FUR COATS AND BACKPACKS
“Cross shallow rivers as if they were deep.” -Michio Hoshino
Fur Coats and Backpacks is a series of Traveling cat portraits, each accompanied by a small haiku-inspired poem. Mari began this project not long after moving to Seattle. Carried by new winds, she found herself navigating deep wanderlust, loneliness, and quiet melancholy. In those moments, she began to sense the presence of fluffy little beings with a traveler’s spirit appearing as if to gently stay close to her heart… or perhaps they were the cozy companions she herself had been longing for. Standing quietly beside her, these traveling cats slowly nestled into the depths of her heart.
As Mari continued the series, sweet requests began to arrive. From kindred souls carrying the traveler’s spirit dreaming to step into the paws of a travel cat themselves, or wishing their beloved furry companions could embark on such adventures. These heartfelt wishes and their stories blossomed into custom portraits. As the years passed by, countless unique fluffy backpackers had set off into the world.
This whimsical collection was first published as a book by Chin Music Press in December 2022. In May–June 2024, Mari presented a solo exhibition, Travel Cats and I, at the Seattle Japanese Garden. A revised second edition, featuring a few new Travel Cats, was just released in March 2026. Their journey continues, wherever the wind may lead next.
water color on paper 9" x 12" // 2011-2026
