In Japan, the “waving cat” symbolizes health, money, and luck, so most of the shops, shopping centers, supermarkets … all put this mascot right in front of the entrance to collect a fortune. Unlike the Vietnamese concept that “cats are difficult to come home, dogs come to the home”, the culture of the country considers cats to be a symbol of blessing and prosperity.

From the graceful legend

Coming to Japan this time, I understand that “waving cats” is not merely a lucky mascot or funny toy, but behind that honor is the long-standing legends and the close relationship of cats with Japanese society. Perhaps no Japanese people don’t know about Hikone’s cat-related story. One day, when he was sheltering in the rain under a tree in front of the gate of Gotokuji Temple in Edo (modern Tokyo), he saw a cat “waving” as if calling him. Strangely, he decided to follow the cat into the temple immediately, when lightning struck the tree he had just left. Thankful for saving that life, the lord became a generous sponsor of the sacred temple. As for the cat “waving”, after his death, was the lord of the land of Hikone erected statues in the temple to commemorate. The story spread quickly so visitors to the temple began donating cat-shaped porcelain figurines to pray for good luck or to remember the dead cats.

                                                                                                                                          In the culture of the land of cherry, cats are a symbol of blessing and prosperity

In addition to that beautiful and beautiful legend, Japanese society also handed down another life story: There was a poor shop owner seeing a cat starving to death and mercifully accepting him. In return, every day the cat in front of the store waved to buy. Soon, the store was thriving. Since then, the waving cat porcelain statues were born and become the lucky symbol of small traders.

Go to the cat museum

Not only being honored in the shops but also “waving cats” Maneki Neko is also favored for a museum in Seto city in Aichi Prefecture – the city specializing in ceramic most famous in Japan with a tradition of over 1,000 years. Proudly, the representative of the Aichi Prefectural Tourism Bureau took us to the cat museum with the promise: You will definitely enjoy it and don’t want to leave the museum!

Indeed, we went to the museum when the autumn weather was quite cold but the warm reception of the manager here made our heart warm. The “first procedure” for each visitor is a cute stylized cat-printed paper hat. No one told anyone, everyone quickly put on their heads and their selfies hurried before hearing the voiceover. According to the owner, the “waving cat” Maneki Neko is one of the three lucky things in Japan, besides Daruma Dolls and Fukusuke Dolls; Made from high-class ceramics with many striking patterns and colors from 150 years ago. Over time, artists and designers have created more and more diverse hand-waving cats. These cats are not in the country of mourning but are reaching out all over the world.