In 2021, as people were starved for travel and nature, Oya’s videos provided a virtual tour of a quiet, serene Japan seen through the eyes of its feline residents.
Initially, Oya attempted to justify his actions as "pest extermination," claiming the cats' excrement smelled bad and that they had killed fish he was raising. He further admitted to seeking solace in an online community of cat abusers, where he would film and share his cruel acts, often using public Wi-Fi to avoid detection. The Verdict and Public Outcry
The mood shifted. The sun came out in the video, and Pudding spotted a dragonfly. What followed was a chaotic, handheld sequence that induced motion sickness. Makoto laughed—a rare sound, low and raspy—as he chased the cat chasing the bug. They ended up in a small garden. The camera shook as Makoto lay down in the grass, the cat rolling beside him.
People began to notice.