Who has never heard of Maneki Neko the Lucky Cat in Japan, also known as the Welcoming Cat, Money Cat or Fortune Cat? Maneki Neko literally means "Beckoning Cat", the cat that calls you.
The gesture of the paw, which by Westerners is mainly interpreted as a welcome, ie waiving to say hello, while in the Japanese culture it is the typical way of calling someone or to draw attention in order to be followed.
It is a sculpture made of different materials and colors, depicting a cat with a raised paw, either the right or the left and sometimes even both.
Traditionally it represents the Japanese Bobtail cat, which arrived from the Asian continent  at least 1000 years ago.
It has a "bobbed" tail resembling more the tail of a rabbit, caused by a genetic recessive gene and is known as the "street cats" in Japan.
Historically the cat has followed human beings around the world for thousands of years.
Ancient Egypt is known to be one of the oldest culture worshipping cats, mummifying them after their death in offering to Bath, the cat goddess also known as Bastet representing protection, fertility and motherhood.
 An Egyptian farmer discovered in 1888 close to the city of Beni Hasan a large tomb with eighty thousands cat mummies, dating to 1000-2000 BCE.
In many societies the cat was domesticated and was a useful companion killing mice, rats and snakes.
It was therefore not only a good guardian to keep vermin out of crops and harvests, but it also became a pleasant pet to have around, always maintaining its independence for which it is known for.
Despite these positive attributes in the Middle Ages and even into Renaissance in Europe it was associated with vanity, Â witchcraft and heretics and even burned as symbol of the devil.
 It is said, that the Inquisition contributed to the Black Plague, the Pest, which killed more than 25 million people in Europe between 1347 and 1352, because in the years before they got rid of millions of cats.
In Japan it is not known, that the cat ever ran into disgrace and the Maneki Neko seems to be around since the later part of the Edo period (1603-1867), however the exact origins are uncertain.
 The left raised paw attracts money, while the right protects it.
In both cases it is believed to bring good luck and can be found out of shops, restaurants, parlors and other businesses.
There are several legends trying to explain the Maneki Neko "phenomenon".
The cat itself with the raised paw looks like it is washing its face.
According to a Chinese proverb if a cat does that it will rain and according to the Japanese it means, that someone will visit.
It could therefore be that the washing Maneki Neko contributes to call in customers.
One of the most common legends is about a wealthy feudal lord who is saved from lightning by the call of a cat who is befriended with a poor priest.
His temple, the Gotoku-ji temple in Western Tokyo, becomes prosperous thanks to lord and after the death of the cat the first Maneki Neko is made in his honor.
Another one tells about an older woman from Imado, Eastern Tokyo, who has to sell her cat because of her poverty, but then after a dream, in which her cat tells her to make clay statues with her image, the first Maneki Neko she become rich and wealthy.
Then there is the story of the courtesan living in Yoshiwara in Eastern Tokyo, who had a beloved cat.
One night the cat kept tugging at her kimono, the owner cut the head off it not realizing, that the cat was trying to save her from a snake, which was ready to strike her from the ceiling.
The courtesan was cheered up by one of her customers with a wooden cat as a gift, the first Maneki Neko.
There are many other legends most of which come from around the Tokyo area.
No matter which is the real one fact is that the Maneki Neko and so the cat is a very popular animal in Japan.
Today Maneki Nekos can be found everywhere, not only outside the restaurants, shops and businesses, but also as key rings, statues in many sizes, colors to keep in the home, as tattoos on the body.
The cult of the cat has also another main actress in Japan: Hello Kitty is one of the most famous Japanese white bobtail cats with a red ribbon all over the world: dolls, stickers, greeting cards, clothes, accessories and many other products depicting the cat and not only for teenagers but also for cult-like adult followers.
Cats are fascinating for their independent nature, for their laziness when it is time to cool down, for their funny behavior when they are struck by curiosity, but also because of their warrior nature.
Not only are they excellent fighters, but their agility while flying through the air is outstanding.
They are so flexible, that even the judokas from all over the world could only learn something from them.
When tossed into the air or falling from a tree they are so skilled to rotate around and fall back on all their fours, something that could be very useful when thrown by an opponent in a judo fight.
The gesture of the paw, which by Westerners is mainly interpreted as a welcome, ie waiving to say hello, while in the Japanese culture it is the typical way of calling someone or to draw attention in order to be followed.
It is a sculpture made of different materials and colors, depicting a cat with a raised paw, either the right or the left and sometimes even both.
Traditionally it represents the Japanese Bobtail cat, which arrived from the Asian continent  at least 1000 years ago.
It has a "bobbed" tail resembling more the tail of a rabbit, caused by a genetic recessive gene and is known as the "street cats" in Japan.
Historically the cat has followed human beings around the world for thousands of years.
Ancient Egypt is known to be one of the oldest culture worshipping cats, mummifying them after their death in offering to Bath, the cat goddess also known as Bastet representing protection, fertility and motherhood.
 An Egyptian farmer discovered in 1888 close to the city of Beni Hasan a large tomb with eighty thousands cat mummies, dating to 1000-2000 BCE.
In many societies the cat was domesticated and was a useful companion killing mice, rats and snakes.
It was therefore not only a good guardian to keep vermin out of crops and harvests, but it also became a pleasant pet to have around, always maintaining its independence for which it is known for.
Despite these positive attributes in the Middle Ages and even into Renaissance in Europe it was associated with vanity, Â witchcraft and heretics and even burned as symbol of the devil.
 It is said, that the Inquisition contributed to the Black Plague, the Pest, which killed more than 25 million people in Europe between 1347 and 1352, because in the years before they got rid of millions of cats.
In Japan it is not known, that the cat ever ran into disgrace and the Maneki Neko seems to be around since the later part of the Edo period (1603-1867), however the exact origins are uncertain.
 The left raised paw attracts money, while the right protects it.
In both cases it is believed to bring good luck and can be found out of shops, restaurants, parlors and other businesses.
There are several legends trying to explain the Maneki Neko "phenomenon".
The cat itself with the raised paw looks like it is washing its face.
According to a Chinese proverb if a cat does that it will rain and according to the Japanese it means, that someone will visit.
It could therefore be that the washing Maneki Neko contributes to call in customers.
One of the most common legends is about a wealthy feudal lord who is saved from lightning by the call of a cat who is befriended with a poor priest.
His temple, the Gotoku-ji temple in Western Tokyo, becomes prosperous thanks to lord and after the death of the cat the first Maneki Neko is made in his honor.
Another one tells about an older woman from Imado, Eastern Tokyo, who has to sell her cat because of her poverty, but then after a dream, in which her cat tells her to make clay statues with her image, the first Maneki Neko she become rich and wealthy.
Then there is the story of the courtesan living in Yoshiwara in Eastern Tokyo, who had a beloved cat.
One night the cat kept tugging at her kimono, the owner cut the head off it not realizing, that the cat was trying to save her from a snake, which was ready to strike her from the ceiling.
The courtesan was cheered up by one of her customers with a wooden cat as a gift, the first Maneki Neko.
There are many other legends most of which come from around the Tokyo area.
No matter which is the real one fact is that the Maneki Neko and so the cat is a very popular animal in Japan.
Today Maneki Nekos can be found everywhere, not only outside the restaurants, shops and businesses, but also as key rings, statues in many sizes, colors to keep in the home, as tattoos on the body.
The cult of the cat has also another main actress in Japan: Hello Kitty is one of the most famous Japanese white bobtail cats with a red ribbon all over the world: dolls, stickers, greeting cards, clothes, accessories and many other products depicting the cat and not only for teenagers but also for cult-like adult followers.
Cats are fascinating for their independent nature, for their laziness when it is time to cool down, for their funny behavior when they are struck by curiosity, but also because of their warrior nature.
Not only are they excellent fighters, but their agility while flying through the air is outstanding.
They are so flexible, that even the judokas from all over the world could only learn something from them.
When tossed into the air or falling from a tree they are so skilled to rotate around and fall back on all their fours, something that could be very useful when thrown by an opponent in a judo fight.
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