Danica Davidson
January 25, 2025 
Nukozuke! opens with Yuya walking along one day when he discovers two nukos in a box, like how people might put kittens in a box to give them away. Nukos are cats that have evolved to be more human-like, so they have some anthropomorphic features and they can talk. Yuya feels sorry for them and takes them home. From there, they draw closer to one another, help one another out, and become their own little family.
Nukozuke! (nuko is a play on neko, the Japanese word for cat) is essentially a manga made for cat lovers. Nuko might not technically be cats, but they do all sorts of cat things, like loving to jump into boxes or being scared of baths or dropping everything to chase a butterfly. A good chunk of the book is just about how they act cute and behave like cats. The pink-haired calico is Kei, while the black cat is Sasame, and they each have their distinct personalities. Their stylized appearances show clear chibi references with their huge head, smaller body ratios.
Another chunk of the manga has to do with food, as well as Japanese holidays. Yuya is a good cook, and the manga likes to show the different things he makes, including foods associated with holidays they celebrate. There’s a running joke that Yuya likes to sleep and act catlike himself sometimes.
Nukozuke! is very laid back, meant to be a relaxing read. It doesn’t have a strong plot or anything dramatic or complex going on, as it instead concentrates on the day-to-day activities of the characters. The artwork is adorable, and the chapters in this manga are even called “chat-purrs.”
Cats are quite popular in Japan, which has led to a number of manga dedicated to felines, so this is in that field while also being somewhat different because the cats are more humanoid.
Story & Art: Yugi Iro
Publisher: One Peace Books
Translator: Laura Egan
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
