The beckoning cat (Maneki Neko).

beNippon — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 07:24:25 +0000

Those of you who have ever walked down an arcade street in Japan may have noticed the ceramic white cats sitting at the doors or in the windows. These little (sometimes big) ornaments are called “Maneki Neko” in Japanese, translated as “beckoning cat.” They’re good luck symbols for shop and restaurant owners in Japan, and can be purchased in many different forms.

First is the “left paw raised.” This gesture calls for customers to come through the door, so if you’re a restaurant owner in need of more customers, the maneki neko with its left paw in the air beckoning is the one you’ll want to display in your restaurant’s window.

Next is the “right paw raised.” The maneki neko with its right paw in the air is said to bring wealth and good fortune. So in most cases, stores and small shops will display the right paw beckoning cat. Although for any business, customers = wealth, so it might be wise to display both maneki neko.

beNippon carries several types of maneki neko statues and statuettes, even a miniature maneki neko cellphone lanyard.

The Japanese Lifestyle

The beckoning cat (Maneki Neko).