Maneki Neko (inviting cat) statues are popular throughout Asia and around the world. The origin of this waving cat is the story of a traveller who was walking home at night and saw a cat waving at him in the dark.
On approaching the cat, a bolt of lightning hit the ground where he had been standing, meaning that the cat had saved his life. Filled with gratitude, the traveller built a statue and temple in the cat's honour, starting a tradition of the lucky cat that has continued to the present day.
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'Characters from Plays as Merchants and Customers' from the series 'Flourishing Business in Balladtown' - Utagawa Hiroshige, 1852.
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Gotokuji Temple in Tokyo is said to be the temple built to honour maneki neko.
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Yanaka Ginza, Tokyo.
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| Yanaka Ginza, Tokyo. |
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