Tabineko ripôto

Saturo (Sota Fukushi) loves cats, but after his parents die in a car accident, he has to go to live with his Aunty Noriko (Yuko Takeuchi), who moves around a lot for her work and therefore can't have cats at home. Saturo finds a home for his cat and continues with his life, until he meets Nana (voiced by Mitsuki Takahata), a stray cat whom he befriends and soon adopts. Five years later, though, the grown-up Saturo is not able to care for Nana any longer, and so he goes on a road trip, visiting old friends in the hope that one of them will be able to take Nana in. But he reckons without Nana's determination to stay with him, as his one and only cat.... Obviously this film is for cat lovers, but you are guaranteed to be moved by it even if cats aren't your thing. It's a very sweet and gentle story (which I mean in a good way), full of humour and pathos, providing a slice of life in various parts of Japan while also telling a very human story. I would only warn potential viewers - be sure to bring plenty of tissues, as you're going to need them!