The 招き猫 ( まねきねこ [Maneki Neko]- Beckoning cat) is a prominent part of Japanese culture. Seen in many stores & restaurants, these cats are meant to beckon customers in & bring the owners luck. To foreigners, it looks like the cats are waving, but in Japan, the motion to call someone over looks much like a wave (to me at least, lol.) They’re also called Lucky Cats, and will bring different kinds of luck depending on which paw is raised. Generally the left paw is to bring in customers, while the right paw usually means wealth & general good luck. Nearly all Maneki Neko are holding a koban- a coin from the Edo period in Japan which also signifies wealth & prosperity.
The Lucky Cats are depicted as a Japanese Bobtail, and are usually white with spots. The pokemon Meowth is said to be modeled after a Maneki Neko.
Many times, the figurines are made of plastic, ceramic or porcelain, but it doesn’t really make a difference. Most Maneki Neko are seen wearing a collar and/or a bib. The wiki article says that
“The bib might also be related to the bibs often decorating statues of the divinity Jizō Bosatsu. Protective statues of Jizō can be found guarding the entrances to Japanese shrines and graveyards. Jizō is the protector of sick and dying children and grateful parents of children recovered from illness will place a bib around Jizō as a gift of thankfulness.”
I bought my lucky Cat from a little gift shop when I was in California. /shrug
Poor little fella doesn’t have a bib, but he was only a dollar or two when I got him. Hooray for discount luck!
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This is probably going to be totally corny, but here goes.
