Maneki-Neko are the fortune-bringing japanese cats that often can be seen outside of stores and for display in windows, welcoming and calling for customers with it’s beconing paw. A long time ago I visited the world heritage Nikko-san Rinnouji temple in Nikko, Japan. There I prayed (by putting money in a binge thingy) for good fortune and I won myself a small golden cat charm. With it came a note in both english and Japanese that said:

Welcoming cat 招き猫
Sitting upon its hind legs and welcoming visitors with its front paws, the welcoming cat is considered to be a symbol of a deity that brings wealth and good fortune. It has long been said that it grants prosperous business, and peace and prosperity in the household.
Make sure you keep it with you in your purse as a good luck charm.

And so I have until this day.

Over the years a large variety of colors have emerged. Traditionally certain colors have different meaning in Japan. I don’t know if it has any correlation with the colors on the Maneki-Nekos but here goes:

White/Calico: This is the classical and the most popular color, probably the one that is the most fortune-brininging one. The cat is white with dark spots with a brownish fringe that resemble the Japanese bobtail (三毛 mi-ke “three different colors of fur”). Apparently you can be extra lucky if you happen to stumble upon a male bobtail with such colors since it’s very rare due to their genetic composure. That in itself could be considered lucky ^^

Plain white: Shiro-iro XD, well the white Maneki Neko is supposed to symbolise pureness and positive “good guy things” things. This is the second most popular color of Maneki nekos. On a sidenote “Shi” has several meanings. Spelled with a different kanji it means “death”. That is probably why it also has become associated with mourning. Then again this has probably nothing to do with the Maneki nekos.

Green: is the colour of health and academic triumph and studies. This used to be a rare colour but now these Maneki Nekos can be found everywhere as well. No wonder with the pressure to succeed in studies for the japanese. It is supposedly insanely hard to get in to the 東京大学 (Tōkyō Daigaku) or “Tōdai”. You need as many of the little green cats as you can afford then :3

A white maneki-neko inside a small plastic bag with a bell