The Wandering Maker

It’s no secret that we, in the UK are a nation of cat-lovers; however, this is by no means unique to the west, and our feline friends have purred their way into the hearts of ailurophiles, the world over, not least in Japan.

Here, I talk to Toshinori Mori about his unique illustrations, which combine stunningly colourful Japanese scenery, a love of cats, and a playfully child-friendly style.

1.) What’s your favourite tool for creating images?

I draw with a tablet monitor for Mac mini and NANAO and the drawing software for designers called Adobe Illustrator.

2.) Your images look aesthetically very fresh, they look like picture book artwork- how did you develop your style, and how long, roughly, would you say that it took you to hone it (make it perfect)?

Before I worked as an illustrator, I used to be a toy designer for toddlers for about 30 years.
carnival2009.blog66.fc2.com/blog-category-22.html

Toy designers are given various design tasks such as product planning, presentation sketches, product design, graphic design such as manuals, brand character design and package design.
I think that everything I developed during the last 30 years was a source of inspiration for my illustration style.
Toys and picture books are closely related when it comes to toddlers.
So, I think that my artwork may be stylistically close to picture book artwork.

3.) Your work often features cats in up against uniquely Japanese scenery- houses, trains, landscape. They definitely feel very Japanese. How has your sense of, let’s call it “Japaneseness” affected or inspired your artwork and the way that you produce it?

People from overseas sometimes tell me that my work looks like Japan.
However, I have not consciously thought to draw the scenery like Japan.
What I am drawing is the very ordinary scenery of my hometown and the area where I currently live.
However, since the “Taneko Cat Illustration Series” was originally drawn for the calendar, I draw motifs and colors so that you can feel the season.
www.behance.net/gallery/26248573/Original-Cat-Illustration-TABINEKO-Post...

The "seasonal feeling" in my picture is meant to feel like Japan.
There are beauty in spring, summer, autumn, winter and season respectively and I love it very much.
And the shape of the clouds, the colors of the sky and mountains, the flowers of the roadside, the birds and insects, the sunshine, the wind, and so on, give me inspiration.

4.) I’ve always loved cats for their independence and laid back nature, what unique qualities attract you to them more than, say, dogs or rabbits?

I drew cats simply because as a child I got a kitten. ^ _ ^
The reason I like cats is that there is a wild beauty that remains in them.
I think this is something that cannot really be expressed in words.
When we live together, sometimes I feel the same feeling, and it's cool.
I usually go to bed, though. ^ _ ^

5.) What’s the best place for cats that you’ve ever been to?

Our garden and veranda. I want to go out every day, so I will take a walk together with a piece of string. My favourite spot is at the top of the "sudden" on the veranda.

6.) What’s your favourite season, and why?

Spring- from May to June. I like it when the water comes into the paddy field.
www.behance.net/gallery/27904809/Original-Cat-Illustration-TABINEKO-May-...

7.) What’s the perfect number of cats to own?

I only have one animal. I think that there were about five stray cats that have taken up residence at my home before, however, they are all dead now.
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8.) If you were banished from Japan, and you had to choose another country to live in and make cat illustrations, what would it be, and why?

That's a difficult question. I have only ever travelled to Guam overseas. ^ _ ^
Maybe Britain or France? English children's literature (Filippa Pierce) French films (Claude Lelouch) Cars (Lotus, Aston Martin, Citroen) both inspire me.
However, Northern Europe and Taiwan are also interesting.