The waving kittycat

There is a very famous cat in Japan that can be found at almost any Japanese restaurant or business.  This little white cat is more popular than Hello Kitty!  Known for waving at everyone it sees, the cat looks super friendly and inviting.

Photo credit: japanvisitor.com

Legend has it that if the little kitty, known as Maneki Neko, will bring luck to it's owner.  If the right paw is raised, the kitty will bring wealth and good luck.  The waving left paw attracts customers to a place of business (which is why you see them in so many Japanese and Chinese restaurants).  Some cats even wave with both paws.  They are said to provide protection.

There are lots of theories to the origination of the kitty folklore.  We visited the source of one of these tales to see all the waving kitties. 

In the Edo period, Gotokuji Temple in Setagaya was the home of a monk who had a cat.  The monk was very poor and the temple was just a shabby hut.  Although things were not so bright, he enjoyed the company of his cat very much and treated it like his own child.  One day he asked the cat to bring fortune to the derelict temple.

Several months later, some samurai warriors came into the temple.  Shortly after arriving, it began to rain and the samurai decided to stay in the temple until the sky cleared.  They sat with the monk, drank tea with him, and listened to his teachings.  They were so impressed with the teachings, they decided to convert and become benefactors of Sanze-inga-no-hou (the sect of the temple).  At some point, the monk asked the samurai why they came.  They told him that they saw a cat who waved to them on the street, beaconing them to come inside.  It was this cat that led them to hear the teachings of the monk.  Therefore, the beloved cat brought fortune to the temple.

Since then, Gotokuji Temple has been called the cat temple.  Nowadays people go to the temple to pray for household serenity, business prosperity, and fulfillment of wishes.  Tucked in one little area of the temple is a shrine dedicated to Maneki Neko.  In all honesty, I expected to see seas of the white cats, but it was actually only one small area.  It didn't matter that there were less than I expected, they still brought a smile to my face.  I like the positivity of the cats.  No wonder cats are so beloved here - they are a symbol of hope!