Best Maneki Neko (招き猫: beckoning cat) photo collection

Matome Culture & Lifestyle

Maneki-neko is said to have power to invite guests to your business or house

Monday, January 16, 2017 at 14:45

The art of Maneki Neko. Traditional ornament for good luck in Japan.

When you visit Japan, I recommend you to go in small shops.Maybe you will find cat-shaped plastic or ceramic figures beckoning with an upright paw.
They are called Maneki Neko which is believed to bring lucks for owners.
They are also known as Lucky Cat or Fortune Cat in English.

They are often painted in white, red, black or gold and grab and golden coin in its right arm.
Some of them look smiling.

You can find them at the entrance of small shops and other offices.

Maneki Neko

What kind of luck or fortune do Maneki Nekos bring to owner.

There are generally 2 types of Maneki Nekos, right paw up or left paw up.
According to Wikipedia

The significance of the right and left raised paw differs with time and place. A common belief is that the raised left paw brings in customers, while a right paw brings good luck and wealth

Source: Wikipedia

東急ハンズ池袋店@Hands_Ikebukuro

本日1月6日(金)までニャ。「開運谷中堂」の招き猫グッズをハンズ池袋店エントランスにて販売中ですニャ。1日ごとに表情の違う366日の占い招き猫もオススメだニャ！是非ニャ。 https://t.co/41WurBBGwP

↑Black Maneki Neko raises right paw, white one raises left paw.

Please note some people believe in totally opposite way.But anyway Maneki Neko raise at least on paw.
You can also find Maneki Nekos with both paws up, but it is quite rare.

Maneki Neko with both paws up

Source: Wikipedia

The falktale of beginning of Maneki Neko

There are several falktale about origin of Maneki neko.
Let me introduce one most famous story of all.

The temple cat: This similar story goes that a wealthy feudal lord named Ii Naotaka was taking shelter under a tree near Gōtoku-ji temple (in Setagaya, 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.

Source: Wikipedia

晴美@S3UIV1xEibXD7Nz

行けてなかった初詣に豪徳寺????
へ…招きねこさんがいっぱい✨
我が家の猫さん家族の幸せを願って参りました☺️???? https://t.co/ByqLKFoFYD

gien_k(AS.Roma党)@gien_k

うはー(*´ω｀*)
#猫#豪徳寺#井伊家 https://t.co/6WO2TqjcII

↑Gotokuji temple (豪徳寺)

Maneki Neko photo collection! Here we go!

Imado shrine Maneki neko (The place related to one of the beginning falktales of Maneki neko)

HappyHappyLife@sugachiechan

今戸神社。招き猫発祥の神社。ねこちゃんたくさん。 https://t.co/bsAl67SWFD

Keigo Shrine (警固神社) / Fukuoka prefecture

maii まい@Magical_mai

警固神社で買ったおみくじの入れ物の招き猫だよ???? https://t.co/l0XDg40mnA

Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine / (伏見稲荷大社) / Kyoto prefecture

喫茶ウズラ@kissa_uzura

昨日、伏見稲荷で買ってきた招き猫。お店の片隅でひっそりと、お客さんと福を招いてくれてます。 http://t.co/Ei3lKpAZ

Chokokuji temple / 長谷寺 / Yokohama city

Chokokuji temple

Source: https://twitter.com/RollingCat5628/status/816994308393795584

Maruha rinku Tokoname drive in

Drive in Maneki neko

Source: https://twitter.com/NagoyaSugoroku/status/816943596683161600

Matsushima shrine / 松島神社 / Tokyo city

眠り猫@SchlafenKatze

松島神社さんで購入した親子招き猫と、末廣神社さんの招き猫神籤も
…ええ、招き猫につられました　ﾊｲ https://t.co/AGSmwkkVmD

Gotokuji temple / 豪徳寺 / Tokyo city

勹≠ﾅ"/≠@pato_light

奇行人間タートルズことももとと豪徳寺へ！招き猫ﾐｯﾁﾘ！
世田谷は私の元ホームタウン！
散歩がてら歩いてるとロックシールドを入手！私のは「ｲｰﾁｰｺﾞ！！」ももとのは壊れてて永遠に「ｻｸｻｸｻｸｻｸ...」って音がするよ！！ https://t.co/OVOikUqHMp

Sumiyoshi Taisha shrine / 住吉大社 / Osaka prefecture

Sumiyoshi taisha shrine

Source: https://twitter.com/nanase_manta/status/816437821665722369

Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Department store / 日本橋三越百貨店 / Tokyo city

Japan-Web Guide@JapanWebGuide

招き猫/Beckoning cat (Dec 2016) #日本橋三越 #Nihombashi #JapanWebGuide https://t.co/J997FwD0Hl

Kaiyo-do <figure maker company> / 海洋堂

Kaiyo-do maneki neko

Source: https://twitter.com/sarattchi/status/816378376713687043

Toyokawa Inari shrine / 豊川稲荷 / Aichi prefecture

萬歳光恵◆レオノワール2/22-27@banzai_girl

ねぇ見て！これ！ばんざい招き猫！
千両箱足で押さえてるの～ヽ(´▽`)/

#豊川稲荷 #初詣 #御朱印 https://t.co/VShA79tQqX

Maneki neko shaped Wagashi <Japanese cake> /　和菓子　練りきり

Caroline@Caroline318

Lauraのブログ「縁起物づくし・お正月の練りきり」 https://t.co/8z0XiX2rgM #お正月 #正月 #新春 #練りきり #練り切り #煉切 #和菓子 #お菓子 #スイーツ #招き猫 #猫 #和 https://t.co/UJHPCDcvPU

Okage alley / おかげ横丁 / Mie prefecture

Okage alley

Source: https://twitter.com/pachi456/status/816278938305445892

Maneki neko baloon

おむむ@omm0518

商店街の招き猫が選手生命の危機に瀕しててワロタ https://t.co/XZxF7eFxfx

Yeon mall Tokoname <shopping mall> / イオンモール常滑 /Tokoname city

ハンちゃんの動画【笑】@games_hannibal

招き猫がでけえw https://t.co/WwBeszBaht

Kawagoe Daruma figure market / 川越だるま市 / Kawagoe city

rkajikawa@09Rkajikawa

川越だるま市から連れ帰った招き猫さんたち。
どの猫さんたちも一目惚れ(*´∀｀*) https://t.co/A3dcdNAFEZ

とちおとめ@tochiotome3

だるま市、もはやだるまではないが、めちゃツボだった招き猫をお買い上げ。 https://t.co/aykMGrZizy

Hey! you guys should be mice...

Micky Mouse Maneki neko

Source: https://twitter.com/tksendai/status/815781205773692928

Lottery stand

NX27@NXmemo

なんか変なのいた！
#新宿 #西新宿 #宝くじ #招き猫 #10億円 #年末ジャンボ https://t.co/aAyQEj2Bsj

紫水@らんまるちゃん@U2RwetMVKLEhkY8

宝くじ買ったった～⤴
夢買ったどぉ〰❗

招き猫ちゃんナデナデしてきた????
みんな変な????でみてました????
ﾁﾄはずかしかったニャン笑 https://t.co/1ivXFoj1wX

Sexy Maneki neko

らんどすけーぷおやじ@engei_care

大阪の東通商店街の入口に座ってた!!変な招き猫!! http://t.co/fTgejCbfqk

Real Maneki nekos

Animal Therapy BOT@anitheraa

リアル招き猫ω https://t.co/1Ol0sKPH

しげ@blue_square

リアル招き猫 https://t.co/v8qNLlZ4xQ

ゆづき@hikohiko_ta

リアル招き猫ロール / 長野県 / うるちゃんさん https://t.co/sbWY5h3X10 #pet_sos #pet #cat #nyanko #neko #猫 #ネコ https://t.co/RuHqD5tbE7

つい笑ってしまうおもしろ画像bot@omosirotwit

リアル招き猫 https://t.co/zsgYC4Fy7L

↑ "One handshake 10 JPY" on the cardboard

Comments 1

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devan_desu
is this Shop-Cat originated from the Chinese or the Japanese first? or the Japanese got it because they took it from the Chinese just like the kanji?
January 16, 2017 at 10:55pm