Lucky rabbit’s foot not working for you anymore? If you still have an old good luck charm lying around the house, perhaps it’s time to throw it away and find a new and better one. Forget the rabbit. Why not try a cat instead? In Japan, good luck charms can be found by the numbers almost anywhere and everywhere, but none are as popular as the maneki neko, or beckoning cat.

Most commonly made from ceramic or porcelain, this wide-eyed cat figurine gets its name because it sits with one paw raised in imitation of the traditional Japanese gesture for beckoning. Either the left or the right paw may be raised, and each has its own subsequent meaning.

If the left paw is raised, the intent is to invite customers or visitors. This type is the most popular, for Japanese merchants are very superstitious and will often keep a maneki neko at the front of their stores, believing it is the key to bringing in business.

If the right paw of the maneki neko is raised, the charm invites wealth or good fortune. Though not as popular as the first type, this type of maneki neko is becoming increasingly popular, especially since the purchaser can now choose exactly what type of good fortune he would like the cat to bring him. Maneki neko are available in a variety of colors, and each color is associated with the type of luck it will provide.

A calico cat is considered the luckiest of all types and is the most popular maneki neko color. White is the second most popular, symbolizing purity and positive things to come. Black wards off evil and is a favorite choice among women in Japan who wish to keep stalkers at a distance. A golden maneki neko brings wealth and prosperity, while a pink one brings love or romance. Green maneki neko provide health, as well as educational success, and are popular among students cramming for high school and university entrance examinations.

The beckoning gesture may be of particular interest to Americans and Europeans, for it does not look like the maneki neko is beckoning at all. Due to cultural differences, the cat actually looks more like it is waving, rather than beckoning. This is because, in Japan, the gesture for beckoning is actually very similar to our gesture for waving. It involves raising the hand, palm outward, and subsequently raising and lowering the fingers. This contrasts with the American gesture for beckoning, which involves holding the hand, palm-inward, with the back of the hand and fingers visible to others. For this reason, a different type of maneki neko, called the Dollar Cat, has been created for export and features a cat with the back of its paw exposed. It is nowhere near as cute as the traditional maneki neko, however, so if you want the real deal, I guess you’ll just have to take a trip to Japan.

Happy Cat, Maneki Neko #KT6/KC

Maneki Neko the Lucky Kitty Giclee Print by erichan, 16" x 20"