Aoshima, Japan's famous Cat Island, is known for its impressive number of felines, which far outnumber the human population. It is estimated that over 100 cats live on this island for every 5 inhabitants. At the same time, this island is an example of the demographic challenges facing the country's rural and island communities.
Located 35 minutes by ferry from the coast of Ehime Prefecture on the island of Shikoku, the smallest of Japan's four main islands, Aoshima is one of 11 Japanese islands known for their large cat population. Although lacking in shops, restaurants or accommodation, the island attracts tourists curious to discover a secluded community where it can be said that felines are the main inhabitants.
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Cats and their inevitable decline
A decade ago, about 200 wild cats lived on Aoshima, Japan's Cat Island, most of them descendants of those brought by fishermen to fight rodents. Today, the feline population has dwindled to around 80, most of whom are old and suffering from various ailments such as blindness or respiratory diseases caused by inbreeding.
Naoko Kamimoto, one of the island's four remaining residents, talks about how she tries to care for these animals, but admits that when a cat goes missing, it's likely to die quietly. The feline cemetery remains a well-kept secret by the locals.
The demographic crisis of the island
Aoshima is also a victim of Japan's demographic decline. From a population of 900 just after World War II, the island was down to just 13 inhabitants in 2017. Today, only four people remain: Naoko and her husband, Hidenori, and another couple who prefer anonymity.
Naoko admits that the future is bleak: "There will come a day when there will be no more people or cats on the island. All we can do is take care of them while we're here."
Sterilization, an inevitable solution
To control the cat population, local authorities launched a sterilization program in 2018, carried out with the help of the Ehime Prefecture Veterinary Association. Since then, no more kittens have been born, and the number of animals is constantly decreasing. Kiichi Takino, representative of Aoshima Cat Protection Society, compares the island to a cat shelter and believes that preventive measures were essential to avoid an unmanageable situation.
Although the Kamimoto couple are still coping, the lack of medical services on the island could force them to leave as well. If the island remains deserted, volunteers and animal shelters will take in the remaining cats to care for them until the end of their days.
The final statement of an endangered island
Fumiko Ono, professor of veterinary medicine, argues that sterilization was the best choice under the current conditions. However, managing the cat population remains a challenge, and transferring them to new homes could be the ultimate solution.
On Aoshima, Japan's Cat Island, the island's decline is visible at every turn: abandoned houses, windows covered with yellowed newspapers and dilapidated buildings are just some of the signs of its gradual disappearance. Tourists who arrive on the island every day interact with the cats only for a short time, while Naoko, nicknamed "the cats' mother", cares for them tirelessly.
Although attached to their island, the Kamimotos maintain a clear boundary between their lives and that of the cats: "We consider them pets, but they have their territory, and we have ours," says Hidenori.
Despite the difficulties, Naoko remains optimistic: "Aoshima is not a theme park for cats. It is a living, breathing island – for as long as possible.”
