La città dei gatti di Hagiwara Sakutarō. Poesia e quarta dimensione

Neko Machi (City of Cats, 1935) is a peculiar short story that occupies a relatively unique space within Hagiwara Sakutarō’s oeuvre. Within this narrative, a protagonist plagued by a poor sense of direction stumbles into a realm of transformed reality, which he dubs the «fourth dimension». Infused with modernist undertones, the story resonates with the broader themes present in Sakutarō’s poetry, particularly the exploration of transcendence as a means to escape existential unrest. Despite being less frequently discussed compared to his other works, Neko Machi has garnered attention from critics. Many analyses centre on the story’s visionary and fantastical elements. Some interpretations draw parallels between the city bustling with cats and a metaphor for the Japanese political climate in 1935. The aim of this exploration is to provide an analysis that unveils the narrative’s resonance with Sakutarō’s aesthetic consciousness. This is accomplished by delving into references to metaphysical concepts, the notion of the fourth dimension, and the application of mathematical logic. Through these lenses, we seek to uncover the layers of meaning embedded within Neko Machi and illuminate Sakutarō’s narrative craftsmanship.