Posted on June 5th, 2022
Lucky cats
I was walking home from a shrine with my host sister, Yumi, through a narrow street yesterday. Suddenly, a black cat jumped down into the street ahead of us. Yumi told me it felt a bit spooky, and I realized that we have the same superstition in both our countries: it’s bad luck if a black cat crosses your path.
Yumi also told me about a special kind of cat here which brings you good luck. It’s called “maneki neko,” or “beckoning cat” in English. You can find maneki neko in shops and restaurants all over Japan because people believe they beckon customers into the shop, and bring good luck, more money, or good health to them.
Yumi took me to a souvenir shop. They had various kinds of lucky cats, but there are some important differences between them. Some cats raise their right paw, and others raise their left paw, and a third kind raises both paws. The way they raise their paw determines the kind of luck. You can also get them in different colors. I chose a traditional white one which brings you wealth. There was a sign in the shop which explains the different kinds of lucky cats. I took a picture of it.