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If the Cat Faces West #1
When a Cat Faces West, Volume 1
Flow—the phenomenon that occurs when matter falls out of balance and changes form. Flow creates oddities big and small that can be disruptive or delightful in equal measure, and it's up to Flow Disposal departments and independent contractors to shepherd the Flow back to its natural form. For Chima Kondo, a 35-year-old woman stuck in the body of a 12-year-old thanks to the effects of Flow, understanding how Flow works and how to disperse it has become critical. But when she joins Flow Disposal contractors Hirota and Shacho of Hirota Flow Inc., she finds that there's more to Flow than she once knew, and plenty more to find out... A supernatural story from the author of Mushishi!
190 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 22, 2019
6 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
Yuki Urushibara
29 books207 followersYuki Urushibara (漆原友紀) is a Japanese manga artist from Yamaguchi Prefecture.
She is best known for the series Mushishi, for which she received an Excellence Prize for manga at the 2003 Japan Media Arts Festival and the 2006 Kodansha Manga Award for general manga.
She is also known by the pen name Soyogo Shima (志摩 冬青 Shima Soyogo).
She is best known for the series Mushishi, for which she received an Excellence Prize for manga at the 2003 Japan Media Arts Festival and the 2006 Kodansha Manga Award for general manga.
She is also known by the pen name Soyogo Shima (志摩 冬青 Shima Soyogo).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
June 12, 2022
So here's the deal - underneath reality there's something called flow, and flow is very sensitive to human emotions. Sometimes strong emotions can disrupt flow, which then disrupts reality. This can mean that houses can disappear, or that people disappear, or much stranger things than that.
And there are people whose job it is to find out why the flow has become disrupted, and either sort out what causes it, or at least determine how long the disruption will last. Hirota, a young man, runs such an outlet, called Hirota Flow Inc - think a plumbing repair business but for flow, including a little van. Hirota has a cat, because it turns out cats are exceptionally good at detecting flow and its disturbances (of course they are).
Hirota meets a 12-year-old girl, Chima Kondo, who turns out to be a 35-year-old trapped in the 12-year-old version of herself, by - you guessed it! - problems with the flow.
Well I really liked this. I love weird fiction, and that tends to lean more into dread and horror, but there's none of that here! It's all just really pleasant. Sure, a little girl gets lost in endless copies of our reality by stepping through her mirror, but not worry, Hirota Flow Inc will find her!
And get this: the art is wonderful too! *fist pump* YEAHH!
(Thanks to Kodansha for providing me with a review copy through NetGalley)
May 10, 2022
There's a fine line between science fiction and fantasy, and Yuki Urushibara knows how to delicately straddle it. When a Cat Faces West is a fascinating story about what happens when "flow" - the emotional detritus of the universe - backs up and warps the world around it. Hirota and his feline sidekick Shacho work as flow professionals, helping to fix problems or at least give an estimate of when it will right itself. There's an equal use of spiritual and scientific elements within the story, and with the detailed backgrounds and plainer characters moving through them, a sense of intriguing unreality to the who thing. Even if I wasn't predisposed to a story with a cat in it this would be a good one in its blend of what is real and what we simply believe to be.
May 6, 2022
First, my gratitude to Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced reading copy of this series in exchange for an honest review.
The story began with Chima Kondo as a city hall's recommendation for Hirota Flow Inc. The boss, Hirota, took Chima with him to the client's residential area in order to solve another problem which is called the "flow".
When someone's thoughts and feelings resonated with the flow of the world, a bizarre phenomenon emerges in a particularly misty spot. Chima Kondo was a "victim" of this irregularity in the flow of time. Lost in thought, she passed a mist while going home and found out that her physical body traveled back in time making her exist like a 12-year-old girl in appearance. Because of this physical problem in her, she quit her office job and found work in Hirota Flow Inc.
The art is so pretty with vivid and refreshing scenery. The characterization arcs are top-notch, and each case solved is mystifying if not haunting (I'm afraid of mirrors, okay) that it brought me to tears. This series is just raw and that's what made it compelling.
I can't even begin to tell you how this series made me smile. And there is a cat!! It is so wholesome and simply beautiful. This deserves the 5 of 5 stars (or even greater than that.) I would so love to read the next volumes!
And I'll definitely say yes to an animated movie adaptation of this series directed by Hayao Miyazaki, please!
The story began with Chima Kondo as a city hall's recommendation for Hirota Flow Inc. The boss, Hirota, took Chima with him to the client's residential area in order to solve another problem which is called the "flow".
When someone's thoughts and feelings resonated with the flow of the world, a bizarre phenomenon emerges in a particularly misty spot. Chima Kondo was a "victim" of this irregularity in the flow of time. Lost in thought, she passed a mist while going home and found out that her physical body traveled back in time making her exist like a 12-year-old girl in appearance. Because of this physical problem in her, she quit her office job and found work in Hirota Flow Inc.
The art is so pretty with vivid and refreshing scenery. The characterization arcs are top-notch, and each case solved is mystifying if not haunting (I'm afraid of mirrors, okay) that it brought me to tears. This series is just raw and that's what made it compelling.
I can't even begin to tell you how this series made me smile. And there is a cat!! It is so wholesome and simply beautiful. This deserves the 5 of 5 stars (or even greater than that.) I would so love to read the next volumes!
And I'll definitely say yes to an animated movie adaptation of this series directed by Hayao Miyazaki, please!
May 17, 2022
In this story, we are dealing with a concept called flow. It is related to people's feelings, and they they are overwhelmed or lost, the world around them changes, effecting everyone around them. Our two characters come and help them figure out what is out of balance, and set things right.
This one is good, but not great for me. I think there are other series out there with a similar feel and format that are doing it a bit better. I had a good time, but it's not quite for me.
This one is good, but not great for me. I think there are other series out there with a similar feel and format that are doing it a bit better. I had a good time, but it's not quite for me.
May 16, 2022
[Thanks to Kodansha and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]
Flow occurs when matter becomes unbalanced and changes form. Which is basically permission for it to do just about anything. Chima has experienced this firsthand and, now working with Hirota and one very popular cat, she’s going to learn how messy and odd this whole business can be.
If it wasn’t already advertised as being written by the creator or Mushishi, it’s pretty obvious within a couple of stories, just from the style and content. It’s been a few years since I read any of that series, but this one is a bit more modern and a bit less mystical.
Our leads are an amiable pairing. Chima’s got a great head on her shoulders, despite being stuck in a very young body and she contrasts well with Hirota’s lazy, more childish vibe, even though he’s ostensibly the adult. It’s not the most clever contrast ever, but it does really work.
And their cases are interesting. I appreciated the variety here - Flow is more a force of nature than it is anything malicious, but that means that literally anything can happen and this gives free reign to the mangaka’s creativity.
Sometimes the events are benign - a cherry tree shows up from the past - but the people involved make them worse. Sometimes the company saves the day, other times they simply aren’t able to. Sometimes Flow is dangerous, other times it’s downright whimsical.
The best story is probably the one about the mirror, which starts off as a bit of a creepy little thing that could have gone rather far down that route, but actually gets downright goofy towards the end. While it seems pretty foolhardy, the way Hirota solves this one is great.
And it would be remiss of me to not mention Shacho, the cat who appears to live with Hirota, but might belong to the entire neighborhood. Cats are especially sensitive to Flow and that’s as good an excuse as any for some really dopey cat antics (in the best way).
As a weird little slice-of-weird-life and a bunch of varied tidbits, this is pretty fun. Little bits of continuity pop up here and there, but you could read most of these out of order and not notice much difference. If there is a more driving narrative it is remaining resolutely invisible for now.
It’s not the most gripping thing ever - stakes seem to be set firmly in the ‘this is very annoying’ camp rather than world-threatening calamity. Even Chima seems pretty chill about her predicament. So, the lackadaisical pace won’t be for everybody; this can be positively sedate at times.
4 stars - a strong book and I do love little mini-narratives where a problem shows up and vanishes now and then, so I suspect I’ll add this to my regular reads because it was quite enjoyable.
Flow occurs when matter becomes unbalanced and changes form. Which is basically permission for it to do just about anything. Chima has experienced this firsthand and, now working with Hirota and one very popular cat, she’s going to learn how messy and odd this whole business can be.
If it wasn’t already advertised as being written by the creator or Mushishi, it’s pretty obvious within a couple of stories, just from the style and content. It’s been a few years since I read any of that series, but this one is a bit more modern and a bit less mystical.
Our leads are an amiable pairing. Chima’s got a great head on her shoulders, despite being stuck in a very young body and she contrasts well with Hirota’s lazy, more childish vibe, even though he’s ostensibly the adult. It’s not the most clever contrast ever, but it does really work.
And their cases are interesting. I appreciated the variety here - Flow is more a force of nature than it is anything malicious, but that means that literally anything can happen and this gives free reign to the mangaka’s creativity.
Sometimes the events are benign - a cherry tree shows up from the past - but the people involved make them worse. Sometimes the company saves the day, other times they simply aren’t able to. Sometimes Flow is dangerous, other times it’s downright whimsical.
The best story is probably the one about the mirror, which starts off as a bit of a creepy little thing that could have gone rather far down that route, but actually gets downright goofy towards the end. While it seems pretty foolhardy, the way Hirota solves this one is great.
And it would be remiss of me to not mention Shacho, the cat who appears to live with Hirota, but might belong to the entire neighborhood. Cats are especially sensitive to Flow and that’s as good an excuse as any for some really dopey cat antics (in the best way).
As a weird little slice-of-weird-life and a bunch of varied tidbits, this is pretty fun. Little bits of continuity pop up here and there, but you could read most of these out of order and not notice much difference. If there is a more driving narrative it is remaining resolutely invisible for now.
It’s not the most gripping thing ever - stakes seem to be set firmly in the ‘this is very annoying’ camp rather than world-threatening calamity. Even Chima seems pretty chill about her predicament. So, the lackadaisical pace won’t be for everybody; this can be positively sedate at times.
4 stars - a strong book and I do love little mini-narratives where a problem shows up and vanishes now and then, so I suspect I’ll add this to my regular reads because it was quite enjoyable.
June 4, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for a free review copy!
This was a fantastic first volume! We follow Chima Kondo who has just got a new job at Flow Disposal. Her boss, Hirota, shows her the ropes surrounding Flow. Flow is the phenomenon that occurs when matter falls out of balance and changes form. Hirota and Kondo along with their office cat, Shacho, go out into the world and try to rebalance the Flow that's out of whack. Along the way, Hirota and Kondo learn about each other and help out the citizens that have been affected by Flow. Overall, this was a great first volume, one of my favorites so far this year. I can't wait to read the next volume!
This was a fantastic first volume! We follow Chima Kondo who has just got a new job at Flow Disposal. Her boss, Hirota, shows her the ropes surrounding Flow. Flow is the phenomenon that occurs when matter falls out of balance and changes form. Hirota and Kondo along with their office cat, Shacho, go out into the world and try to rebalance the Flow that's out of whack. Along the way, Hirota and Kondo learn about each other and help out the citizens that have been affected by Flow. Overall, this was a great first volume, one of my favorites so far this year. I can't wait to read the next volume!
August 30, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Coming from the mangaka of Mushishi, this does not disappoint at all and I love it! Its very heartwarmimg with a bit of fantastical elements and i aniticpated for the series to continue so looking forward to more.
Coming from the mangaka of Mushishi, this does not disappoint at all and I love it! Its very heartwarmimg with a bit of fantastical elements and i aniticpated for the series to continue so looking forward to more.
May 29, 2022
To me, this story had a very unique premise and I liked that it was a story with two adults, but not one hint of romance. They were co-workers (though she was in the body of a 12 year old version of her, so romance would have been gross, so I'm glad it didn't go there), an odd-couple, but they worked well together and had mysteries to solve. Her mystery hasn't been solved yet, but I will keep reading and see what happens when it has been resolved.
I like how cats are vital to the process of what they do. Not keen on the cat roaming about as an outdoor cat, not safe, but the cats in this book seem to have more of an ability to protect themselves then cats in real life.
The artwork was really soft and gentle and the mysteries weren't of the harsh, murder-variety, so I would say it's not too adult for middle reader and up.
I absolutely LOVED this and will most DEFINITELY read the next in the series.
5, enthusiastic, stars!
My thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
I like how cats are vital to the process of what they do. Not keen on the cat roaming about as an outdoor cat, not safe, but the cats in this book seem to have more of an ability to protect themselves then cats in real life.
The artwork was really soft and gentle and the mysteries weren't of the harsh, murder-variety, so I would say it's not too adult for middle reader and up.
I absolutely LOVED this and will most DEFINITELY read the next in the series.
5, enthusiastic, stars!
My thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2021
I really really reeeeally loved this manga but it was probably canceled by the magazine as it only has three volumes. It's a shame.. this first one was better than a lot of stuff that is ongoing today. this is better than mushishi, no joke. it's kind of iyashikei fantasy/slice of life magic realism, perfect to go on for years and years until it becomes a well-known comfort reading.
it's really a shame that such captivating work it's so short. I think the best thing to do is take a break between volumes so it doesn't end too quickly. overall, I'm happy I found this and sad for the same reason.
* sigh *... 5 shiny twinkle silverly stars and a toast to all the unfinished masterpieces. I'm going to cry in my room now.
it's really a shame that such captivating work it's so short. I think the best thing to do is take a break between volumes so it doesn't end too quickly. overall, I'm happy I found this and sad for the same reason.
* sigh *... 5 shiny twinkle silverly stars and a toast to all the unfinished masterpieces. I'm going to cry in my room now.
May 23, 2022
Rating: 4.5 leaves out of 5
Characters: 4/5
Cover: 4/5
Story: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Genre:Scifi
Type: Manga
Worth?: Yes!
First want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review! I really enjoyed this manga. I could honestly see this turning into an anime. The characters, for the most part, are likeable. There is a cat... for those of you who like cats. In all seriousness I am glad I requested to read this one. The mystery behind the Flow is great and I can't wait for the second volume. I can't get enough of these two as well!
Characters: 4/5
Cover: 4/5
Story: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Genre:Scifi
Type: Manga
Worth?: Yes!
First want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review! I really enjoyed this manga. I could honestly see this turning into an anime. The characters, for the most part, are likeable. There is a cat... for those of you who like cats. In all seriousness I am glad I requested to read this one. The mystery behind the Flow is great and I can't wait for the second volume. I can't get enough of these two as well!
May 6, 2022
En la ciudad hay flows que cambian el entorno de los lugares dependiendo los sentimientos que quién se encuentre en ese momento ahí y el prota es quién se encarga de que todo vuelva a la normalidad y tiene un gato.
En algunas partes lo encontré lento pero me gusta que los flow son todos diferentes por diferentes miedos.
thanks to netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
En algunas partes lo encontré lento pero me gusta que los flow son todos diferentes por diferentes miedos.
thanks to netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Read
November 28, 2021Structure épisodique avec cette nouvelle série, les émotions des gens impactent le monde autour d'eux et créent des "flow", des modifications spatiales du monde. Un peu dur à expliquer, mais j'ai aimé les pages un peu irréelles que ça pouvait donner.
Sinon pour les personnages ils sont sympa, je suis juste un peu gênée par un element
Sinon pour les personnages ils sont sympa, je suis juste un peu gênée par un element
June 28, 2019
Imagine a world with something called the Flow, a phenomenon that often looks like mist and can change the biggest or tiniest things. Sounds amazing? Well... there are downsides. Luckily there are people who can help out...ish.
I was so happy when I found out that the reason why this manga looks so much like Mushishi is because it is by the artist who also did that one! She has a new one and again with plenty of mystery and magical going-ons and a main lead who is pretty chill/laid-back. Of course I knew right away that I would love this one. Mushishi was just amazing, and I was looking forward to something new that is magical.
In this world there is something called the Flow. It is pretty innocent (at least from what I could gather reading these chapters), though it makes life not that easy. There are various types of it going by what Hirota said in the beginning and what we see in each new case. Flow works in a way like a wish, someone has a strong feeling/thought/wish and if everything connects it may happen that those thoughts/wishes/feelings resonated with the Flow and poof it happens. Like the guy who didn't want to deliver to yet another apartment building and lo and behold the building disappeared and the grounds turned to the years before the building was there. And sometimes Flow is just there. Like for instance the girl with the mirror, though I do feel like maybe she did make a wish/had a feeling of loneliness to have the Flow do something.
How long something stays changed? Sometimes it is gone in a matter of hours (like with the first one), but sometimes it can take years. Sometimes Flow can be solved by just unravelling thoughts/feelings, other times you just have to wait.
We follow Hirota and Chima as they try to help out people, Hirota is a Flow pro and can pretty precisely tell when a Flow will go, which I found absolutely amazing, and he also tries to calm people down as people are of course not always happy with the situation. Chima is new to the business and wants to work with Hirota. She has a bit of a history, an interesting one even, though I did feel sorry for her. Life mustn't have been easy for her after that happened. Alongside with them is Shachou, a white cat with a moustache who is always with them on the job. Cats can feel the Flow and tend to go for the spots where it is concentrated the both. This makes him a valuable asset even if Chima was very doubtful about it at first (and who can blame her given how Shachou looks and acts :P).
The cases that we see pass by are interesting, though the mirror one gave me a big headache as it was really trippy. That is all I will say, you will have to read it yourself to find out why.
It was really chill and fun to read this one, it has the same feeling as Mushishi. Soft, fluffy, slice of life, but still with magic and weirdness. I will be continuing with this series.
The art, well just as in Mushishi, it was just fabulous. The mangaka has a wonderful style and I just love how it fits with the story. Though the MC looks quite a bit like Ginko, only younger and a bit more laid-back.
All in all, highly recommended to all.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I was so happy when I found out that the reason why this manga looks so much like Mushishi is because it is by the artist who also did that one! She has a new one and again with plenty of mystery and magical going-ons and a main lead who is pretty chill/laid-back. Of course I knew right away that I would love this one. Mushishi was just amazing, and I was looking forward to something new that is magical.
In this world there is something called the Flow. It is pretty innocent (at least from what I could gather reading these chapters), though it makes life not that easy. There are various types of it going by what Hirota said in the beginning and what we see in each new case. Flow works in a way like a wish, someone has a strong feeling/thought/wish and if everything connects it may happen that those thoughts/wishes/feelings resonated with the Flow and poof it happens. Like the guy who didn't want to deliver to yet another apartment building and lo and behold the building disappeared and the grounds turned to the years before the building was there. And sometimes Flow is just there. Like for instance the girl with the mirror, though I do feel like maybe she did make a wish/had a feeling of loneliness to have the Flow do something.
How long something stays changed? Sometimes it is gone in a matter of hours (like with the first one), but sometimes it can take years. Sometimes Flow can be solved by just unravelling thoughts/feelings, other times you just have to wait.
We follow Hirota and Chima as they try to help out people, Hirota is a Flow pro and can pretty precisely tell when a Flow will go, which I found absolutely amazing, and he also tries to calm people down as people are of course not always happy with the situation. Chima is new to the business and wants to work with Hirota. She has a bit of a history, an interesting one even, though I did feel sorry for her. Life mustn't have been easy for her after that happened. Alongside with them is Shachou, a white cat with a moustache who is always with them on the job. Cats can feel the Flow and tend to go for the spots where it is concentrated the both. This makes him a valuable asset even if Chima was very doubtful about it at first (and who can blame her given how Shachou looks and acts :P).
The cases that we see pass by are interesting, though the mirror one gave me a big headache as it was really trippy. That is all I will say, you will have to read it yourself to find out why.
It was really chill and fun to read this one, it has the same feeling as Mushishi. Soft, fluffy, slice of life, but still with magic and weirdness. I will be continuing with this series.
The art, well just as in Mushishi, it was just fabulous. The mangaka has a wonderful style and I just love how it fits with the story. Though the MC looks quite a bit like Ginko, only younger and a bit more laid-back.
All in all, highly recommended to all.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
May 14, 2022
Flow: The Fluctuation of Space, when matters that exists in our world that is constantly moving and swaying has a fall out of balance and changes form.
Such a mellow-toned manga that borders between sci-fi and fantasy in the modern world. The concept of the disruption of matter and spaces are such a fascinating idea and I loved how the mangaka did an excellent job in portraying the story, of people, life and generally, reality of lives of people.
Personal Ratings : 4.25🌟
The world that we live in are affected by "The Flow" where changes in the original state of matter exists. It can be a branch of roads that suddenly exists, or a house that suddenly disappears. Following that, Hirota Flow Inc is a company that specializes in Flow Disposal Service, and we follow on a series of Hirota and his new part timer in disposing flow. An interesting story that is set in the modern world on views in life and how some things that we feel minor plays a bigger role in our lives.
Personal Thoughts
This manga is a lighthearted manga that was wholesome , cute and had that mellow feel whenever I read an Asian Lit book. I liked the concept of Flow and how the disposal company is in charge of making it right again. Hirota is a very simplistic man with a forward mindset while his new part timer, who looks like a 16 year old but has a mind of a 30 year old is more of a stickler to rules, but they somehow compliment each other. I liked how the its sci-fi and fantasy but it stays on that borderline where you won't feel overwhelmed while reading it. The realities of people everyday and how the flow is a reflection of the human is something interesting to interpret, in a sense that, whatever that a person wishes and focuses on one's emotion too much, it will disrupt the matter and eventually withheld natural activities of others around them as well.
Super interesting concept, love the characters and the drawing style is one that I liked too. Highly recommended !
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the e-ARC of this manga!
May 9, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for an advanced digital copy to read and review.
Hirota operates a flow disposal service with Shachou the cat. Flow is when matter becomes distorted or disrupted due to a variety of reasons such as strong emotions or reverting back to a previous state. Chima is a new hire and her life has been deeply affected by flow. She is a 35 year old woman in the body of her 12 year old self!
Hirota and Chima’s adventures have an episodic, slice-of-life, paranormal investigation quality that I thoroughly enjoyed. The art is wonderful, especially the highly detailed and “lived in” background scenery. I was disappointed to find out that there are only 3 volumes in this series! This is from the creator of Mushishi, and if you are a fan of that series, I’m sure you will enjoy this one.
Hirota operates a flow disposal service with Shachou the cat. Flow is when matter becomes distorted or disrupted due to a variety of reasons such as strong emotions or reverting back to a previous state. Chima is a new hire and her life has been deeply affected by flow. She is a 35 year old woman in the body of her 12 year old self!
Hirota and Chima’s adventures have an episodic, slice-of-life, paranormal investigation quality that I thoroughly enjoyed. The art is wonderful, especially the highly detailed and “lived in” background scenery. I was disappointed to find out that there are only 3 volumes in this series! This is from the creator of Mushishi, and if you are a fan of that series, I’m sure you will enjoy this one.
May 3, 2022
What an interesting concept!
A lot of world building went into this first volume, so it was a little light on character development, but I hope future volumes can balance that out a bit as readers become more familiar with the concept of Flow and it's idiosyncrasies.
I really want to see Chima especially develop as a character and perhaps pick up some Flow related skills.
Also, always hoping for more Sacho (the cat).
A lot of world building went into this first volume, so it was a little light on character development, but I hope future volumes can balance that out a bit as readers become more familiar with the concept of Flow and it's idiosyncrasies.
I really want to see Chima especially develop as a character and perhaps pick up some Flow related skills.
Also, always hoping for more Sacho (the cat).
May 15, 2022
I felt this was a nice slice of life style manga, filled with adventure. I will say that when it came to dispelling the “flow” I wish it wasn’t so quick, it’d be nice to see our dynamic duo.p have to work harder to save the day. I also wish there was more in-depth explanation as to what “flow” is and how it came to be, perhaps in future volumes? Overall this was a nice read and I’d definitely recommend it if a change of pace or smile is needed.
June 12, 2022
Gatetes que perciben fenómenos extraños en la realidad. Ya está todo dicho.
February 21, 2023
Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this manga to review!
This manga follows Chima, Hirota, and Shacho the Cat; the employees of a Flow Disposal Specialist Unit, as they deal with the consequences of the fluctuations of matter: known as Flow.
This comes from the highly acclaimed mangaka of Mushishi, so you can expect the same quiet extraordinaryness.
It follows an episodic formula reminicent of a monster of the week setup but of course with each passing incident the team has to deal with, the layers of understanding of Flow are peeled back and an insight into the characters are revealed leading to a strengthening of their bonds and a growing attachment from the reader. By the end of this first volume, I defy anyone not to have fallen in love with these characters and this world.
I cannot rate this highly enough - this is MY JAM!!! And I want a physical copy one day Kodansha! Make it happen!
This manga follows Chima, Hirota, and Shacho the Cat; the employees of a Flow Disposal Specialist Unit, as they deal with the consequences of the fluctuations of matter: known as Flow.
This comes from the highly acclaimed mangaka of Mushishi, so you can expect the same quiet extraordinaryness.
It follows an episodic formula reminicent of a monster of the week setup but of course with each passing incident the team has to deal with, the layers of understanding of Flow are peeled back and an insight into the characters are revealed leading to a strengthening of their bonds and a growing attachment from the reader. By the end of this first volume, I defy anyone not to have fallen in love with these characters and this world.
I cannot rate this highly enough - this is MY JAM!!! And I want a physical copy one day Kodansha! Make it happen!
July 1, 2022
A contemporary tale from one of my favorite mangaka! This has some of the same trends as Mushishi, being fairly episodic, with supernatural/paranormal elements, and Hirota and Chima facing cases as they come.
Flow is a strange, unpredictable force that can alter reality, and Hirota is a Flow Disposal expert. Chima begins working for him after Flow affects her personally. She's a 35-year-old woman, but she looks like a 12-year-old girl. She's straightforward, smart, and diligent. He's disheveled, lazy, and very good at his job.
Wonderful set-up. I'm excited for the stories this will bring. Subscribing to the series.
Flow is a strange, unpredictable force that can alter reality, and Hirota is a Flow Disposal expert. Chima begins working for him after Flow affects her personally. She's a 35-year-old woman, but she looks like a 12-year-old girl. She's straightforward, smart, and diligent. He's disheveled, lazy, and very good at his job.
Wonderful set-up. I'm excited for the stories this will bring. Subscribing to the series.
May 7, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
When a Cat Faces West, a new series from Yuki Urushibara, the author of Mushishi, follows the employees of Hirota Flow Inc. Chima Kondo becomes a Flow Disposal contractor and begins working with Hirota and Shacho of Hirota Flow Inc. after an incident where Flow changes her from a thirty-five-year-old woman to a twelve-year-old girl. The entire world of this manga is affected by a phenomenon called Flow, which occurs when matter falls out of balance and changes form. Flow creates oddities big and small that can be disruptive or delightful in equal measure, and it's up to Flow Disposal departments and independent contractors to shepherd the Flow back to its natural form.
This manga is completely a slice-of-life story, with a slow and relaxed plot. The way chapters are broken up makes each chapter feel like it's an episode of an anime. One of our main characters, Chima, is very interesting. Prior to her flow accident, she was a businesswoman. But due to the incident changing her into a twelve-year-old, her clients and coworkers stopped respecting her or trusting her, even though mentally she is still very much a thirty-five-year-old adult. The first volume didn't dive too deep into this plot point, though hopefully, it will in later volumes. The small parts I did see, of Chima having to try to balance the fact that she's got a thirty-five-year-old mind in a twelve-year-old body is an interesting struggle. Hirota, the owner of Hirota Flow Inc, is an incredibly laid-back guy. Seeing the way that he handles Flow incidents, and his way of correcting Flow errors, all done in a completely relaxed manner, was interesting. I do love the small plot point of cats being able to sense Flow. It reminds me of a bit of myths about cats in real life, where it's commonly believed that cats can sense or "see" the supernatural. This story is a lovely blend of slice of life, with supernatural and fantasy elements. Also, the author's note where she mentions that "it's the kind of manga that features a lot of evocative scenery...like traffic mirrors, rusty guardrails, narrow alleys, and dirty concrete." was so charming. I also personally love that type of style in manga, so I completely understand where she is coming from! The art style itself is also really nice. Simple but charming, and the scenery is just so good to look at. Looking forward to volume two when it releases!
When a Cat Faces West, a new series from Yuki Urushibara, the author of Mushishi, follows the employees of Hirota Flow Inc. Chima Kondo becomes a Flow Disposal contractor and begins working with Hirota and Shacho of Hirota Flow Inc. after an incident where Flow changes her from a thirty-five-year-old woman to a twelve-year-old girl. The entire world of this manga is affected by a phenomenon called Flow, which occurs when matter falls out of balance and changes form. Flow creates oddities big and small that can be disruptive or delightful in equal measure, and it's up to Flow Disposal departments and independent contractors to shepherd the Flow back to its natural form.
This manga is completely a slice-of-life story, with a slow and relaxed plot. The way chapters are broken up makes each chapter feel like it's an episode of an anime. One of our main characters, Chima, is very interesting. Prior to her flow accident, she was a businesswoman. But due to the incident changing her into a twelve-year-old, her clients and coworkers stopped respecting her or trusting her, even though mentally she is still very much a thirty-five-year-old adult. The first volume didn't dive too deep into this plot point, though hopefully, it will in later volumes. The small parts I did see, of Chima having to try to balance the fact that she's got a thirty-five-year-old mind in a twelve-year-old body is an interesting struggle. Hirota, the owner of Hirota Flow Inc, is an incredibly laid-back guy. Seeing the way that he handles Flow incidents, and his way of correcting Flow errors, all done in a completely relaxed manner, was interesting. I do love the small plot point of cats being able to sense Flow. It reminds me of a bit of myths about cats in real life, where it's commonly believed that cats can sense or "see" the supernatural. This story is a lovely blend of slice of life, with supernatural and fantasy elements. Also, the author's note where she mentions that "it's the kind of manga that features a lot of evocative scenery...like traffic mirrors, rusty guardrails, narrow alleys, and dirty concrete." was so charming. I also personally love that type of style in manga, so I completely understand where she is coming from! The art style itself is also really nice. Simple but charming, and the scenery is just so good to look at. Looking forward to volume two when it releases!
June 24, 2025
Primera entrega de lo que es la trilogía Cuando los gatos miran al oeste. Hay mucha reminiscencia de Mushi-shi, historia que no he leído en manga, pero que sí he visto en su versión anime. No soy muy ducho en tema de mangas, y mucho menos de anime, pero Mushi-shi me impresionó de veras con su acercamiento calmado y contemplativo a la naturaleza episódica de los casos de Ginko, el protagonista. La experiencia pareció verse confirmada por mi lectura de Suiiki, dos volúmenes que narran los problemas y estragos asociados al paso del tiempo, y —aunque en menor medida» Filamentos, una colección de los trabajos tempranos de la 'mangaka' que variaban en extensión y calidad.
Como decía, en este primer volumen de Cuando los gatos miran al oeste, hay mucho que recuerda a Mushi-shi: el elemento sobrenatural/paranormal que manipula la realidad, la necesidad de controlarlo mediante un experto en la materia e incluso la apariencia del protagonista. El tono, contemplativo y pausado, también parece hacerse eco de la calmada atmósfera de su predecesor. Sin embargo, no veo que los casos tengan la trascendencia que sí podían llegar a tener en Mushi-shi. El primero de ellos, que entiendo puede servir como una ejemplificación de cómo funciona el mundo en el que nos insertan, se resuelve de forma un tanto repentina, sin apenas fricción ni conflicto. El resto, bellos a su manera y con elementos francamente apreciables, tampoco terminan de levantar el vuelo del todo.
Quizá tenga que acostumbrarme al modo en el que Urushibara opera en Cuando los gatos miran al oeste. Hay suficientes alicientes como para mantenerme enganchado a su lectura y son solo dos volúmenes más los que me faltan para terminarlo, así que no es ningún drama.
Como decía, en este primer volumen de Cuando los gatos miran al oeste, hay mucho que recuerda a Mushi-shi: el elemento sobrenatural/paranormal que manipula la realidad, la necesidad de controlarlo mediante un experto en la materia e incluso la apariencia del protagonista. El tono, contemplativo y pausado, también parece hacerse eco de la calmada atmósfera de su predecesor. Sin embargo, no veo que los casos tengan la trascendencia que sí podían llegar a tener en Mushi-shi. El primero de ellos, que entiendo puede servir como una ejemplificación de cómo funciona el mundo en el que nos insertan, se resuelve de forma un tanto repentina, sin apenas fricción ni conflicto. El resto, bellos a su manera y con elementos francamente apreciables, tampoco terminan de levantar el vuelo del todo.
Quizá tenga que acostumbrarme al modo en el que Urushibara opera en Cuando los gatos miran al oeste. Hay suficientes alicientes como para mantenerme enganchado a su lectura y son solo dos volúmenes más los que me faltan para terminarlo, así que no es ningún drama.
May 8, 2022
This is a cool sci-fi manga with a very original premise. It takes place in a world like ours where a phenomenon called flow can alter reality. Flow comes and goes but when it accumulates in one location it can cause changes to the physical world. In the story we see some examples of flow disturbances, one type is when flow interacts with humans and adapts the area around them based on their fears or worries. Other examples are when flow creates a wormhole or path into an alternate reality or when flow causes a time warp, sometimes making buildings disappear as a location reverts to the way it looked a number of years ago.
In the story we follow Chima who has been affected by flow that changed her 35-year old body into that of a 12-year old. After this causes problems for her at work she gets a new job working with Hirota who is a flow specialist. When flow causes problems people call him to come and try to get things to go back to normal. Helping him is his not-so-faithful sidekick Shacho the cat. Chima is an organised and structured person whereas Hirota works mostly based on gut feeling out of his cluttered office, which causes some frustration between them at times, but they generally get along well.
Each chapter in the manga covers one flow incident that Hirota and Chima are called to solve. The cases are not connected and there is no real overarching plot other than Hirota and Chima getting to know each other and Chima learning about flow. I enjoyed reading about this fantastical world, but I would have liked a stronger main plotline in order to really connect with the story. I enjoyed reading it and will probably continue when the next volume comes out.
In the story we follow Chima who has been affected by flow that changed her 35-year old body into that of a 12-year old. After this causes problems for her at work she gets a new job working with Hirota who is a flow specialist. When flow causes problems people call him to come and try to get things to go back to normal. Helping him is his not-so-faithful sidekick Shacho the cat. Chima is an organised and structured person whereas Hirota works mostly based on gut feeling out of his cluttered office, which causes some frustration between them at times, but they generally get along well.
Each chapter in the manga covers one flow incident that Hirota and Chima are called to solve. The cases are not connected and there is no real overarching plot other than Hirota and Chima getting to know each other and Chima learning about flow. I enjoyed reading about this fantastical world, but I would have liked a stronger main plotline in order to really connect with the story. I enjoyed reading it and will probably continue when the next volume comes out.
May 18, 2022
This week I took some time to sit down and binge a bunch of manga since it has been a while. Out of the ten volumes I read, I think When a Cat Faces West Volume 1 is my favorite. It's unique, offering a fresh perspective on the supernatural/paranormal.
Flow is a (natural?) phenomenon that the city has been forced to deal with for years. Where it appears everything can change, oddities arise, people disappear, and the rules of physics alter. That's where the Flow Disposal department comes into play. It's their job to find the Flow source and help resolve it when possible.
Chima Kondo is the newest Flow Disposal recruit. She knows firsthand how much Flow can change a person – after all, she's a thirty-five-year-old woman currently residing in the body of a twelve-year-old.
Wow. When a Cat Faces West Volume 1 was an utterly enchanting story! I'll admit that it took me a while to get into the flow of things (sorry, not sorry). But once I did, I was hooked. I will have to look up the rest of this series and read it because I have to know more.
There are three main characters in this series, Chima, Hirota, and Shacho. While I love them all, Shacho (the Flow sensing cat) is my favorite. No surprise there, right?
When a Cat Faces West Volume 1 is similar to a freak of the week story, where it's a series of different events revolving around Flow. I enjoyed these adventures and cannot wait to read more.
Thanks to Kodansha Comics and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Comics
Flow is a (natural?) phenomenon that the city has been forced to deal with for years. Where it appears everything can change, oddities arise, people disappear, and the rules of physics alter. That's where the Flow Disposal department comes into play. It's their job to find the Flow source and help resolve it when possible.
Chima Kondo is the newest Flow Disposal recruit. She knows firsthand how much Flow can change a person – after all, she's a thirty-five-year-old woman currently residing in the body of a twelve-year-old.
Wow. When a Cat Faces West Volume 1 was an utterly enchanting story! I'll admit that it took me a while to get into the flow of things (sorry, not sorry). But once I did, I was hooked. I will have to look up the rest of this series and read it because I have to know more.
There are three main characters in this series, Chima, Hirota, and Shacho. While I love them all, Shacho (the Flow sensing cat) is my favorite. No surprise there, right?
When a Cat Faces West Volume 1 is similar to a freak of the week story, where it's a series of different events revolving around Flow. I enjoyed these adventures and cannot wait to read more.
Thanks to Kodansha Comics and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Comics
February 8, 2024
I received a copy from Kodansha Comics through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Chima Kondo’s life changed when Flow changed her from a 35-year-old woman to a physically pre-teen version of herself. Work was her life, and since no one took her seriously anymore, she’s been lost ever since she was forced to leave her job. Now that Chima is interviewing for a job in Flow Disposal, she’s hoping to figure out how to reverse its effects on herself, but now she’s learning there’s an entirely new and interesting world out there. Who knew Flow could be so interesting and complex?
I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting into when I picked this up, but the author had me hooked within a few pages. Flow is such an interesting concept, especially because it’s often related to people’s feelings. I had a lot of fun learning about this world and the sci-fi/fantasy aspects of it. It’s really carried by Chima, her boss, and his cat. There’s characters that come in and out, but there’s one character who is her boss’s rival of sorts that’s really interesting. I hope we get to see more of him as the series progresses.
All in all, this is a great book. There’s excellent characters and storylines on top of amazing artwork. I’m interested in learning about Flow and what it means to this world and its characters, but also seeing how the characters continue to develop. Plus, it’s hilarious to see what the cat gets up to! I loved when we got to see the cat paradise of sorts seemingly created by the cats through Flow. It’s a great balance between sci-fi and fantasy with a touch of the supernatural.
Chima Kondo’s life changed when Flow changed her from a 35-year-old woman to a physically pre-teen version of herself. Work was her life, and since no one took her seriously anymore, she’s been lost ever since she was forced to leave her job. Now that Chima is interviewing for a job in Flow Disposal, she’s hoping to figure out how to reverse its effects on herself, but now she’s learning there’s an entirely new and interesting world out there. Who knew Flow could be so interesting and complex?
I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting into when I picked this up, but the author had me hooked within a few pages. Flow is such an interesting concept, especially because it’s often related to people’s feelings. I had a lot of fun learning about this world and the sci-fi/fantasy aspects of it. It’s really carried by Chima, her boss, and his cat. There’s characters that come in and out, but there’s one character who is her boss’s rival of sorts that’s really interesting. I hope we get to see more of him as the series progresses.
All in all, this is a great book. There’s excellent characters and storylines on top of amazing artwork. I’m interested in learning about Flow and what it means to this world and its characters, but also seeing how the characters continue to develop. Plus, it’s hilarious to see what the cat gets up to! I loved when we got to see the cat paradise of sorts seemingly created by the cats through Flow. It’s a great balance between sci-fi and fantasy with a touch of the supernatural.
May 27, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley, Kodansha, and Yuki Urushibara for the opportunity to read this manga in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this one, but it was super intriguing! The art almost turned me away, but then I got used to it and even found the simplicity and realism almost cute at times, and the more realistic style add to the effect of Flow occurrences when the artist draws those.
Flow is a strange phenomena that is usually uncontrollably caused by a person often undergoing a time of sadness or conflict. These occurrences alter the current state of reality in small areas for a (generally) short period of time that could be a matter of hours or days, or sometimes weeks. Hirota, manager and owner of Hirota Flow Inc., specializes in determining when flow will return to normal and often uses hints from his cat to determine possible sources for an occurrence. He hires young Chima on a City Hall reference, though Chima is not as young as she may appear, thanks to a Flow incident.
This first volume consists of six short stories each featuring a different Flow incident. It doesn't seem like there is an overarching story, really (maybe finding a way to reverse Chima's Flow result?), but each little short is fun in of itself. The concept is certainly an interesting one, and it was fun to read something so normal, yet so abstract.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this one, but it was super intriguing! The art almost turned me away, but then I got used to it and even found the simplicity and realism almost cute at times, and the more realistic style add to the effect of Flow occurrences when the artist draws those.
Flow is a strange phenomena that is usually uncontrollably caused by a person often undergoing a time of sadness or conflict. These occurrences alter the current state of reality in small areas for a (generally) short period of time that could be a matter of hours or days, or sometimes weeks. Hirota, manager and owner of Hirota Flow Inc., specializes in determining when flow will return to normal and often uses hints from his cat to determine possible sources for an occurrence. He hires young Chima on a City Hall reference, though Chima is not as young as she may appear, thanks to a Flow incident.
This first volume consists of six short stories each featuring a different Flow incident. It doesn't seem like there is an overarching story, really (maybe finding a way to reverse Chima's Flow result?), but each little short is fun in of itself. The concept is certainly an interesting one, and it was fun to read something so normal, yet so abstract.
May 10, 2022
arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
This lovely sort of slice-of-life mixed with soft fantasy was a quiet, captivating read. When a Cat Faces West follows Chima Kondo, a 35-year-old stuck in a 12-year-old body due to a natural phenomenon called Flow. Sometimes acting on its own, sometimes reflecting the worries of people on earth, Flow is a natural occurrence that changes the world in response to things being out of balance. Sometimes delightful, sometimes distressing, Flow has led to the formation of Flow cleanup squads. Chima joins Flow investigators Hirota and Shacho to check out Flow events and try to solve them.
I am a huge fan of soft, low-stakes fantasy, and if you are too this is sure to delight you. The stories are reflective and thought-provoking, and if this makes any sense, it's the perfect manga to read next to an open window. At times I didn't enjoy the art style, as despite being in a 12-year-old's body Chima often looked just looked like a very short older woman. I think her character design could have been different to reflect that. But otherwise, I really enjoyed the slow-moving plot and little stories, and this is sure to delight anyone who adored Mushishi.
This lovely sort of slice-of-life mixed with soft fantasy was a quiet, captivating read. When a Cat Faces West follows Chima Kondo, a 35-year-old stuck in a 12-year-old body due to a natural phenomenon called Flow. Sometimes acting on its own, sometimes reflecting the worries of people on earth, Flow is a natural occurrence that changes the world in response to things being out of balance. Sometimes delightful, sometimes distressing, Flow has led to the formation of Flow cleanup squads. Chima joins Flow investigators Hirota and Shacho to check out Flow events and try to solve them.
I am a huge fan of soft, low-stakes fantasy, and if you are too this is sure to delight you. The stories are reflective and thought-provoking, and if this makes any sense, it's the perfect manga to read next to an open window. At times I didn't enjoy the art style, as despite being in a 12-year-old's body Chima often looked just looked like a very short older woman. I think her character design could have been different to reflect that. But otherwise, I really enjoyed the slow-moving plot and little stories, and this is sure to delight anyone who adored Mushishi.
May 19, 2022
When a Cat Faces West is surely interesting and no wonder, since it's series from Yuki Urushibara! I love her philosophic and thoughtful approach and how she takes her time with stories. The story is set around flow, which is a time and space bending happening that occurs because of intense feelings and or not. Sometimes there's no reason. Chima Kondo is stuck in a kid's body due to it and ends up working for Hirota Flow Inc. with Hirota and a cat called Shacho. Cats can feel the flow. Hirota is a bit eccentric, but very good at what he does. He predicts how long a flow lasts, such as buildings changing forms and whatnot. In a sense this is slice of life with a fantastical twist. We meet people, who have different kinds of flow problems, and we see those problems dissolve eventually. The most I enjoyed was the pondering our main characters do as well as the analysis.
The art looks old fashioned in a good way. It's round and cute even with heavy content. Everything feels lazy, but it's not. I enjoy the contradiction there. The series is only three books long, which is nice, since otherwise this could feel like a repetition. Now the story with its peculiarities feels refreshing and oddly suffocating at the same time. That's the core of the entertainment value!
The art looks old fashioned in a good way. It's round and cute even with heavy content. Everything feels lazy, but it's not. I enjoy the contradiction there. The series is only three books long, which is nice, since otherwise this could feel like a repetition. Now the story with its peculiarities feels refreshing and oddly suffocating at the same time. That's the core of the entertainment value!
January 1, 2025
I was startled, the other day, to stumble over a whole new (shortish, apparently) manga series by the author of the incomparable Mushi-Shi that I'd not heard of before. I grabbed it at once.
In a world very like ours, a mysterious force called "flow" shows up and rearranges the landscape in bizarre ways, triggered by the emotional states of residents. A laid-back late-20-ish fellow named Hirota employs a 35-year-old former salary woman that a flow turned back into her 12-year-old body, losing her former job; together, they fight not crime, but flow outbreaks. Well, actually, they less fight than go with it...
If there is a genre called cozy weird, this is it. Hirota is drawn white-haired a lot, but I think that's just a contrast choice; on the cover his hair is shown light brown. But that and the art style do evoke Ginko; plus how they wander around the landscape dealing with
I liked how this 3-volume series wound up. If it ended there, it would remain satisfying, though I do see how it could be extended if wanted. Worth a reread.
Ta, L.
May 24, 2022
Date finished: 24/5/2022
Publish date: 17th May 2022
📱
Thank you to Netgalley for approving this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
There's a cat on the cover and in the title. What better reason is there for requesting a book?
This one follows Chima Kondo as she starts a new job working for Hirota and his cat Shacho of Hirota Flow Inc. Hirota and Shacho investigate the flow, which are anomalies that disrupt the space and time continuum. Chima herself got caught up in one of these flow, and through working with Hirtoa and Shacho, tries to understand more about her flow and how to fix it.
I went into this one having no idea what to expect. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this one. It has a slight mystery element to it. I was also drawn in by the cat. I want to know more about Shacho and how he just knows where a flow is and who is connected to it.
This one gave me similar vibes to The Rules duology by F.T. Lukens, as well as Primeval (only without the dinosaurs), which is a show I watched and loved when I was younger.
I would definitely love to continue this series.
Publish date: 17th May 2022
📱
Thank you to Netgalley for approving this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
There's a cat on the cover and in the title. What better reason is there for requesting a book?
This one follows Chima Kondo as she starts a new job working for Hirota and his cat Shacho of Hirota Flow Inc. Hirota and Shacho investigate the flow, which are anomalies that disrupt the space and time continuum. Chima herself got caught up in one of these flow, and through working with Hirtoa and Shacho, tries to understand more about her flow and how to fix it.
I went into this one having no idea what to expect. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this one. It has a slight mystery element to it. I was also drawn in by the cat. I want to know more about Shacho and how he just knows where a flow is and who is connected to it.
This one gave me similar vibes to The Rules duology by F.T. Lukens, as well as Primeval (only without the dinosaurs), which is a show I watched and loved when I was younger.
I would definitely love to continue this series.
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