Natural Japanese in Work and Private Settings#

The manga features scenes from Saku’s life at the office as well as her conversations with Yukichi at home, offering great examples of both polite speech and casual everyday talk. This makes it especially useful for learners who want to get a feel for real-life conversational Japanese in different contexts.

Every kanji character in the manga is accompanied by furigana (reading aids), which makes it particularly accessible for beginners who are still mastering kanji reading.

Source: Yamada Hitsuzi, The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again Today(KODANSHA)

Easy-to-Read 4-Panel Format#

The story is told in 4-panel (yonkoma) format, with one short episode per page. This makes it ideal for casual reading or study breaks, and easy to follow even if you’re short on time.

Source: Yamada Hitsuzi, The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again Today(KODANSHA)

What Is Joshi Ryoku?#

The term 女子力 (joshi ryoku) is made up of two parts:

・女子 (joshi) — “young woman” or “girl”
・力 (ryoku) — “power” or “ability”

Literally, it means “girl power,” but unlike the Western feminist slogan, the Japanese version often refers to domestic or lifestyle skills traditionally associated with femininity. Examples of high joshi ryoku include:

・Being able to cook or bake well
・Dressing stylishly and doing good makeup
・Having neat handwriting or a tidy home
・Offering thoughtful gifts or caring for others

It’s a flexible term used widely in casual conversations, marketing, and even self-help media. People might say:
「このお弁当、女子力高い！」
“This homemade lunch shows high joshi ryoku!”

Or:
「最近、女子力を上げたいと思ってて…」
“Lately, I’ve been trying to improve my joshi ryoku…”

Between Social Pressure and Personal Aspiration#

While joshi ryoku can function as a lighthearted compliment or a form of self-expression, it also reflects deeper social pressures—especially for women. In modern Japan, many women grow up exposed to media, advertising, and peer norms that equate being desirable or successful with displaying high joshi ryoku. Over time, this can lead to internalized expectations: rather than feeling externally pressured, some women come to believe that they should want to be more “feminine,” more skilled at homemaking, more aesthetically pleasing—because that’s what a “good woman” is supposed to be.

This self-imposed pressure often appears in everyday expressions like:
「女子力、もっと上げなきゃ…」
“I really need to work on my joshi ryoku…”

Even when not directly asked to, many women feel they must live up to these ideals to be accepted socially, romantically, or even professionally. In this way, joshi ryoku functions not just as a cultural concept, but as a subtle form of internal discipline—encouraging conformity under the guise of self-improvement. Recognizing this tension is key to understanding how language can shape not only how people are perceived by others, but how they perceive themselves.

A Common Theme in Manga and Anime#

In manga and anime, joshi ryoku often pops up as a character trait or a moment of unexpected admiration. A tomboyish heroine surprises classmates with her baking skills. A quiet girl wins hearts by bringing handmade bento to school. These moments often lead to lines like:
「えっ、〇〇って女子力高いんだ！」
“Whoa, I didn’t know ○○ had such high joshi ryoku!”

Such scenes help readers understand not just the definition of the term, but also its emotional and social weight—pride, envy, surprise, or attraction.

Summary#

TWhile joshi ryoku (“feminine power”) is often used playfully to praise skills like cooking or fashion sense, it also reflects deeper social expectations. In Japan, many women internalize the idea that being desirable means cultivating high joshi ryoku—not just for others, but as a personal goal. Phrases like 「女子力、もっと上げなきゃ…」 (“I need to work on my joshi ryoku…”) show how these ideals can become self-imposed pressures.

For Japanese learners, understanding joshi ryoku is more than just learning a trendy word—it offers insight into gender norms, self-expression, and how casual language can carry deeper cultural weight. Recognizing these nuances can deepen learners’ cultural fluency and awareness of how language reflects social values in modern Japan.

A Bit Too Fantastic?#

The premise—a human-sized cat who takes care of all the housework—leans heavily into fantasy. While the tone is gentle and wholesome, readers looking for realistic slice-of-life stories may find it a bit too far-fetched.

Source: Yamada Hitsuzi, The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again Today(KODANSHA)