is. He has no choice but to rely on the helpful Ippai Attena. Ippai Attena used to have an owner, too, who actually taught him to read. But that owner later moved to the United States, leaving Ippai Attena to make his way as the biggest, baddest stray in the neighborhood. Rudolf spends his days by Ippai Attena’s side, learning the ins and outs of surviving on the streets from his older, wiser friend.

    Ippai Attena also teaches Rudolf to read, an ability that helps him finally figure out the name of his hometown. Rudolf prepares to head home, and Ippai Attena is there to help every step of the way—but just as Rudolf is about to set off, a vicious bulldog severely injures Ippai Attena in a fight. What is Rudolf to do?

    Humming along in brisk, crisp prose, this story is a portrait of two cats, their friendship, and their adventures together. Narrating from the cats’ perspective also lets the author paint the human world in a satirical light. Loved by young readers for years and even adapted into an animated film, the book stands as a classic in the genre. (SY)