The Maneki Neko is often used as a piggy bank.

The Maneki Neko (招き猫, literally "Beckoning Cat"; also known as Welcoming Cat, Lucky Cat, Money cat or Fortune Cat) is a common Japanese sculpture, often made of porcelain or ceramic, which is believed to bring good luck to the owner. The sculpture depicts a cat beckoning with an upright paw, and is usually displayed in stores, restaurants, pachinko parlors, and other businesses. A raised right paw supposedly attracts money, while a raised left paw attracts customers. Ceramic Maneki Neko Piggy Bank. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Money box. ... Example of a Money Cat The term Money Cat describes a female domestic cat or house cat generally of 3 or more colors. ... “Fine China” redirects here. ... Fixed Partial Denture, or Bridge The word ceramic is derived from the Greek word κεραμικός (keramikos). ... “Good luck” redirects here. ... Binomial name Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758 Synonyms Felis lybica invalid junior synonym The cat (or domestic cat, house cat) is a small carnivorous mammal. ... Classic pachinko machine Pachinko parlor at night Entrance to pachinko parlor in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. ...

Maneki Neko come in different colors, styles, and degrees of ornateness. In addition to sculptures, Maneki Neko can be found as keychains, piggy banks, air fresheners, and miscellaneous ornaments.[1] A key with a simple text label keychain A keychain or key chain is a small chain, usually made from metal or plastic, that connects a small item to a keyring. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Money box. ... Air fresheners are consumer products meant to mitigate the experience of unpleasant odors in indoor spaces. ...

The cat breed represented in the sculpture is generally a Japanese Bobtail. A cat breed is an infrasubspecific rank for the classification of domestic cats. ... A Japanese Bobtail cat, with the short tail clearly visible The Japanese Bobtail is a breed of cat with an unusual bobbed tail more closely resembling the tail of a rabbit than that of an ordinary feline. ...

Common features

Another Maneki Neko

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (810x1238, 206 KB) Maneki-neko Photo 2004-10,Hokkaido,Japan Source: Searobins file File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Maneki Neko ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (810x1238, 206 KB) Maneki-neko Photo 2004-10,Hokkaido,Japan Source: Searobins file File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Maneki Neko ...

The gesture

To Americans and Europeans it may seem as if the Maneki Neko is waving rather than beckoning. This is due to the difference in gestures used by Westerners and Japanese, with Japanese beckoning by holding up the hand, palm out, and repeatedly folding the fingers down and back up, thus the cat's appearance. Some Maneki Neko made specifically for Western markets will have the cat's paw facing backwards, in a beckoning gesture more familiar to Westerners.[2] World map showing the location of Europe. ... The term Western world, the West or the Occident (Latin occidens -sunset, -west, as distinct from the Orient) [1] can have multiple meanings dependent on its context (e. ...

Maneki Neko can be found with either the right or left paw raised (and sometimes both). The significance of the right and left raised paw differs with time and place. The most common belief is that the left paw raised brings in customers, while a right paw brings wealth and good luck, although some believe the opposite. Still others say that a left paw raised is best for drinking establishments, the right paw for other stores. (Those who hold their liquor well are called hidari-kiki in Japan, "left-handed".)[3]

It is commonly believed the higher the raised paw, the greater the luck. Consequently, over the years Maneki Neko's paw has tended to appear ever higher. Some use the paw height as a crude method of gauging the relative age of a figure. Another common belief is that the higher the paw, the greater the distance good fortune will come from.

Some Maneki Neko feature battery- or solar-powered moving arms endlessly engaged in the beckoning gesture. These type of Maneki Neko are often found in campgrounds throughout the Western United States.."^{[citation needed]}

Color

Maneki Neko come in all sorts of colors. While originally the colors may have been simply decorative, different colors are now associated with different attributes. (Again, the meanings of the colors, like everything else about the Maneki Neko, are incredibly varied):

• Tricolor (Calico/Tortie and White): The background is white with random black and orange patches. This coloring is considered especially lucky and is the most popular color for maneki neko. This belief may be related to the rarity of this coloring in the Japanese bobtail cats, after which the Maneki Neko is modeled. Also note that in Japan the colour is called Mi-ke, meaning three-fur.
• White: White cats indicate purity and are the second most popular type.
• Black: Black Maneki Neko are believed to bring good health and keep away evil. These are especially popular with women as they are supposed to be particularly effective at keeping away stalkers. Like red, they can be associated with good health, but very occasionally.
• Red: Red is also a protective color, and is believed to keep away evil spirits and illness.
• Gold: Associated with wealth.
• Pink: While not a traditional color this color is popular now and is associated with love.[4]
• Green: Believed to bring academic achievement.

A tortoiseshell cat. ... White is the combination of all the colors of the visible light spectrum. ... Black cat, thought by some to cause bad luck (see superstition) Black is the shade of objects that do not reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum. ... Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 625–750 nm. ... General Name, Symbol, Number gold, Au, 79 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 6, d Appearance metallic yellow Standard atomic weight 196. ... The use of the word pink as a color first occurred in the 17th century to describe the light red flowers of pinks, flowering plants in the genus Dianthus. ... Leafy green fountain in Wattens, Austria. ...

Collar, bib and bell

Maneki Neko usually have some sort of decoration around their neck. This can be a neckerchief or a scarf but the most common attire is a collar, bell and decorative bib. These items are most likely in imitation of what was common attire for cats in wealthy households during the Edo period. Red collars made from a red flower, the hichirimen, were popular and small bells were attached for decoration and to keep track of the cat's whereabouts.

The bib might also be related to the bibs often decorating statues of the divinity Jizo Bodhisattva. Protective statues of Jizo can be found guarding the entrances to Japanese shrines and graveyards. Jizo is the protector of sick and dying children and grateful parents of children recovered from illness will place a bib around Jizo as a gift of thankfulness. Jizo statue at Mt. ...

The coin

A Maneki Neko in Tokyo, Japan beckons customers to buy lottery tickets.

Maneki Neko are sometimes depicted holding a coin; usually a gold coin called a koban, used during the Edo period in Japan. A koban was worth one ryō, another early Japanese monetary unit, though the koban most Maneki Neko hold is indicated to be worth ten million ryō (a ryō can be imagined as worth a thousand dollars, although the value of the coin, like the value of the dollar, varied considerably). Download high resolution version (599x750, 117 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (599x750, 117 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... This koban is a landmark in the Ginza district of Tokyo A kōban (交番) is a Japanese police box. ... The Edo period ), also called Tokugawa period, is a division of Japanese history running from 1603 to 1868. ... A ryō (Japanese: 両) was a gold piece in pre-Meiji Japan. ... United States one-dollar bill Canadian one-dollar coin (Loonie) One New Taiwan dollar Australian one-dollar coin 500 old Zimbabwean dollars The dollar (often represented by the dollar sign: $) is the name of the official currency in several countries, dependencies and other regions. ...

The coin obviously ties into the cat's role in bringing good fortune and wealth. It is not surprising then that one can often find Maneki Neko used as banks, a practice which goes back at least to the 1890s, much like the Western piggy bank. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Money box. ...

Sometimes, pennies and other small coin denominations are left on the Maneki Neko as offerings. This is a practice somewhat related to that of leaving coins in a fountain or wishing well. Look up Wishing well in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Material

Maneki Neko are typically made of porcelain or ceramic. However, cheaper Maneki Neko can be made of other materials ranging from plastic to wood to papier-mâché to clay, while expensive Maneki Neko may be made of jade or gold. The moving Maneki Neko are usually made of plastic. “Fine China” redirects here. ... Papier-mâché around a form such as a balloon to create a pig. ... A selection of antique, hand-crafted Chinese jade (jadeite) buttons Unworked Jade Jade is used as an ornamental stone, the term jade is applied to two different rocks that are made up of different silicate minerals. ...

Origins

History

While it is believed that Maneki Neko first appeared during the later part of the Edo period (1603-1867) in Japan the earliest documentary evidence comes from the 1870s, during Japan's Meiji Era. It is mentioned in a newspaper article in 1876 and there is evidence kimono-clad Maneki Neko were distributed at a shrine in Osaka during this time. An ad from 1902 advertising Maneki Neko indicates that by the turn of the century they were popular.[5] History of Japan Paleolithic Jomon Yayoi Yamato period ---Kofun period ---Asuka period Nara period Heian period Kamakura period Muromachi period Azuchi-Momoyama period ---Nanban period Edo period Meiji period Taisho period Showa period ---Japanese expansionism ---Occupied Japan ---Post-Occupation Japan Heisei The Meiji period (Japanese: Meiji Jidai 明治&#26178... A traditional wedding kimono The kimono literally something worn) is the national costume of Japan. ... Osaka Castle (ÅŒsaka-jō) Location in Japan Osaka Aquarium (Kaiyukan) Osaka railway station The Osaka Tower (TsÅ«tenkaku) Osaka City   listen? (大阪市; ÅŒsaka-shi) is the third-largest city in Japan, with a population of 2. ...

Beyond that, the exact origins of Maneki Neko are uncertain.

A frequent attribution to several Japanese emperors, as well as to Oda Nobunaga and samurai Ii Naotaka, is that one day the luminary passed by a cat, which seemed to wave to him. Taking the cat's motion as a sign, the unknown nobleman paused and went to it. Diverted from his journey, he realized that he had avoided a trap that had been laid for him just ahead. Since that time, cats have been considered wise and lucky spirits. Many Japanese shrines and homes include the figurine of a cat with one paw upraised as if waving — hence the origin of Maneki Neko, often referred to as Kami Neko in reference to the cat's kami or spirit. His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Akihito of Japan The Emperor of Japan (天皇, tennō) is Japans titular head of state and the head of the Japanese imperial family. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

One theory ties Maneki Neko's origin, or at least its growth in popularity, to the rise of the new Meiji government. In its attempts to westernize Japanese society the Meiji government banned overtly sexual talismans then popular, often displayed prominently in brothels. With these popular items gone, Maneki Neko soon appeared in their place as a substitute charm, their beckoning gesture perhaps in imitation of a beckoning woman. The Meiji Restoration ), also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to enormous changes in Japans political and social structure. ... Look up talisman in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Others have noted the similarities between the Maneki Neko's gesture and that of a cat washing its face. There is a Japanese belief that a cat washing its face means a visitor will soon arrive. This belief may in turn be related to an even older Chinese proverb that states that if a cat washes its face, it will rain. Thus it is possible a belief arose that a figure of a cat washing its face would bring in customers.

It is unknown how the Maneki Neko became popular in the United States, but they were known in the U.S. at least in 1963, when Patricia Dale-Green wrote of them in The Cult of the Cat.

Legends and stories

Maneki Neko is the subject of a number of legends. Here are three of the most popular, explaining the cat's origins: For other uses, see Legendary (disambiguation). ...

The Temple Cat: This story goes that a wealthy feudal lord was taking shelter under a tree near Gotoku-ji temple (in Western Tokyo) during a thunderstorm. The lord saw the temple priest's cat beckoning to him and followed; a moment later the tree was struck by lightning. The wealthy man became friends with the poor priest and the temple became prosperous. When the cat died, supposedly the first Maneki Neko was made in his honor.[6] (also see http://www.geoffbolton.net/manneko.html ) Shinto ) is the native religion of Japan and was once its state religion. ...   , literally Eastern capital) is a unique subnational administrative region of Japan with characteristics of both a prefecture and a city. ...

The Courtesan: A courtesan named Usugumo, living in Yoshiwara, in eastern Tokyo, kept a cat, much beloved by her. One night, the cat began tugging at her kimono. No matter what she did, the cat persisted. The owner of the brothel saw this, and believing the cat bewitched, cut its head off. The cat's head then flew to the ceiling where it killed a snake, ready at any moment to strike. Usugumo was devastated by the death of her companion. To cheer her up one of her customers made her a wooden likeness of her cat as a gift. This cat image then became popular as the Maneki Neko. A courtesan in mid-16th century usage was a high-class prostitute or mistress, especially one associated with rich, powerful, or upper-class men who provided luxuries and status in exchange for her services. ... Prostitutes on display in Yoshiwara during the Edo Period This movie set in Kyoto recreates the appearance of a red-light district such as Yoshiwara. ...

The Old Woman: An old woman living in Imado (eastern Tokyo) was forced to sell her cat due to extreme poverty. Soon afterwards the cat appeared to her in a dream. The cat told her to make its image in clay. She did as instructed, and soon afterward sold the statue. She then made more, and people bought them as well. They were so popular she soon became prosperous and wealthy.[7]

Influence

Such is the influence of the Maneki Neko as a cultural icon that many other characters and cultural imagery are derived from it.

• Meowth, a Pokémon character, is always seeking money for its owners, has orange-brown and black points, and often is shown raising one or both paws, having most likely been derived from the Maneki Neko. Unlike the Maneki Neko, it is the Scratch Cat Pokemon, described as roaming the streets; its evolved form, the "classy cat" Persian, shares in the Maneki Neko's luck.
• The Thai prosperity goddess Nang Kwak has adapted the beckoning gesture of the Maneki Neko.
• An NGO group working in Ukraine ran a poster campaign with the photograph of Maneki Neko to promote a fair election process.
• In Samurai Pizza Cats, the cat heroes keep their giant robot hidden inside a gigantic Maneki Neko which resembles a statue of a sitting Buddha, called "The Supreme Catatonic".
• In the Ganbare Goemon video game series, Maneki Neko serves as a strength increasing power-up.
• The TurboGrafx-16 video game Keith Courage in Alpha Zones, which came with the system in the U.S., contained Maneki Neko in the game's Overworld which would drop from the sky and give the hero coins when struck which could be spent in shops.
• In Taito Legends, the video game Plump Pop has a giant hovering Maneki Neko as a boss.
• SF author Bruce Sterling wrote a story, "Maneki Neko," in which the cat-paw gesture is the sign of a secret AI-based barter network.
• The American rock band Weezer have Maneki Neko on the cover of their LP The Lion and the Witch. The songs on the album were recorded live in Japan.
• In the anime film, Paprika (2006 Film) by Satoshi Kon, the parade of inanimate objects have several Maneki Neko in it.

Meowth , Nyarth in original Japanese language versions) are one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar[1] Pokémon media franchise – a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. ... The official Pokémon logo. ... A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a private institution that is independent of the government although many NGOs, particular in the global South, are funded by Northern governments. ... Samurai Pizza Cats is the western version of an animated series produced in 1990 in Japan by Tatsunoko Productions and Sotsu Agency under the name Kyattou Ninden Teyandē (キャッ党 忍伝 てやんでえ). It was introduced to western audiences in 1991 by Saban. ... Ganbare Goemon (known as Legend of the Mystical Ninja in North America and Europe), is a prolific video game series produced by Konami. ... Namcos Pac-Man was a hit, and became a universal phenomenon. ... Power Up, the Professional Organization of Women in Entertainment Reaching Up is an organization with the stated mission to promote the visibility and integration of gay women in entertainment, the arts, and all forms of media. Power Up provided funding and assistance to the 2003 short film . ... For information on the Japanese version of this console, see PC Engine The TurboGrafx 16 is a video game console released by NEC in 1989, for the North American market. ... Keith Courage in Alpha Zones is a game for TurboGrafx 16. ... Taito Legends is a compilation of 29 arcade games released for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC in October 2005. ... Michael Bruce Sterling (born April 14, 1954) is an American science fiction author, best known for his novels and his seminal work on the Mirrorshades anthology, which defined the cyberpunk genre. ... Weezer are an American Grammy-nominated rock band from Los Angeles, California. ... The Lion and the Witch is a live E.P. by American rock band Weezer. ... This article is for the 2006 film Paprika Paprika, see Paprika (1991 film) Paprika ) is a Japanese animated science fiction film, based on Yasutaka Tsutsuis 1993 novel Paprika, about a female research psychologist involved in a project to develop a device that will permit therapists to help patients by... Satoshi Kon (今敏 Kon Satoshi, born 12 October 1963 in Kushiro,Hokkaido,Japan) is a highly-regarded director of anime films Perfect Blue (1997), Millennium Actress (2001) and Tokyo Godfathers(2003). ...

See also

• Three-legged money frog

A three-legged money frog A three-legged money frog (known as Chan Chu in China) is a Chinese symbol to attract prosperity. ...

References

External links

• Sushi Cat Maneki Neko page
• Lucky Cats
• LEGO Maneki Neko
• My-Manekineko Lucky Cats