Beckoning Cat Day (Maneki Neko no Hi)

What Is Beckoning Cat Day?

September 29th is "Beckoning Cat Day" (招き猫の日, Maneki Neko no Hi) in Japan. It was established by the Japan Maneki Neko Club, a group of beckoning cat enthusiasts, and is certified by the Japan Anniversary Association. The date comes from a wordplay reading of 9-2-9 as "ku-ru fu-ku" (来る福), meaning "good fortune comes." The aim is to share the charm of beckoning cats and help many people welcome good fortune. Around this date, "Kurufuku Maneki Neko Festivals" are held in places such as Okage Yokocho in Ise, Mie Prefecture, and Seto, Aichi Prefecture.

From Guardian of Silkworms to Symbol of Prosperous Business

A maneki neko is a figurine of a cat raising one paw in a beckoning gesture. Its roots lie in the long relationship between people and cats.

• A charm for silk farming: Because cats catch the mice that eat silkworms and crops, they were once regarded as good-luck charms for sericulture. As silk farming declined, the beckoning cat came to be loved as a charm for thriving business.
• The legend of Gotokuji: At Gotokuji Temple in Setagaya, Tokyo, legend says that Ii Naotaka, lord of the Hikone domain, was beckoned into the temple by its cat on his way back from falconry, and so escaped a sudden thunderstorm. Delighted, he is said to have made the temple the Ii family's funerary temple.
• Asakusa's "Marushime Neko": Documents from the late Edo period confirm that Imado-ware beckoning cats called "Marushime Neko" were sold in front of the torii gate of Asakusa Shrine.

Right Paw or Left Paw?

Some beckoning cats raise the right paw and some raise the left. Generally, the right paw is said to invite money and good fortune, while the left paw invites people such as customers. According to a maker in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, orders that used to be about "1 right to 9 left" shifted to "7 right to 3 left" from around 1997.

Fun Facts About Beckoning Cats

• Tokoname is No. 1: Tokoname in Aichi Prefecture produces the most beckoning cats in Japan, and nearby Seto is also a well-known production area. Both mainly make ceramic cats.
• Gotokuji's cats hold no coin: The beckoning cats offered at Gotokuji all raise the right paw and hold no gold coin. This reflects the idea that "the cat brings you an opportunity, but making the most of it is up to you."
• The model for Hikonyan: "Hikonyan," the mascot of Hikone Castle's 400th anniversary festival, is modeled on the legend of the cat that beckoned Ii Naotaka.
• Many birthplaces: Besides Gotokuji, several places, including Sensoji Temple and Asakusa Shrine and Imado Shrine, are said to be the birthplace of the beckoning cat.

Ways to Spend Beckoning Cat Day

• Notice whether the beckoning cats in shop fronts and on shelves raise their right or left paw
• Display a favorite good-luck charm on your desk or by your front door
• Read about places linked to beckoning cats, such as Gotokuji and Imado Shrine
• Following Gotokuji's idea that "making the most of an opportunity is up to you," take a first step toward something you've been meaning to try

Welcoming Good Fortune, and Raising Your Own Hand Too

September 29th is a day to appreciate the beckoning cat, a charm that has been loved in Japan for a long time. The maneki neko invites good fortune, but as Gotokuji's philosophy suggests, it is up to us to make the most of the chances that come our way. Why not find a beckoning cat nearby and start your day in a cheerful mood?