At first glance, this tale appears to be a detective story, a novel about a disintegrating marriage, or an excavation of buried secrets from the hidden depths of World War II.
Toru Okada is a young Japanese man searching for his wife’s missing cat. However, he soon finds himself on a quest for his wife herself—a journey that leads him into another, hidden world. His search for the cat intersects with his search for his wife, bringing him into contact with a strange cast of friends and foes—each bearing a story of their own—ranging from a spirited young woman and a vindictive politician to a former combatant.