The Cats of Gokogu Shrine

The Cats of Gokogu Shrine is a documentary centered on a large population of cats living around a Shinto shrine in the Japanese town of Ushimado. The film explores the tension between local residents who provide care for the animals and those who are bothered by the mess they create. Director Kazuhiro Soda observes these community dynamics and the animals' coexistence through a lens of precision and occasional personal involvement.

The film was produced by Laboratory X and TOFOO FILMS, LLC, with Kazuhiro Soda serving as both director and producer alongside Kiyoko Kashiwagi. Within the provided chronology of Soda's work, this production follows his 2011 film, 3.11 A Sense of Home Films. This Japanese production has a runtime of 119 minutes and was released on October 19, 2024.