午夜剧场

Until I entered university, I was a child devoted entirely to insects. I passed through the university gates hoping to contribute to the popularity of insects—which can hardly be said to have won over the masses—by opening up new possibilities for them.

During my undergraduate years, I conducted research on insect-based foods, which were popular at the time. That was where I encountered rats. It was an experiment to analyze differences in gene expression, phenotypes, and behavior by feeding insect-derived proteins to mice (house mice). Encountering rats as experimental animals was the catalyst, and now I am shoulder-deep in the "rat swamp." I likely won't be able to escape this fascination in the future.

Rats and mice belong to the group boasting the largest variety of mammals and are the undisputed kings of experimental animals. The most common experimental animal is the small mouse, followed by the rat (brown rat). These rats are incredibly adorable creatures; perhaps their cuteness can be conveyed by saying their personality is somewhere between a kitten and a puppy. They are affectionate, emotional, and full of energy.

It is not just my bias toward rats that makes me see them this way. Many studies have proven that rats are emotional and deeply compassionate animals. For example, excluding apes, rats are currently the only animals known to let out a laugh. It has been discovered that rats emit high-frequency sounds inaudible to humans when they are playing or being petted. There are also studies showing that they do not abandon their companions. While they show such good character, it is also known that they possess feelings of envy and jealousy.

However, that is the very essence of their charm. It serves as evidence confirming that even the negative emotions present in humans are a weapon for survival. Humans conduct research to know themselves through rats. This book is a collection of essays that considers humanity through the lens of these rats. I wrote it by gathering materials to convey the charm of rats, ranging from the latest scientific research to ancient literature. My motivation for writing this book was simple: to contribute to the popularity of rats, which can hardly be said to have won over the masses. As a rat geek, I could not be happier if the extraordinary charm of these small neighbors is conveyed.

Kaori Shinohara

Tokuma Shoten

208 pages, 1,500 yen (excluding tax)

*Affiliations and titles are as of the time of publication.