Masaoka Shiki
Sōseki's literary career began in 1903, when he began to contribute haiku, "renku" (haiku-style linked verse), "haitaishi" (linked verse on a set theme) and literary sketches to literary magazines, such as the prominent "Hototogisu," edited by his former mentor Masaoka Shiki, and later by Takahama Kyoshi. However, it was the public success of his satirical novel "I Am a Cat" in 1905 that won him wide public admiration as well as critical acclaim.