Which of the following items is not a theme in the song Kafka on the shore?

• A. Cats
• B. Water
• C. Music
• D. Fate

Answer: (A)

In Kafka on the Shore, water, music, and fate recur as meaningful forces that shape the characters and events. Water often marks boundaries, transformation, and the movement between different states of being. Music serves as a bridge between people, unlocking memory and conveying truths that words can’t capture. Fate gives the sense that forces beyond individual control are guiding the path of the story, inviting characters to face their destined roles.

Cats appear in Murakami’s world as memorable motifs and surreal elements that create atmosphere, but they aren’t the central ideas driving the narrative in the same way. They enrich the texture of the story rather than constitute its main themes. So the item that isn’t a theme is the presence of cats.