Common themes include the innocence of children and the mystery of cats. Japanese stories often play on the contrast between the pure, naive nature of children and the somewhat enigmatic nature of cats. This can lead to interesting plot developments where the cat's actions or behavior might seem strange to the child at first but then turn out to be helpful or meaningful. Another theme is the cycle of life. For instance, a cat's birth, growth, and aging can be paralleled with a child's development, teaching children about the passage of time and the importance of every stage of life.
In Japanese cats and children stories, a prevalent theme is the connection between the human and the animal world. Cats are seen as having a special link to children. They can teach children important lessons about life, such as patience and kindness. Moreover, the theme of magic or the supernatural often appears. Cats in these stories may possess magical powers, like the ability to talk or to predict the future, which adds an element of wonder and excitement for the children in the story. And the theme of family can also be found. The cat may become like a family member to the child, creating a warm and loving environment.
They are often cute and have big eyes. Their colors are usually bright and attractive.
Another theme is the idea of the cats having unique personalities. Some are brave, some are shy, and some are mischievous. Fanfic writers love to explore these different personalities and how they interact with the world around them. In a lot of cats fanfic, we see how these personalities play out in different situations, whether it's dealing with a new cat in the neighborhood or facing a natural disaster.
One common theme is nature. Many Japanese monsters are closely related to natural elements like water (Kappa), mountains (Oni). Another theme is morality. Monsters often appear to punish the wicked or test the virtuous. For example, if a person is greedy or cruel, a monster might come to teach them a lesson.
One common theme is revenge. In many stories, like 'Ju - On: The Grudge', a wronged spirit seeks vengeance on those who wronged them or are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Another theme is the supernatural. Japanese scary stories often feature ghosts, demons, and otherworldly beings. For example, the snow woman in 'Kwaidan' is a supernatural entity that uses her powers to harm humans.
One common theme is the connection between humans and nature. In many stories, animals or natural elements play important roles, like in 'Momotaro' where the animals help the boy. Another theme is the idea of karma or rewards for good deeds. For example, Urashima Taro is rewarded for saving the turtle.
Love and loss is a common theme. For instance, lovers being separated by family, society or death. Just like in many traditional Japanese tales where a samurai has to leave his beloved due to his duties.
Well, isolation is a theme. A lot of these stories take place in isolated locations like old houses or abandoned places. It adds to the spookiness. Also, the theme of the unknown. Japanese scary stories often play with things that are not fully understood, like strange noises in the night or unexplained apparitions. Beauty and horror combined is another common theme. You have characters like Tomie who are beautiful but bring great horror. It shows that appearance can be deceiving in a very terrifying way.
One common theme is revenge. Many Japanese ghosts are the spirits of those who have been wronged in life and are seeking revenge in death. For example, the ghosts in stories like Okiku's are out for vengeance against those who mistreated them.
One common theme is revenge. As I mentioned before, many ghosts in these stories come back to take revenge on those who wronged them during their lifetime. Another theme is unrequited love. There are stories of lovers who were separated by death and the one left behind is haunted by the spirit of the deceased.
One common theme is respect for elders. In Japanese family stories, you often see the younger generations showing great deference to their grandparents and parents. Another theme is the importance of family traditions, like specific New Year's celebrations or ancestral rituals.