Oh Tama

Oh, Tama! describes the haphazard lives of Natsuyuki Kanemitsu and his looselyconnected circle of dysfunctional acquaintances and family. Natsuyuki is prevailedupon by his friend Alexandre, an occasional porn-film actor, to adopt the verypregnant cat Tama, who gives birth and remains throughout the novel as a silentobserver of her human hosts. Further complications arise surrounding the mystery ofwho the father of Alexandre's sister Tsuneko's unborn child is, with Tsuneko (a barowner) happy to collect money from anyone who may be responsible. 

One of thesepossible dads turns out to be Natsuyuki's half-brother, abandoned and forgotten long ago as easily as Tama has parted with her kittens. A 'fast and comedic novel,' Oh,Tama! plays out against a backdrop of cramped apartments and cheap food and drinkwhere everyone seems to have an opinion on film, photography, and fashionableFrench art theory. It is part of the author's esteemed series of Meijiro novels,named after the northwest area of Tokyo that so richly informs their urbanity andoutlook.