Explore everyday life in Japan
Have you ever followed a cat around a corner or down a street?
Has a cat's stare or meow ever called to you, causing you to pause or change your path?
If so, then you have experienced the peculiar power that cats, possibly more so than any other animal, have over us.
Japan is a country of good luck charms, and one that you will see often as you move through the country is known as Maneki Neko. Maneku is a verb that means to beckon or invite in Japanese, and Neko is the Japanese word for cat. So this good luck charm is, quite literally, the inviting cat. Or, the cat that attracts luck and good fortune. Though the exact origin of this good luck charm is unknown, various Maneki Neko have been used in Japan since the mid to late Edo Period (1603 - 1868).
If you see a Maneki Neko, or better yet, decide to buy one as a souvenir, pay attention to its hand positions and its color. Both of these things have an effect on the meaning and the fortune that a Maneki Neko attracts.
All Maneki Neko are thought to attract good fortune, but cats with their left hands raised in the air are thought to be more powerful in attracting customers and/or visitors to stores, restaurants, and houses, thus drawing in money and presents. These Maneki Neko are also thought to be more powerful at night and are said by some to have the power to tie people's fates together, which is generally meant in a romantic way. In other words, if you are looking for love, a Maneki Neko with its left hand raised in the air is the one for you.
Maneki Neko that have their right hands raised in the air are thought to be more powerful in the afternoon and apparently specialize in attracting money. So, if you are looking to get rich, or even just line your wallet with a little extra padding, this is the Maneki Neko you should buy.
In addition to the previously described Maneki Neko, some of these cats have both of their arms raised in the air. These cats are thought to attract customers, visitors, money, and romance throughout the day and throughout the night. However, as they attract all kinds of fortune, they are often looked upon negatively in Japan as a symbol of greed. If you buy a Maneki Neko with both of its hands raised in the air, you run the risk of being looked upon as a person who wants too much.
Another area to pay attention to when selecting your Maneki Neko is the length of their arms. Cats that have long arms extended above their ears are said to attract customers, visitors, and fortunes of a bigger size and from further away. Cats with shorter arms that do not extend beyond their ears are thought to attract modest fortunes and customers and visitors from nearby.
As for the significance of their colors, white cats are associated with luck, black cats are associated with keeping disasters at bay, red cats are thought to ward off illness and disease, and gold cats are … Well, I'm sure you guessed it, associated purely with attracting money.
So which Maneki Neko is for you? Please let me know in the comments below.
This is an ongoing series that will explore various aspects of daily life in Japan. My hope is that this series will not only reveal to its followers, image by image, what Japan looks like, but that it will also inform its followers about unique Japanese items and various cultural and societal practices. If you are interested in getting regular updates about life in Japan, please consider following me at @boxcarblue. If you have any questions about life in Japan, please don’t hesitate to ask. I will do my best to answer all of your questions.