I love visiting different yarn shop wherever I go. This time, since our schedule was just too busy, I was only able to go to one shop (actually there were 2 shops next to each other).
My only visit to central Tokyo - Shibuya....According to Wesley, this Starbucks is the busiest shop in the world.
Even before you reach your yarn destination, you see lots of unusual things in Tokyo. This one is an instant cup noodle restaurant. For Tokyoers speed and economy is very important (?)
The nearest Japanese yarn store from where we were staying was in Shibuya Seibu department store.
My first ever visit to la droguerie. This is a French store but extremely popular in Japan.
I was only allowed to take photos outside of the store but there were loads of nice yarn, buttons, ribbons etc. Patterns were generally quite simple I thought but they all had a particular “style” which was nice.
Next door was another Japanese craft shop.
I asked the shop person if I could take a photo and she kindly told me that it was OK.
This is just a display but they were so pretty!
I really wanted to explore more Japanese knitting while I was there but the time was so limited. Next time I will make sure to spend all day visiting various shops there.
Another thing about Japan was that there were so many stray cats everywhere! The weather is warm, there is not many animal welfare organisations like Cat Protection and pet insurance is relatively new thing in Japan. All these things, I think, results in high number of un-neutered cats – and it just becomes a snowball effect.
3-4 kittens with a very timid mum cat living in the bush right in front of a hotel.
My sister’s neighbour was planning to rescue the whole family of cat above but she said that it’s just a tip of the iceberg. The worst one was when Wesley and I went for a 5 minutes walk and we found 4 kittens high up in different trees. The local people were saying that they have been there for 2 days and reckons that the mum cat was attacked by a wild animal (a stray dot (another problem) or a racoon) and kittens climb up the tree as high as possible.
Can you see a tiny yellow dot? That is a month-old kitten high up in the tree.
… so what did we do? We rescued them! (took several hours to rescue all 4 of them and we ended up calling fire brigade with the local residents). Kindly my eldest sister looked after them while looking for a new owner. My sister took one of them, 2 found new owners. We have one left…
He was the healthiest one rescued but is the last to find a good owner.
He has been vaccinated and clear from any infections and parasites. He is really good with other cats and is very playful. I am so praying that he will find the kindest owner that would love him to bits…
Tags: cats, Japanese knitting yarn
Awww, I do hope the last kitty will find a wonderful home! He sure is cute enough!
Hey Pili!
I am so happy to let you know that the last kitty have found a good home now. Phew!! You cannot resist this lovely kitty right?
Now I can rest and concentrate on knitting. Last week, I was so worried that he would never find a home.. So happy
x
Kyoko
We fed a little cat family (mum and 3 kittens) when we went on our honeymoon – they lived in the hotel grounds. The kittens were so sweet and playful – I think they must have just been 4-6 weeks old, but they came over when we called them and we gave them food we had taken from the restaurant (Sushi – which they really loved!)
I’m really pleased you rescued the kittens from the trees – it’s sad they were up there in the first place. I hope the last one finds a good home – he is lovely.
Hello Monda!
The number of stray cats in Japan is so high. Soooooo sweet that you have looked after the kittens and the mum!! (hehe, yeah I bet they loved the sushi!). What I was suprised was that no-one around thought of rescuing these kittens in the tree (may be they thought it was too much of a work – which it was!!). One had really bad eye infection and one of the local guy told me that I should just leave it. I ignored him and took all of them to a vet and got them antibiotics and eye drops prescribed. Immediately they became better and the one with bad eyes was gone (this really sweet lady who recently lost a very old female cat wanted a female kitten so she was perfect!). The last one left is super cute and yes I hope someone will come take him….
x
Kyoko
Hello Monda!
A quick update. The last kitty has found a lovely home. I am so relieved
Thank you so much for all your positive energy.
x
Kyoko
Oh the cats of Tokyo must be grateful for your visit – fingers crossed for a nice home for that last cutie
Hello Sarah,
The last kitty has finally found a lovely home!!! Considering how many strays there are in Japan, these four cats are very lucky to find home to each. When we rescued these four kittens, sadly, we suspected that the mother cat was already gone (most likely attacked by a stray dog or a racoon). But I think somewhere, she would be so happy to know that all her kittens are sleeping on a comfy bed and well fed. I am so happy!
x
Kyoko
Kyoko, you are the loveliest for rescuing those kittens. What a nice end to the story.
Hello Imogen!
I am so happy to let you know that the last kitten has finally found a lovely home. I am so relieved. I keep thinking that the mother cat would also be relieved and so proud of all of them. 
Thank you so much for the comment
x
Kyoko
Wish I wasn’t allergic to cats, such lovely animals
It’s so good that you rescued them! Really hope someone will take the last kitty home soon 
If you have any time, I wonder if you would be able to tell us much about Japanese branded yarns. I’ve seen them in online stores and they look so comfy to knit/wear, but I don’t know anyone who’ve knit with it yet. Perhaps I’ve missed an older blog post that you’ve written though, so if that’s the case, please do point me to it
Hi Jenny!
I think there are more people who have cat allergy than dogs. I think mainly because cats groom themselves and it’s protein on their fur that makes people allergic. Sometimes, I sneeze when my kitty’s fur gets around my face too!
Well, good news because we have now found a lovely home for the last kitty. I am soo happy.
No problem about the japanese yarns. I have quite few that I would like to talk about. I shall definitely blog in the near future.
x
Kyoko
The little cat boy is adorable! I really hope that he will find a good human soon.
I am sorry to say that there are lots and lots of stray cats in Sweden too. We have four cats, and we love them to pieces, but the growing numbers of strays make us very sad. We try to donate money to rescue organisations whenever we can but wish we could do even more.
Muffin, our oldest cat, was a atray – today she is very much loved and the alpha female of the cat pack in our home
Hello Anna!
Good news! The last one found a good home. I am so relieved.
Yes, it seem like there is a world-wide problems with stray cats and dogs. I didn’t realise there are so many in Sweden too. It is very sad. With bad economy, I know that it’s not easy but I do hope these kitties around the world will find good home to each.
What a lovely name is Muffin!! I bet she is a one big loved kitty at home!
x
Kyoko
Hi, Kyoko! Great to catch up with you and see about your trip to Japan. Glad you had a good time. I think I would love shopping in Japan… LOL! Such goodies! What a sweet kitty… knowing you, you could not have passed up rescuing him. He’ll be all right now… what a good thing.
) Happy Summer Days ((HUGS))
Hello Tracy!
Gosh, these kittens have changed for the better in the matter of a week. At the beginning, two had terrible eye infection, but after feeding and antibiotics, they turned into the cleanest, sweetest and happiest kitties.
The last one is now adopted and I am so relieved
x
Kyoko