Land of the Rising Cat appeals to those who can't get enough of Japan's obsession with cats

It's a national obsession that Manami Okazaki explores in her new book, Land of the Rising Cat.

Covering religion, destinations, artisans, pop culture, art and design, all dating back thousands of years, Okazaki investigates the weird and wonderful stories of shrines, temples and festivals. She also interviews toymakers, fashion designers and even an architect to uncover the country's love affair with cats. She even looks at cat-centric social media (Caturday, anyone?), manga and mascots.

As the description reads, "In a country with millions of cat owners, it's not unusual to find felines in coffee shops, hotel lobbies, and museums; being taken for stroller rides, or even serving as train stationmasters. But how did this cat mania start? Why does it continue to grow? And are there really Buddhist funeral services for cats?"

You'll find the answers to those questions in Okazaki's beautiful book. Published by Prestel, Land of the Rising Cat by Manami Okazaki is out from 5 September.