Cat island Blues
2023 - ongoing
CAT ISLAND BLUES takes us to Aoshima, a tiny island just one kilometer long, bathed by the waters of the Seto Inland Sea in Japan. At its peak in the 1940s, the island had nearly 900 inhabitants, most of whom made their living from fishing. The population then rapidly declined. By 2013, the island had, somewhat reluctantly, become a popular attraction for tourists from across Japan — and even the world — due to its large cat colony. Today, only three elderly people and around forty aging felines remain. But what happened on Aoshima?
In CAT ISLAND BLUES, Katherine Longly recounts her experience on this island: from the surprise at the gap between the images posted by tourists — which had initially drawn her there — and the reality, to the deep attachment she developed to the place. She tells a fragile and singular story — that of the humans and cats of Aoshima. This narrative echoes the profound demographic changes transforming contemporary Japan and also raises broader questions about the impact of overtourism, end-of-life choices, and the ways we share the world with other species. Above all, CAT ISLAND BLUES seeks to preserve the memory of an island with a unique fate, just before it disappears.
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