The Cats of Gokogu Shrine

A filmmaker documents a year in the life of a Shinto shrine that is fully inhabited by cats.

Gokogu is a small, ancient Shinto shrine in Ushimado, Japan. Home to dozens of street cats, it is also known as Cat Shrine. Many people visit the shrine for various reasons: some to worship gods, others to enjoy gardening. Some people come to clean the shrine as volunteers while others just stop by on their way to fish Japanesesardinella –– and it is the perfect place for kids to play after school. It is a heaven for cat-loving residents and visitors too. Some people visit Gokogu to feed the freely roaming stray cats. Others just come to see these cats or to take pictures of them. But some residents complain about the waste the cats leave around the neighbourhood. Gokogu looks peaceful on the surface, but it is also the epicentre of a sensitive issue that divides the local community.

Master Soda started rolling his camera to observe and depict the aging, traditional community and its spiritual centre Gokogu. The result is a beautiful and harsh, simple yet complex portrayal of the universe of Gokogu, interwoven with people, cats, and all living beings.

Rating

G

Duration

120 min

Country

Japan

Director

Kazuhiro Sôda