Lucky Cat "Maneki Neko"
Maneki Neko are cute figurines that beckon customers with their front paws, and are said to bring good luck and prosperity to the business they are placed in.
In Japan, cats have long been considered to be good luck charms because they protect crops from mice.
The one with its right hand raised is said to bring money, so it is good for improving your financial fortune.
and the one with its left hand raised is said to bring in customers, so it is said to bring in a thousand customers and prosperity in business,
and the benefits of each are different.
Incidentally, the one with both hands raised means "given up"
and is not very popular.
The beckoning cat figurine became popular in the Edo period, but
the original origin is not well known.
There are several theories, but the Tokyo
Imado Shrine, Goutokuji Temple, Jishoin Temple, and Seihoji Temple,
each of which claims to be the birthplace of the beckoning cat.
There are three main production areas for traditional beckoning cats.
The most well-known are
those made from Tokoname ware from Tokoname City in Aichi Prefecture,
and the beckoning cat that everyone imagines is the one made from Tokoname ware.
Next, there is Seto-yaki from Seto City in Aichi Prefecture.
It was first sold at Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, so
it has a face that is a little like a fox. The way its hands are raised is also a distinctive feature.
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https://setomaneki.jp/ |
And then there is the particularly flashy Kutani-yaki beckoning cat from Ishikawa Prefecture.
It is covered in gold and colorful patterns
and is very showy.
It is said that during the Edo period, it was made in very bright colors in order to export it overseas.
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https://kutani-iwataya.com |
If you have a beckoning cat in your shop or home,
place it in a place where people will see it or near the entrance.
It's also a good idea to choose a zabuton with a lucky pattern.
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