JAPAN: Puss in Boots

The Nippon Keizai Shimbun, a conservative Japanese business journal, reported:

"Recently it has been very difficult for shoemakers or shoe-repairmen to obtain leather for repair. In Okayama Prefecture a shoe-repairman noticed that a cuttlefish is shaped much like the sole of a shoe. He painted in black ink on dry cuttlefish and used them as shoe soles." (Price of dry cuttlefish: 7 to 10 yen; cost of shoe-repairing: 100 to 250 yen.)

"One day a man who had had his shoes repaired came back to the shop saying 'Oh, my goodness. My shoes were eaten by a cat.'"

...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!