Japanese grandpa takes his cats to flower festivals across Japan, but they have other plans

A Japanese grandpa has become an internet favourite for travelling around Japan with his beloved cats, Chouchou and Miko, in search of beautiful flower-filled backdrops. There is just one problem: the two feline travel companions don't seem particularly interested in posing for the family album.

The man, who shares his adventures on Instagram under the username @catwolf0314, regularly takes the cats to scenic locations across Japan, including cherry-blossom spots, sunflower fields and other seasonal flower destinations. His photographs usually have all the ingredients of a picture-perfect family outing, with the proud owner smiling happily while his cats are dressed up and carefully positioned for the camera.

But whenever Chouchou and Miko are placed next to each other for the perfect shot, things can quickly descend into chaos.

In one recent outing to Sera Kogen Farm in Hiroshima, the family travelled to a sunflower field hoping to capture some picturesque photographs. The grandpa appeared ready for the perfect seasonal portrait, but the cats had a very different idea. While he held them together, Chouchou and Miko suddenly began swatting at each other, turning the planned photo session into what looked like a tiny feline boxing match.

 

 

 

 

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The owner later joked about the unexpected fight, explaining that the cats' behaviour made it dangerous to keep them together. Rather than abandon the photoshoot, he changed tactics and photographed Chouchou sitting on his shoulder before eventually managing to get more pictures of the pair together.

And the sunflower-field incident appears to be less of an exception and more of a recurring feature of their travels.

Photos shared through @catwolf0314 show Chouchou and Miko repeatedly making serious faces, looking away from the camera or unexpectedly getting into little battles while their owner remains remarkably cheerful. The contrast has become a major part of the account's charm, with the grandpa seemingly determined to document every season with his cats regardless of whether they cooperate.

 

 

 

 

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The account has attracted more than 100,000 followers, with recent reports putting its audience at around 116,000. The identity of the man behind the account has not been widely disclosed, but his affection for the cats and enthusiasm for photographing them have made the family's adventures popular far beyond Japan.

Chouchou, a white cat with a distinctive black tail, was rescued in October 2016 and officially became part of the family in January 2021. Miko is considerably younger, having been born in September 2024.

The family previously had another beloved cat named Wolf, who died on December 31, 2020, after living for around 18 years and nine months. The name of the Instagram account, @catwolf0314, reflects that connection to the family's former feline companion. According to posts associated with the account, Wolf remains part of the family's memories as they continue their travels with Chouchou and Miko.

The cats don't always fight, either. Other photographs show them peacefully sitting beside their owner, posing together among flowers or simply enjoying their surroundings. On some outings, they even appear perfectly happy to sit side by side, making it seem as though the previous arguments never happened.

 

 

 

 

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That unpredictability may be exactly what makes the photographs so endearing. While the grandpa sets out across Japan looking for the perfect seasonal backdrop, Chouchou and Miko appear to have their own priorities: occasionally posing beautifully, occasionally looking deeply unimpressed and, every now and then, settling a private disagreement right in the middle of the photoshoot.

For their devoted owner, however, every outing seems worth documenting. The result is less a collection of perfectly staged pet portraits and more a charming record of one family's travels through Japan, complete with flowers, scenic landscapes and two cats who refuse to follow the script.