Maneki Neko Guide: Meaning, Colors, Paws & Placement

Maneki Neko is Japan’s lucky cat (not to be confused with Hello Kitty!). You tend to see them near the registry in shops, and maneki-nekos are quite popular in other Asian countries too. Walk into any souvenir shop and you may come across one or more pulling on your strings with a cute, raised paw saying, “Come on over here!” You may notice too that some have a right paw raised and others a left. So what does this mean, and how can you choose the right one for yourself or as a gift? The right paw raised is basically for attracting personal abundance, good fortune or opportunity. The left pawed cat is displayed mostly in businesses to attract customers (like you). Things such as the height of the paw matter too. Below the ear is kind of modest, or attracting good things everyday. Raised above the ear and head often signifies bigger dreams like your future car or house. If you need to know more, this guide will navigate you through the ever-expanding world of maneki-neko, keeping it simple, practical and to the point. A Brief History and Some Maneki-Neko Stories According to Asahi Shimbun, back in the 1630s, a feudal lord named Ii Naotaka was heading home from a falconry outing when ...