A story so inspirational, I promise that it will touch your heart.

“Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow; Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead; Walk beside me, and just be my friend.”

~ Albert Camus

What makes for a truly good friendship?

Is it the quiet moments that we share? Is it the knowing that you can count on one another to always be there for each other?

We all know what it is like to have a good friend, and it is no different between Misao and her loyal cat Fukumaru who came together eight years ago when he showed up in her shed.

Fukumaru means, loosely, “a circle of good fortune” in Japanese, and Misao couldn’t have picked a better name. Like any best friends, these two have become joined at the hip and do just about everything together.

When eating, working in the fields, playing or even cat napping in the sun, these two are always doing it together.

Both friends suffer from a hearing deficit, so it is especially brilliant to see their friendship that has blossomed through their other senses.

Misao’s granddaughter, a photographer, Miyoko Ihara, has put this beautiful story together in a color and black and white photo album called, Misao the Big Mama and Fukumaru the Cat.

How lucky are we to glimpse into their beautiful friendship?

Check out more of Miyoko Ihara’s work here.

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Editor: Steph Richard