Japanese Culture Site
	Jillian Michelle Williams BellaOnline's Japanese Culture Editor

Maneki Neko - Japan's Lucky Cat
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.

Year of the Rat – 2008 – Japanese Zodiac
Unlike the Western Zodiac, which is divided into 12 months, the Japanese Zodiac is divided into 12 years, and each year is named after an animal. The year 2008 marks the year of the Rat.