Conviction: In 2017, Oya was charged with violating Japan’s Animal Protection Law.

Who is Makoto Oya?

Before the rise of "aesthetic" TikTok accounts, there was Makoto Oya. Based in Japan—a country that has long revered cats as symbols of luck and art—Oya is a professional videographer and photographer who specializes in a very specific niche: the daily, dramatic, and beautiful life of alley cats.

Instead, these videos provide a sense of environmental grounding. Watching a cat survive a rainstorm makes the viewer feel safe and warm inside their own home. It is a form of digital hygge—finding comfort in watching hardship from a distance.

The Impact of Makoto Oya Cat Videos on Online Culture

Makoto never uploaded again. But sometimes, late at night, on that forgotten corner of the internet, a new frequency appears. No video. No description. Just a waveform that looks like a sleeping cat’s breath.

Unlike the frantic or "meme-ified" cat clips often found on Western social media, Oya’s work—primarily showcased through his "Nekomichi" (Cat Path) projects—emphasizes a slow, observational style that aligns with the Japanese concept of (healing). The Aesthetic of the "Cat Path"