Amanda WeeA new cat café has recently opened in the heart of Shinsaibashi, Osaka. Neco Republic, also known as Neko Yokujou, is a cat cafe that operates as an outlet for rescue cats and potential adopters to meet.
Neco Republic is an organization that aims to eradicate the culling of rescue cats in Japan by 2022. They aspire to never let any cat go homeless or hungry. To achieve this goal, a wide range of business initiatives and activities has been launched since 2014. Some examples include cat cafes, events, online shops and more.
Unlike your typical cat cafe, Neko Yokujou is heavily inspired by the concept of a traditional Japanese bathhouse. Although not an actual bathhouse, the cafe incorporates several elements that one can find in their local bathhouse. Customers can enter the cafe for a fee, with the option of a free flow of drinks. Footbaths are also available at the cafe.
The name Neko Yokujou, also known as cat bathhouse, is representative of the vision of the cafe. It aims to provide an avenue for people to experience a therapeutic interaction with rescue cats, just like how one would receive healing to the mind and body from visiting a bathhouse, hence, the name Neko Yokujou.
At Neco Republic, one will often hear the term, Neko Yu.
Neko Yu, also meaning cat bath, is a special term coined together to refer to one’s interaction with cats. The word “bath” is used due to emphasize how interacting with cats allows one to reap similar healing benefits to taking a bath. Therefore, Neko Yu is one of the services provided by Neko Yokujou.
Other than the cafe’s intelligent play on words, the concept of a bathhouse is emulated by an eye-catching interior that is designed and furnished to replicate an actual bathhouse.
When one thinks of bathhouses, Mt. Fuji comes to mind. At this Insta-worthy cafe, there is a hand-painted mural of Mt. Fuji that makes an excellent photo spot. One can also find multiple paintings of auspicious symbols such as pine trees, cranes, turtles, and the sunrise.
Genuine bathhouse lockers from the Showa period are used as storage for customers’ personal belongings. Valuables can be brought into the cafe using a traditional Kerorin basket. A Kerorin basket is a yellow washing basket traditionally used at Japanese bathhouses.
Currently, there are 15 rescue cats at Neko Yokujou. Customers can play and relax with these cats. By spending time together with them, not only do customers receive healing, these rescue cats also learn how to interact with people.
Neko Yokujou is a chance for rescue cats to find a family. The objective of this cafe is for people to connect, learn and gain a deeper understanding of rescue cats, and if a compatible matching arises, to give these rescue cats a new home.
[Website] Neco Republic
