Ask John: Can You Explain the Japanese Lucky Cat?

Question:
In many anime series, I have seen a cat that the characters pray to for luck/fortune. An example includes Saber Marionette J, episode 7. So what is the cat called and what effects does he have to the Japanese Culture?

Answer:
The Japanese beckoning female cat is known as “maneki neko.” This image of a cat with one paw raised is considered a talisman of good fortune and prosperity in business. The most common legend for the origin of the maneki neko comes from a story centered at Gotokuji Temple in Setagaya. According to legend, the samurai Lord Ii, beckoned by a cat sitting outside the temple, approached the temple, only to have lightening strike right where he was standing. In appreciation for the cat saving his life, Lord Ii became a patron of the temple. According to at least one version of the story, the cat that saved his life was actually the disguised Japanese goddess Kannon, the Buddhist god of compassion and mercy.

The raised paw represents both a beckoning gesture and a cat washing itself. Because cats wash themselves to relieve nervousness over strangers approaching, the proverb “If a cat washes its face, a visitor will come” came into being and was quickly adopted as a mantra for luck in business. Because Japanese people summon with the palm forward while Westerners summon with the palm up and the hand drawn back toward the face, maneki neko for Asians have a paw that faces forward while maneki neko made for export have a paw that faces backward.

The raised left paw invites customers or people. A raised right paw is a charm for good fortune or money. The height of the paw represents degree. The higher the paw, the greater the strength of the cat’s invitation. The color of the maneki neko also has significance. A multi-colored maneki neko is a good luck charm. A black neko is a ward against evil or misfortune while a red maneki neko is a ward against evil spirits or illness. A gold maneki neko brings money, and a pink maneki neko brings love. The white maneki neko represents purity.

The maneki neko’s garb is representative of Edo era high fashion and wealth. She wears a gold bell so as not to get lost, a red scarf to be attractive, and often holds a kobun, a valuable Edo era gold coin.