Japanese Lucky Cats: Bring Luck and Wealth to your Home!

Japanese Lucky Cats -
Maneki Neko

Japanese lucky cats, or maneki neko as they are known in Japan, are common traditional statues that are thought to bring good luck and wealth to their owner. These cute ceramic cats with their bright colors and upraised paw are usually placed at the entrance of a house or shop, greeting visitors to the building.

The statues were originally styled after the Japanese Bobtail cat breed, and the Japanese lucky cats usually have the traditional calico markings of a bobtail. They first appeared during the Edo period in Japan, and by the end of the 19th Century, they had become very popular. Some statues may have both paws raised, but it is more usual to see a maneki neko with one or the other paw in the air. The meaning of the gesture can be different depending on the time period and place of the statue's creation, however a lucky cat with its right paw raised is said to protect wealth, while a lucky cat with the left paw raised is said to entice wealth into the owner's home or business.

Most statues are decorated with a red collar, usually with a bell, which was a common accessory for cats in wealthy households during the Edo period in Japan. Many also hold a large stylized coin, a symbol of their good fortune. There are several other common elements that show up from time to time, but because they are so popular, there are hundreds of variations on Japanese lucky cats, and no two styles of maneki neko are exactly the same!

Though legends about the origin of the Japanese lucky cats vary, in every story they bring fortune or wealth to those around them, and with their colorful coats, sweet faces, and promises of wealth, it's no wonder they are so popular both in their native Japan and worldwide!