The Maneki Neko Legend

I took a walk today over to the grocery store and passed by yet another nail salon with no customers. There are probably a dozen or so of these salon with in a mile radius of my house, how they stay open is a matter of mystery. There in the window was lucky cat. I’ve seen lucky cat all over; in Chinese restaurants, laundry mats, grocery stores, dentists offices and a bank. But I’ve never really known what this cat figurine meant, and why it was displayed. So, on this rainy Saturday afternoon, I present to you my research, my take on the legend, gathered from a handful of sources, and compiled here for you. Educational, and entertaining. Could you ask for more?


The Maneki Neko Legend

In the 17th century, a poor priest lived with his cat, Tama, in a small temple near Tokyo, in a town called Setagaya. This much is known fact.

Legend has it, that this priest was so poor he hardly had enough food for himself. But, each day, he would find a way to feed his cat. One evening, a wealthy man was walking by when a thunderstorm suddenly started to downpour. Caught out in the rain, the man sought shelter under a tree near the temple. Squinting through the rain, he could see a cat beckoning him. He went to investigate, and -BOOM- thunder stroke and lighting hit the tree he has just left. This little cat had saved him! He picked up Tama and became friends with the old priest. For the rest of Tama’s life, this man took care of the temple and never again did either priest or cat go hungry.

When Tama died, the priest buried him in Goutokuja Temple cat cemetery. The wealthy man placed a ceramic figurine of a beckoning cat (or maneki neko in Japanese) atop the grave. The sign that the maneki neko is holding reads, “Please come in, You are welcome.”

In modern times, the lucky cat figurine is kept by shop owners to bring good luck and visitor. Many other Asian cultures have adopted him as their own, displaying him proudly, beckoning in clients. Maybe there’s something to say to this old superstition. Maybe lucky cat is what’s keeping alive all the nail salons and Chinese take-out places around here. Or, more likely, it’s the owners handwork and drive to share in the American dream. Us born here tend to take by a little less than motivated.

Want to color your own maneki neko?