Lucky Cat
Maneki-neko
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A
maneki-neko
The
maneki-neko (
Japanese: 招き猫, literally "
beckoning cat") is a common
Japanese figurine (lucky charm, talisman) which is often believed to bring
good luck to the owner. In modern times, they are usually made of
ceramic or plastic. The figurine depicts a
cat (traditionally a
calico Japanese Bobtail) beckoning with an upright paw, and is usually displayed in—often at the entrance of—shops, restaurants,
pachinko parlors, laundromats, dry cleaners, salons, and other businesses. Some of the sculptures are electric or battery-powered and have a slow-moving paw beckoning.
Maneki-neko comes in different colors, styles and degrees of ornateness. Common colors are white, black, gold and sometimes red. In addition to ceramic figurines,
maneki-neko can be found as
keychains,
piggy banks,
air fresheners, house-plant pots, and miscellaneous ornaments, as well as large statues. It is also sometimes incorrectly called the "Chinese lucky cat" because of its popularity among
Chinese merchants.