As a cat lover, you probably often think about the tabby cats living on the streets, who have to fight every day for food and safety. Their lives can often be difficult and full of suffering, but the following photos also bear witness to the fact that challenges are frequently mixed with humor, love, and joy. Just as in human lives, these experiences complement one another.

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This is how Japan’s stray cats appear through the lens of photographer Masayuki Oki.

How the photographer sees Japan’s stray cats

Masayuki Oki has been documenting the everyday lives of stray cats throughout Japan for more than ten years. His photos capture them as they truly are – he does not idealize or romanticize their lives, but instead shows them in their raw reality. Anyone can take photos of stray cats, but if you look at his images, you can see that the photographer has a truly special talent for portraying these animals. The captured moments reveal each cat’s unique personality, turning street encounters into touching, funny, and sometimes surprisingly emotional portraits.

Masayuki Oki’s cat-focused career actually began completely by accident.
“It was New Year’s Eve, and I was very exhausted. I went to a nearby park to rest, where I met a cat sitting in the middle of the road. From that moment on, my life changed significantly. The more I looked at the cat, the stronger the urge I felt to photograph it. A passion was born in my heart,” he told Bored Panda. That particular cat – Busanyan Senpai – became his first muse and the reason he picked up his camera the very next day.

Since then, Oki has spent countless hours wandering the hidden streets of Tokyo and other Japanese cities. He has even traveled to Japan’s cat islands to expand his collection with new photographic gems. “Sometimes I feel as if the cats are telling me to seize the moment, so in a way, they are my photography teachers. Once you know their habits, you can predict the future and find the best position for taking photos,” he explained.

However, cat photography is not always easy, even with this knowledge. In recent years, Oki has noticed that the number of stray cats in Tokyo has been decreasing thanks to spay and neuter programs – which is even more heartwarming than his photos. Despite this, he still tries to make time for longer photo sessions on the cat islands; as he puts it, he “relentlessly photographs them from sunrise to sunset.” Throughout it all, his motivation has remained the same. He has always hoped that his photos of cats would bring happiness to people all around the world. With this belief in his heart, he continues to approach both the cats and photography, even after many years.

(The opening image is an illustration and not the work of Masayuki Oki.)

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