For many weeks, it ranked among the top bestselling titles in Japan. 70,000 copies sold in just six months. Shortlisted for the Kyoto Book Award.

Hidden in an old building at the end of a narrow Kyoto alley, the Nakagyō Clinic for the Soul appears only to those going through life’s hardships and in genuine need of help. This mysterious place offers an unusual treatment: patients are prescribed cats as medicine.

Taking a cat home for the recommended period, people gradually undergo a deep inner transformation. Through their playful, charming—and at times temperamental—furry companions, the healing power of the human–animal bond unfolds. As the clinic’s patients navigate their inner storms and seek recovery, the cats guide them toward healing, self-discovery, and renewed hope.

A heartwarming story that will warm your soul!