The raised paw sets the promise: a right paw invites money and good fortune, while a left paw welcomes customers and people. Colors carry meaning too โ white for happiness, gold for wealth, and black for protection from harm.
The maneki-neko, or beckoning cat, emerged in Japan during the Edo period in the seventeenth century. The most beloved origin story belongs to Gลtoku-ji temple in Tokyo, where a cat is said to have beckoned the samurai lord Ii Naotaka out of a storm just before lightning struck the spot he had left.
The raised paw sets the promise: a right paw invites money and good fortune, while a left paw welcomes customers and people. Colors carry meaning too โ white for happiness, gold for wealth, and black for protection from harm.
Shops and restaurants traditionally place one at the entrance or beside the till to welcome customers and prosperity. At home, it belongs where guests are greeted, such as the entryway or living room.