A blog or two back, I
noted that our story “The Summer Cottage Mystery- A Children’s Story” did
surprisingly well in Japan. The story
centers around some “child detectives” search for a lost cat, so I speculated that
the success in Japan might have something to do with cats and Japanese
culture. Mostly, I was just
extrapolating from the “Hello Kitty” phenomenon.
But, a couple of days
ago, the Globe and Mail Report on Business had the following sidebar story, set
within a larger article about casinos, gambling and Japan:
Beckoning cat
Saturday, September 13, 2014
John Sopinski
Maneki-neko or "beckoning cat" figurines
are good luck charms found in homes and businesses throughout Japan.
Usually taking the form of a calico cat, it calls
out to customers, visitors and passersby with an upraised paw. There is some
debate as to the significance of which paw is raised.
Likewise, there is much uncertainty as to the lucky
cat's origins but most likely it dates back to sometime during the Edo period
(1603-1868). Maneki-neko are often seen wearing a gold medallion representing a
coin from the Edo period, with the inscription noting its value, 10 million
ryo.
The medallion reinforces the notion of good fortune
or wealth.
So, the
positive associations with cats go back a long way in Japanese culture.
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